Grateful Dead Music Forum

Umphrey's McGee were on Soundstage last night, an hour show on PBS and I taped it and will watch it tonight. (They will air it again, I think). I have heard of them, but haven't heard them yet. Anyone into them? Watch the show? What should I expect?

I caught it over the w/e. Never heard their stuff before. Seemed to me a lot like Phish.

Wouldn't compare them to Phish, but Umphrey's is obviously a post-Phish jam band. I've listened to a few things of theirs but I've never been lit on fire by them like I've been by the GD or (pre-'96)Phish, or say Govt Mule or Garaj Mahal...

I have no UM on CD or otherwise but've seen em 4 times at fests and for free. I'd say their influences are many but they're a "harder" version of a "jamband" than most. A little like MOE. They cover a few different kinds of styles for sure. Once at Allgood, they played a really cool PF medley which I thought was impressive. Their one guitar player looks and plays pretty heavy-metal-like while the other guys seems more influenced by GD, Phish-type material and styles. Their keyboardist is very good and has a huge rig. Overall, I'd always catch em for free and wouldn't blow off seeing them at a festival.

They're definitely accomplished musicians and seem to work pretty hard to write fairly complicated but musically interesting songs. They're not my favorite in many ways but they're definitely worth checking out and a give em a thumbs up overall.

My buddies' 25 years old kid keeps telling me they're the next big thing and simply loves them. He got on the GD bus about 8 years ago maybe and is always seeing UM. Same kid used to make fun of us geezers playing GD tunes while he sported a green mohawk and listened to Anarchy and the like. Now he'll be at half the Dead shows this Spring I'm sure.

So I finally watched them and I must say I was impressed. I don't think I'd buy their stuff and sit around and listen to it, but I think I would go see them if they came around. I like music that is a little edgy and I like seeing different styles, it was like watching reggae and then a prog rock band and then some dead-ish stuff. I thought they did a good job and was surprised.