They are influenced musically by progressive rock bands such as King Crimson, Yes, Dream Theater, and Genesis, as well as heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden. The band also identifies The Police, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin as primary influences. However, there really isn't a style of popular music that Umphrey's does not cover. Artists covered in concert by Umphrey's range from Lionel Richie to Metallica to Toto to Snoop Dogg to Paul Simon.
Formed at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana in December 1997 by guitarist/vocalist Brendan Bayliss, bassist Ryan Stasik, keyboardist Joel Cummins, and drummer Mike Mirro, Umphrey's McGee combined members of Tashi Station and Stomper Bob, two popular Notre Dame rock bands.
In mid-1998, the band released their debut album complete with a tongue-in-cheek title, Greatest Hits Vol. III. The group decided to record an album immediately because it was easier to get live gigs with an official CD. Long out of print, the album contains many of Umphrey's future concert warhorses, such as Divisions and All in Time.
Shortly after the release of the album, the band added a fifth member, percussionist Andy Farag. Farag's father became the band's agent, and a second pressing of Greatest Hits Vol. III featured Farag in the album's inner sleeve and credits. By the end of the year, Umphrey's McGee, along with peers Ali Baba's Tahini, were one of the most popular bands in the South Bend/Notre Dame area. They began performing outside of the area at colleges and house parties, allowing listeners to tape and trade their music freely. By 1999, the band had gained notoriety outside of Indiana, especially with the release of the live album Songs for Older Women, which featured live tracks recorded over a two-night stand in November 1998.
The addition of Jake Cinninger in September 2000 helped bring the band's musical dynamic to a new level. Cinninger, an accomplished guitarist, brought a distinct heaviness to the Umphrey's sound, as well as a large repertoire of original music, much of which comprised the bulk of the catalog from his previous band, Ali Baba's Tahini. The band also adopted several songs written by Ali Baba's Tahini frontman Karl Engelmann (who now fronts Asheville-based rock band Mother Vinegar). Another live album, One Fat Sucka, was released shortly after, containing live performances recorded in the summer and fall of 2000.
Around 2001, the band began practicing intense improvisational exercises. One of their first productive jam sessions took place in a hotel in the "Jimmy Stewart Ballroom" during the wedding of fan/website designer Jeremy Welsh. Therefore, the band began to call their onstage improvisational excursions "Jimmy Stewart." This form of improvisation differs in approach from the methods utilized by many of their jam band peers and has been extensively outlined by "McL" in the "Jimmy Stewart writeup" on the fan message board known as "The Bort" at www.umphreaks.com.
2002 saw the release of the band's first proper recording, Local Band Does OK. That summer, Umphrey's was invited to play the first annual Bonnaroo Music Festival which took place in rural Manchester, TN, and featured over 30 bands performing in front of nearly 100,000 people. Umphrey's played to their largest audience to date and ended up selling more CDs than any other artist on the bill including Widespread Panic, Trey Anastasio, and Norah Jones.
In October 2002 drummer Mike Mirro announced he was leaving to attend medical school. After hundreds of tapes were reviewed by percussionist Andy Farag, the band settled on the first one they received, which was from Kick the Cat drummer Kris Myers, who has a masters degree in jazz drumming from DePaul University.
In 2004, the band released the critically-acclaimed album Anchor Drops, recorded in several different studios throughout the Chicago area. Shortly before the release of the album, the band scored a distribution deal for both Anchor Drops and Local Band Does OK, and for the first time, Umphrey's music was available in stores all over the country. Anchor Drops received rave reviews from several high-profile magazines. Umphrey's was booked to play the Bonnaroo Music Festival once again in June but unlike their 2002 performance, this time they would play a coveted late-night spot. The band performed to over 20,000 people, many of whom had never heard the band before. Shortly after in July, Umphrey's was declared by Rolling Stone Magazine to "have become odds-on favorites in the next-Phish sweepstakes."
In April 2006, Umphrey's released their fourth studio effort, Safety in Numbers. They appeared on the late night TV program Jimmy Kimmel Live in May and were featured at many of the major U.S. festivals throughout the summer, playing 129 shows before a three-night stand in Chicago for New Year's Eve. The Bottom Half, an album of leftover tracks from the Safety in Numbers sessions, was released a year later in April, 2007. It was supported with tours of the U.S., Europe, and Japan.
A live double-album titled Live at the Murat was released in October, 2007. The album was recorded over 2 nights at the Egyptian Room in the Murat Centre in Indianapolis, Indiana on April 6-7, 2007. It received a 4-star review from Rolling Stone Magazine. The album also won a Jammy for best live album. Another live double album release came in June 2008, when the band put out Jimmy Stewart 2007. The album consisted entirely of live, improvised "Jimmy Stewart" sessions recorded in 2007.
Umphrey's McGee completed work on their next studio album, Mantis, in late 2008. Recorded mainly in Manny Sanchez’s I.V. Lab Studios in Chicago, the band members began by presenting each other with CDs containing hundreds of musical ideas they’d composed over the past dozen years, which were then shifted and trimmed down to the concise tracks that appear on the album. The band’s longtime sound caresser, Kevin Browning, edited and mixed the album's material.
Mantis became available for pre-order on October 27, 2008. Along with the pre-order announcement came information that unique bonus content would be available and more content would unlock depending on how many pre-orders were placed. This unusual method of distribution has been hailed as the "perfect way to implement a pre-order campaign" by Reuters.com.
Mantis was released on January 20, 2009. The album marked Umphrey’s second decade together as a band and was the first Umphrey’s album to consist entirely of material never previously performed on the road.
Ocean Billy
Umphrey's McGee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the time finally came so I took
If the moment was stretched to the seams
Would it matter if nobody looked
Half of the time on a stage
Most of it's not even real
Regardless of anything fake
If the moment gets lost in the words
For one time just let it be heard
Resembling is never enough
And to carry on blind was absurd
Between either side of a choice
What's possible it holds even more
However the effort is voiced
This has all probably happened before
I missed the boat on what you said
So say it all again
I think I'm off on what you meant
So tell me one more time
I missed the boat on what you said
So say it all again
Is it the same thing before
I think I'm off on what you meant
So tell me one more time
Unless it's the same thing
The lyrics of Umphrey's McGee's "Ocean Billy" portray the theme of theft and the consequences that come with it. The singer of the song is a thief who has recently committed a robbery. He reflects on the incident, as well as the ephemeral nature of a moment while performing music on stage. He questions how much one can practice to perfect a move, and how much the audience can differentiate between what's real and what's fake.
The chorus recounts how he missed out on something important that someone said, and how he wants them to repeat it so that he can grasp its meaning. He fears that perhaps he has misunderstood everything and that his interpretations are incorrect. The lyrics suggest a sense of longing, regret, and remorse. They imply that the thief is more than just a thief - he is also a musician who understands the ephemeral nature of experiences and the importance of understanding the messages conveyed.
The song's theme of theft is not limited to the lyrics alone, as the song's melody is inspired by another song called "Thief" by the jazz musician Pat Metheny. "Ocean Billy" is a song from the band's 2006 album, "Safety in Numbers," and is a part of their live shows, where they often extend it with soaring instrumentals and extended jams.
Line by Line Meaning
It was such a misfortune to steal
Stealing was not a fortunate event
But the time finally came so I took
Despite it being unfortunate, I had to do it eventually
If the moment was stretched to the seams
If the moment was prolonged to its limits
Would it matter if nobody looked
Does it matter if no one notices or pays attention?
Half of the time on a stage
Most of the time is spent performing on stage
Most of it's not even real
A significant portion of it is not genuine
Regardless of anything fake
Even if something is not authentic
How much can you practice to steal
Is it possible to practice and improve stealing skills?
If the moment gets lost in the words
If the significance of the moment is overshadowed by the words spoken
For one time just let it be heard
Allow the moment to be recognized at least once
Resembling is never enough
Merely resembling something is insufficient
And to carry on blind was absurd
Continuing without awareness or understanding was nonsensical
Between either side of a choice
When presented with two options
What's possible it holds even more
What is possible contains even greater potential
However the effort is voiced
Regardless of how much effort is put forth
This has all probably happened before
This situation is likely a repeat of past events
I missed the boat on what you said
I failed to comprehend what you said earlier
So say it all again
Please repeat everything you said
I think I'm off on what you meant
I believe I misunderstood your intended meaning
So tell me one more time
Please explain it to me once more
Is it the same thing before
Is it identical to what was previously said?
Unless it's the same thing
Unless it is a repetition of earlier statements
Contributed by Colin J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jereuter01
Cymbal at 8:24 is so cool. And the change that begins at 9:46 is incredible....and the transition back into original jam at 15:15 is awesome.
@cameron1328
This was such a sick show! R.i.p. Andy from Railroad Earth (love Amen Corner) your band was an amazing opening for Umphrey's. You guys killed it that Kashmir ending is still etched in my mind. I was with my best friend and new friends to witness such a sick performance! We traveled 1k miles out of the way for this it was so fucking worth! Thank you!!
@budderfingerz7109
Such a sick show.. we traveled from southern Illinois to see this show and it was a magical night.. RRE had an amazing set too!
@networker2009
one of the best "Ocean Billy" versions that they have ever done.. I listen to it six years later and it still gives me goose bumps.... yeah!
@loud7070
One of the best live bands on the planet ! ! ! !
@budderfingerz7109
This was one of my favorite shows I've ever been to.. with railroad earth opening was just a blessing.. I love this band so much
@MarshallATV
These guys are just the greatest stuff man.. Both guitar players are so damn talented!
@mokamo23
amazing...on so many levels.... and the extra delay/echo on brendan's voice really helps him sing. they should do that all the time!
@mountainhighsuckers4428
X xx dx x x x. X. DcdcdccdrcdeeadaxAw~
@The1mamajan
This group really cooks. Makes me dream of younger days gone by. Can't wish for anything but wonderful things for Umphrey's McGee. Keep at it forever!