[ATTENDED: October 21, 2016] Umphrey’s McGee
As of this summer I didn’t know who Umphrey’s McGee were. I assumed they were a country band or something. Then I found out a friend of mine who was at the Phish show that I went to was a huge fan of Umphrey’s McGee too. She said that they were amazing live. I listened to some of their stuff (and learned that their debut was called Greatest Hits Volume III, which I love), and then saw that they were playing three nights at The Fillmore in Philadelphia. So I got a ticket for the middle night to see what the story was.
And I think I picked a good night to go. Friday night the band had an opening act, not so Saturday or Sunday. This meant that they didn’t go on until 9:15, which was fine. I arrived in time but I had forgotten about the long security lines (and I’m thankful for the security, but ouch, it adds ten minutes to the line). I missed the opening song, but since the band played for nearly three hours, that was okay.
So it turns out that Umphrey’s McGee are a jam band who work within a more progressive/metal sound. They have a lot of stops and starts and time changes and their guitar solos are superfast pyrotechnics. Most of their songs extend to about ten minutes or more (maybe like Dream Theater if they were a jam band).
But the fun thing about UM is that they throw in all kinds of cover segments and mashups. To my knowledge there were no mashup in this show, although they are about a to release a whole album full of great mashups. However, they did tease out sections of other songs during some of their longer instrumental jams, which was fun.
I like the Fillmore a lot as a venue (happy first anniversary, Fillmore). But I’ve never been to a show that was so crowded before.
As I walked into the main floor, there was nowhere to go–just tall people everywhere. So I walked upstairs–never been up there before. Parts of the upstairs are for VIP only, so there’s a small area where you can stand. I chose the left side for a bit and it was fine. I was impressed by the musicianship (and the guy slowly “dancing” next to me.” And I really liked the rocking guitar sound. I loved that in “Utopian Fir” the guitarist used a pause in the song to get the whole band to launch into the intro to Nirvana’s “In Bloom.” It sounded perfect… and the then they deftly returned to their own song before singing any lyrics.
What really impressed me though, especially from up here, was the light show. It wasn’t fancy or mind-blowing like some other bands do, but they were colorful and really in perfect sync with the music. They were also really bright, which was cool to see, especially from above. Spotlights seemed to highlight certain parts of the audience.
But because of where I was, I just couldn’t really get into the show. Earlier while on line I saw that The Flaming Lips announced they were playing at the Fillmore in March, so (and I never do this), I ducked out of the show during a reggae sounding song (it was part of a jam in “Fir” which I see can extend to 19 minutes live), and tried to get a ticket (sadly not on sale till next week). When I came back in, I went to the right side upstairs which had more room. And I started to get into the show. But once again, there were lots of talkers up there. The fans seem too casual for my concert going pleasure, and since I didn’t already know the songs, I had a hard time really getting into the vibe.
Then they opened the middle section upstairs and people sat up there which gave me a lot more room and fewer chatterers, and I was able to really enjoy the show. The first set ended with 3 acoustic songs (no idea if that’s typical). I was little bummed if only because the res of the show was so fast and rocking and I was just settling on, but It was cool to see that side of them as well–and the songs were quite pretty.
Then they took a break.
And I watched the crowd flood out of the main room. So I took the opportunity to get really close to the stage for Set 2.
I felt like much more a part of the show down there. And the fans were much more into it. There was a guy who was at least 6 foot 4 wearing a huge puffy pig hat. And one of my neighbors was dancing maybe a little too enthusiastically). I did not care for the drunken woman (I’d say early 40’s–she should know better) who was literally falling over and, when upright, making out really hard with the guy she was with. The guy standing near me said to her: “Making out is fine but please don’t lean up against me while you’re doing it.” Exactly. She responded: “You smell gooood.” Well, at least they moved away after a song or two.
And then the band came out and the show really came to life for me. I was really close to the lead guitarist Jake Cinninger (It was pretty amazing watching him solo) and bassist Ryan Stasik (for some reason the guys next to me kept shouting things at him about the Flyers).
Drummer Kris Myers was on our side of the stage too. Across from Myers was percussionist Andy Farag. During one of the songs, they had a little drum solo competition which was fun.
In the middle was singer Brendan Bayliss–not too many of their songs have words, it turns out, so he mostly rocked the guitar. And then on the far side of the stage (and invisible to me much of the time) was keyboardists Joel Cummins.
Set 2 opened up with the really heavy riffing song, “Nothing Too Fancy,” and the fun “Push the Pig.” When they started the heavy riffing of “JaJunk” (which reminded me some of King Crimson) the crowd went nuts and starred singing along to the “Whoa ay oh ay oh” section.
And then they played a song I actually recognized! “In the Kitchen” is a surprisingly catchy and fun song that I would have sung along to had I known the words (I did recognize them as he was singing them). During this song, the bassist from Disco Biscuits, Marc Brownstein, came out and played. Much of the crowd recognized him immediately. 
But I heard the guy next to me say, “It’s the guy from the Disco Biscuits…I heard it in a crowd, so it must be true.” (It was, that’s him on the right).
Then Cinninger started playing a country riff and singing a song that I recognized the lyrics to. It was Nirvana’s “In Bloom” but he was playing it in the style of the recent Strugill Simpson cover–a great call back to earlier in the show and a surprising cover version to say the least. he even had Simpson’s twang.
The final song was “August,” and once again, the crowd went nuts with the “whoa ho ho” business. Bayliss even threw in some more of Nirvana’s “In Bloom” during the solo. I love that that song appeared throughout the night.
And the very end of the set repeated some of “Nothing Too Fancy” bring the whole set full circle.
The band did two encores. The first was “Attachments,” a song I assumed the crowd would go nuts for (don’t bands save their exciting songs for the encore?” The crowd didn’t (some had even left as it was already midnight), but when the chorus came around, everyone sang along.
I assumed that was it, but he asked if we were ready for one more.
I thought I could recognize the song from the way Bayliss was playing his guitar (hitting it for a cool echo effect). Then Cinninger started playing the harmonica, and I thought I recognized the song. And sure enough, it was The Who’s “Join Together.” Drummer Myers sang the song with his best Roger Daltry voice. It sounded amazing.
Normally I don’t like when bands do covers, but since I don’t know many of their originals, it was fun to hear a song I knew and to hear it played so well.
So the band turned around a show that I was a little bored with into a show that was a ton of fun. I’m glad I braved the crowd.
I will definitely check out more of their releases, and while I won’t say I’m up for a three night extravaganza, I’d definitely see them again (just from the floor).
SETLIST
Set 1:
Le Blitz > 1348 > Cut the Cable,
Wellwishers,
Utopian Fir[1] > Stinko’s Ascension
Gone for Good[2]
Great American[2] > Dim Sun[2] > Great American[2]
Set 2:
Nothing Too Fancy > Push the Pig
JaJunk, In The Kitchen[3]
In Bloom[4]
August[1] > Nothing Too Fancy
Encore:
Attachments
Join Together
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