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.
Turn & Run
Umphrey's McGee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Leave it until it's done, it's best if you're not there
You probably could you wish you would
I hope that it's understood, something needs repair
We don't believe there is no need to celebrate a thing
It's all the same you'll talk away, no words to say
Blissful fall the winds that whip the tide
Your will is always chased away each time
So weather worn you'll find a breath
Sit down and see what's next, the air is full of holes
You're due to fall, don't walk too tall
'Cause that would remind us all to care to take control
We're so relieved you've been retrieved
We'll navigate through nets
You've been gone too long, we knew it was wrong
No more regrets
Leave it on the backdrop you have signed
Blissful fall the winds that whip the tide
Your will is always chased away each time
Releasing from a grip that's held too tight
There's no other way to open up what's right
The more we try to stay same the more we lie
"Turn and Run" by Umphrey's McGee is a song that has intricate, almost cryptic lyrics that could be interpreted in several ways. It conveys a message that sometimes, it is better to step away from a situation to avoid the consequences of the impending storm. The opening verse, "When lightning hits you turn and run, leave it until it's done, it's best if you're not there," represents the uncertainty and fear that comes with facing difficult situations head-on. Sometimes, the right thing to do is to wait back, analyze and take remedial actions while staying safe.
The second verse, "We don't believe there is no need to celebrate a thing, it's all the same you'll talk away, no words to say," is a commentary on society's tendency to over-celebrate rather mundane things while ignoring the real issues that need fixing. The lines "Leave it on the backdrop you have signed, blissful fall the winds that whip the tide," hint that, instead of celebrating, we must work to mend what's broken.
The third and final verse, "Releasing from a grip that's held too tight, there's no other way to open up what's right, the more we try to stay same the more we lie," encourage listeners to let go of their hold on their troubles, as holding too tightly only complicates the situation. It can be interpreted as a cautionary tale about how much damage we can do by trying too hard to remain the same or preserve the status quo.
Overall, "Turn and Run" is a call to step away from overwhelming situations, rethink, and work out a way to fix things before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
When lightning hits you turn and run
If something dangerous is coming your way, it’s better to move out of the way than to face it head on.
Leave it until it's done, it's best if you're not there
Sometimes it’s better to let a situation resolve itself before getting involved.
You probably could you wish you would
There are things you could do, but you may not have the willpower or desire to do them.
I hope that it's understood, something needs repair
There are underlying issues that need to be addressed and fixed.
We don't believe there is no need to celebrate a thing
We don’t see the point in celebrating something that is not worth celebrating.
It's all the same you'll talk away, no words to say
Talking about something that doesn’t matter is pointless and won’t change anything.
Leave it on the backdrop you have signed
Let go of things that are behind you and no longer relevant to your life.
Blissful fall the winds that whip the tide
The natural changes in life can bring a sense of comfort.
Your will is always chased away each time
Your desires and intentions are often overshadowed by circumstances beyond your control.
So weather worn you'll find a breath
After facing many hardships, you may finally catch a break.
Sit down and see what's next, the air is full of holes
Take a moment to analyze your next steps, as there may be unexpected opportunities or obstacles.
You're due to fall, don't walk too tall
Be humble and cautious, as everyone is bound to make mistakes and face setbacks.
'Cause that would remind us all to care to take control
When we face challenges, it’s a reminder to take control and responsibility for our lives.
We're so relieved you've been retrieved
We are glad you have returned safely.
We'll navigate through nets
We will help guide you through any obstacles.
You've been gone too long, we knew it was wrong
We have missed you and know that something wasn’t right when you were gone.
No more regrets
Moving forward, we won’t look back with regret.
Releasing from a grip that's held too tight
Letting go of something that you’ve held onto too tightly.
There's no other way to open up what's right
In order to find what is best for you, you may need to let go of what is holding you back.
The more we try to stay same the more we lie
Trying to stay the same and resist change will only lead to dishonesty with yourself and others.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
HaNdYmAn 420
When lightning hits, you turn and run
Leave it until its done
It's best if you're not there
You probably could, you wish you would
I hope that its understood
Something needs repair
We don't believe, there is no need
To celebrate a thing
It's all the same, you'll talk away
No words to say
Leave it on the backdrop you have signed
Blissful fall the winds that whip the tide
Your will is always chased away each time
So weather-worn, you'll find a breath
Sit down and see what's next
The air is full of holes
You're due to fall, don't walk to tall
Cause that would remind us all
To care to take control
We're so relieved you've been retrieved
We'll navigate through nets
You've been gone too long
We knew it was wrong
No more regrets
Leave it on the backdrop you have signed
Blissful fall the winds that whip the tide
Your will is always chased away each time
Releasing from from a grip that's held too tight
There's no other way to open up what's right
The more we try to stay same, the more we lie
JJ
Think this is my favorite track from Mantis. The vocals of the chorus is so great. It's hard for them to harmonize and pull off live, but that's understandable.
Mike Hunt
You know those songs that define an entire decade or more of your life...
BoneDog1215
when lightning hits, you turn and run, leave it until it's done. it's best if you're not there
saorob
Couldn't have said it any better myself Bebe
Matt Smith
honestly how can this video only have like a thousand views and other bullshit has like millions this song is the shit
TheHeilife
LWoodyard08 I saw Uhmphrey's at the Pageant and havent seen a show that even comes close to it since
j00d4n
woot