Biography
The music of Umphrey’s McGee unfolds like an unpredictable conversation between longtime friends. Its six participants—Brendan Bayliss [guitar, vocals], Jake Cinninger [guitar, vocals], Joel Cummins [keyboards, piano, vocals], Andy Farag [percussion], Kris Myers [drums, vocals], and Ryan Stasik [bass]—know just how to communicate with each other on stage and in the studio. A call of progressive guitar wizardry might elicit a response of soft acoustic balladry, or a funk groove could be answered by explosive percussion. At any moment, heavy guitars can give way to heavier blues as the boys uncover the elusive nexus between jaw-dropping instrumental virtuosity and airtight songcraft.
The conversation continues on their eleventh full-length album, it’s not us [Nothing Too Fancy Music]—which was released January 12, 2018.
“It represents the band, because it basically runs the gamut from prog rock to dance,” says Brendan. “We’ve mastered our ADD here. The record really shows that.”
“No matter what you’re into, there’s something on it’s not us that should speak to you,” agrees Joel. “This is a statement album for Umphrey’s McGee. The sound is as fresh as ever. The songs are strong as they’ve ever been. We’re always pushing forward.”
It is also how the band is celebrating its 20-year anniversary. Instead of retreading the catalog, they turn up with a pile of new tunes.
Read Full BioTouring
Umphrey’s McGee is a touring powerhouse, performing 85+ shows per year, headlining annual shows across the US including Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado and the Beacon Theatre in New York. Umphrey’s is a constant US festival staple, with performances at major events including Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Rothbury, and Bonnaroo, as well as international festivals Fuji Rock Festival (Japan) and Byran Bay Blues Festival (Australia). The band hosts their own festival in Illinois, Summer Camp Music Festival, where they perform three nights, and have hosted the likes of Primus, Janes Addiction, Thievery Corporation, and Willie Nelson, to name a few. Umphrey’s McGee has also hosted and headlined Jam in the Dam (2005, 2006, 2008, and 2010), a three-night mini festival at the Melkweg in Amsterdam.
“With 15 years of continuous touring, an exceptional lighting director..and a loyal Midwest fanbase...Umphrey’s McGee has solidified themselves as a top tier act that closed out a commemorative year in style.”
“Impeccable chops, jigsaw-puzzle tunes, sexy-time dance grooves, X-factor surprises, classic-rawk grandeur, and a refreshing sense of humor make this Midwest-spawned sextet among the four or five most fascinating bands in the country right now….Catch them while they're still cult.”
Audio / Video
Audio
- Record and release every show (85+ live albums/year)
- 5.0+ million live tracks sold
- 12 studio albums
Visit umlive.net for full live catalogue
UM on iTunes / Spotify / Google Music
Video
- 15+ million video views on umvideo YouTube channel
- Live shows featured on MTV Live, PBS, AXS-TV
- Dozens of live HD webcasts per year
Innovation
UMBowl - “Fans attending UMBowl, the annual concert put on by Chicago band Umphrey’s McGee, will be able to steer the show by texting song requests in real time and suggesting themes for musical improvisation.”
Headphones & Snowcones - “I heard the future of rock and roll, and it is called headphones & snowcones.”
“...a close, immediate way into the kind of details that can make my night: the union of David Gilmour's stiletto-treble poise and Eddie Van Halen's torrential shredding in Cinninger's exuberant, extended breaks; the empathic precision with which the band turns in the segues.”
True Hollywood Stories - “Umphrey’s McGee is always looking for the next big thing to make its fans feel as connected...as possible."
