Umphrey's McGee is a progressive rock / jam band from South Bend, IN now ba… Read Full Bio ↴Umphrey's McGee is a progressive rock / jam band from South Bend, IN now based in Chicago, IL.
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.
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.
Preamble
Umphrey's McGee Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Preamble' by these artists:
First Blood How can we live life without ever questioning? When knowled…
Hand To Hand Run it down to make it close! What you've said, you…
J-Trigger Trynna b heard See what I speak Flippin a bird It won't for…
Kansas We the people of the United States, in Order to…
Kansas & The London Symphony Orchestra We the people of the United States, in Order to…
Kansas Featuring The London Symphony Orchestra We the people of the United States, in Order to…
Sick of It All ""Dead to Tyrants Send Them Straight to Hell Send Them…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Umphrey's McGee:
1348 We've been blind to this before So satisfy my fragile mind …
2 x 2 One lies in waiting for One mind who wants for more Four…
2nd Self No matter how you fall It shouldn't bother you at all It…
2x2 One lies in waiting for One mind who wants for more Four…
40's Theme Got your barbecue sauce And your chicken wings Throw it in y…
Ace of Long Night If you like to gamble I tell you I'm your man You…
Alex's House Alex has a new house Maybe I could see it Maybe I…
All In Time I could tell you all about what's next if I could…
All Things Ninja Instru…
Anchor Drops Listen, was that you Always on? If and when that's true Wait…
Andy's Last Beer Whether to mind, partly blind changes wrong or right, do…
Atmosfarag Good evening, ladies and gentlemen The Browning family is c…
August Oh well I did offer Up what once was mine And I…
Believe The Lie Let this become memory The worst is yet to come And all…
Bob Bob was old, decrepit, down rotten and weak All that…
Booth Love Ain't got no looking out for you There isn't anyone at…
Bridgeless I'm cleaning out my display case And self-reformed more than…
Bridgeless Pt. 1 If you think that you resemble your roots You've got to…
Bridgeless Pt. 2 It was cold in the kitchen and the lights were…
Bright Lights Bright lights, big city All night, are you ready Cat Fight, …
Bullhead City Send me on home boys the cattle retire The wind up…
Can't Rock My Dream Face Now here you go again, you say We want your freedom Well…
Cemetery Walk I've got a secret but you're kinda like a polygraph I'd…
Come As Your Kids Come as you are, as you were As I want you…
Conduit Generous come the gift from the source as it it When…
Cut The Cable I′m closer to my coffin now The offer's on the table,…
Dark Brush We were overstaying, it was like a Dream come true Penciled…
Deeper If you could, I bet you'd wait Never see the light…
Der Bluten Kat (I know) Well I know another way to turn if…
Divisions It was all Illusion, fragment of the whole product in confu…
Domino Theory Well basically it's not what it seems It's too late to…
Dough Bro Instru…
Draconian Was it me? How was I so mistaken Couldn't see Now my fa…
Educated Guess Picked me up Send me up Or I won′t make it I set…
Example 1 Why is it for every one there's got to be a…
FDR People come and go all day and I'm still sitting where…
FF When I grow up I will be a bigger kid looking…
Forks We get so far removed from the simple gifts sent…
Fresh Start Moses, he picked up a stone Don't you think he benefited…
Front Porch I pack my bags and make my way to the…
Hajimemashite I didn't know things were supposed to be this way I…
Hangover I woke up late, I had my shoes on my feet…
Higgins It’s a terrible conversation An even worse of a thing to…
Home Voices of relatives, long time gone Smiles and times we've s…
Hourglass It's just my luck I open my mouth when I shouldn't…
Hurt Bird Bath Go if you want to, walk where you will The hallways…
I Don't Know What I Want The feeling's not the same Is everything swimming inside my …
Immigrant Song Ah, ah, We come from the land of the ice and…
In The Black Take what you need but nothing more There′s only so much…
In the Kitchen It was cold in the kitchen and the lights were…
Intentions Clear You got my number, you can make the call Until then…
JaJunk If you think that you resemble your roots You've got to…
JaJunk Pt. II If you think that you resemble your roots You've got to…
Last Man Swerving Nobody really knows I was leaving, it was late, and…
Life During Exodus Exodus, movement of jah people Exodus, movement of jah peopl…
Liquid Remember when you were a kid the simple things were what…
Looks Looking for the one who makes You want to run through…
Made to Measure Please excuse this, I know it's rude But I was just…
Mail Package Little hazy in the morning Mental blinders on, I'm looking …
Making Flippy Floppy Nothing can come between us Nothin gets you down Nothing str…
Mantis We believe there's something here worth dying for Uniforms a…
Memories of Home As fall returns, the presence of home Is real to me,…
Miami Virtue When I was young, still a kid I was unprepared, never…
Much Obliged It′s easier to mark your way Place your order now It's easie…
Muff II: The Revenge You told your friends about me You told your friends about…
Mulche's Odyssey i fell out of bed to a sudden calling wipe off…
National Anthem In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey Butane in…
Nemo No assumption should be worth listing They belong with someo…
Nemo Pt. 1 If you think that you resemble your roots You've got to…
Never Cease The case flies open on a new set of work A…
No Diablo And if you see it layin' round, it's alright to…
Ocean Billy It was such a misfortune to steal But the time finally…
Ocean Billy (Live) It was such a misfortunate steal, but the time finally came,…
Out of Order Accuse me of this, trusting what did I gest? To think…
Partying Peeps We drive all night through rain, We drive a van that's…
Passing Lost in a circle no window to find A casual view…
Phil's Farm On Phil's Farm the action's slow We sit and watch the…
Piranhas Turn your back in a forfeit way Take out loans no…
Plunger Gravely now we stare at indecision Climbing stairs for sale …
Plunger Pt. 1 If you think that you resemble your roots You've got to…
Professor Wormbog Instru…
Prophecy Now (someone help me out this is a bad attempt i…
Prowler Instru…
Puppet String It's not like there's a book for this or something…
Push the Pig It only matters if you're gonna count the clock If we're…
Red Room Strange facination, end of the day Roots are tied and unins…
Red Room Disco (messing around) Strange facination, end of the day Root…
Red Tape If you walk away you'll bury me I would climb into…
Resolution I've got it set in my mind, I'll be a…
Ringo The crack of a whip and a sty in your…
Rocker I'm still not able to understand I'm struggling here to deny…
Rocker Pt. 2 It was cold in the kitchen and the lights were…
Roulette Think of all that's come to pass And all the things…
Search 4 There's nothing more we need Just a little sympathy The timi…
Slacker I had always tried to do the right thing but In…
Sociable Jimmy You never think to and it shows How many times have…
Spires You ask for a reason, I say why It tastes like…
Spires > You ask for a reason, I say why It tastes like…
Strangletage I can′t stand it I know you planned it But I'm…
Syncopated Strangers I imitate you Right where the feeling runs out Strangers tod…
The Bottom Half There were always questions about where you been With whom y…
The Crooked One When your concept retires Will you still know how to strugg…
The Empire State Instru…
The Floor I won't waste mine 'Cause they can't make me alright I'm hal…
The Fuzz Slow down If you forget it You'll regret it nucka Don't …
The Haunt Bold souls centered in the self-assured How could silence f…
The Linear Caught in the moment Its never easy to decide When you know…
The Other Side Of Things Open up your eyes Don't even close them for a moment You…
The Silent Type The conversation started something like this "You wanna ciga…
The Weight Around When you come 'round looking Don't except a thing Nothing …
Thin Air Fill it up Let me breathe in one more time Should I…
turn When lightning hits you turn and run Leave it until it's…
Uncle Wally Leave it on, a note to pass Often untold The only thing…
Uncommon Something about me stinks Something about me smells I don't …
Utopian Fir You've got to go where you know by now You've got…
Walletsworth To bias sleeps on a floor he made From stealing in…
Wappy Sprayberry I can't stand to be away from you I've been around…
Water I will not fall asleep tonight I know I won't But if…
Wellwishers If you had to make it matter, but you just…
Whistle Kids Every morning early risers Sneak into my room and open my…
White Man's Moccasins What purpose have you thought of Where is this distilled fro…
Wife Soup Maybe it could wait another day For as it were I'm…
Wild Brumby Instru…
Women Wine & Song Why did I break off more than to bite Losin in…
WWS Life's junk will suck the will right out you Hold on…
You & You Alone If you want to try and step into another kind…
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Bob Senior
on Resolution
*I'be got it set it my mind, I'll be a mountain in the sky this year"