Scott's Spotlight #18-- Umphrey's McGee
Originally posted to Facebook on January 30, 2024
Link to post:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BinpevrvT/
Welcome to Scott’s Spotlight (#scottsspotlight) issue #18 For more information about this series, please click here:
Today, I’ll be exploring the band Umphrey’s McGee, a prog band that started in South Bend, IN, at Notre Dame University. It is my understanding that they were initially considered to be a Jam band, but are now widely accepted as prog. They first formed in 1997 with the initial line up consisting of guitarist/vocalist Brendan Bayliss, bassist Ryan Stasik, keyboardist Joel Cummins, drummer Mike Mirro, and possibly two additional members– Johnzo West and Jeff Topp– whose roles are unknown by me. The band’s name is derived from the uncle of Brendan Bayliss whose actual name is Humphrey McGee.
The main four members would record and release their first studio album after only 8 months together. The album is humorously titled “Greatest Hits, Vol III.” The album has long been out of print, and is difficult to find as a digital download, I was only able to find 6 of the 8 tracks on YouTube, although there are live versions of the songs out there and some of the songs are apparently still regularly performed by the band. Future member, percussionist Andy Farag was recognized as a contributor, but does not appear on the album. He would officially join shortly after the album’s release. This is the only UM album with the original 4-piece lineup. As I just discovered its existence, I can’t recommend any particular tracks.
Two live albums would follow– “Songs for Older Women in 1999, and “One Fat Sucka,” in 2000. Also in 2000, a second guitarist named Jake Cinninger would join, and appears on most of “One Fat Sucka,” except 2 tracks that were recorded before he joined.
The next studio album is the wonderfully titled “Local Band Does OK,” released in 2002. This is the first studio album for Farag and Cinninger, but the last for drummer Mike Mirro, but more on that later. In the summer of 2002 UM played the inaugural Bonnaroo music festival alongside established artists such as Widespread Panic, Trey Anastsio, and Norah Jones. However, “Local Band Does OK,” reportedly sold more copies than any other album at the festival. Standout tracks include “Andy’s Last Beer,” “Prowler,” “Water,” and the nearly 11 minute long “Nothing Too Fancy.” In Late 2002, UM almost broke up when drummer Mike Mirro left the band. After poring over 100s of audition tapes, percussionist Andy Farag, recommended the drummer on the first tape they received, from Kris Myers of the band Kick the Cat.
Myers had his work cut out for him, learning UM’s extensive repertoire of originals and covers, and keeping up the 150 shows a year pace, but he seems to have managed it, as the band has never had another line-up change. UM began offering CDs of each night’s show for sale immediately after the show, but after a few years, they began making them available online. Myers first wide release was on the live album “Local Band Does Oklahoma.” His first studio album with the band was 2004’s “Anchor Drops,” the band’s third. This seems to be the UM album that I have heard the most from, and have “loved” several of the tracks, including: “Plunger,” “Anchor Drops,” and “Miss Tinkle’s Overture.” Following this album, they began doing a regular podcast in which they shared highlights of recent shows. Not long afterward, they performed with rock legend Huey Lewis at the “Jammy Awards,” where they won “Song of the Year,” for “in the Kitchen” (from “Anchor Drops"). In 2005 they played Colorado’s famed Red Rocks Amphitheater for the first time. Up until this point, they had been self-releasing their albums, but that year they also scored a national distribution deal for “Local Band Does OK,” and “Anchor Drops,” making their CDs available in shops nationwide (in the USA) for the first time.
The band’s fourth studio album, “Safety in Numbers,” dropped in 2006. Huey Lewis appears on the tracks “Women Wine and Song” (vocals and harmonica), and “End of the Road” (harmonica only). The band, with Lewis, would appear on TV on the show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Famed sax player Joshua Redman plays on the track “Intentions Clear.” Some of my “loved” tracks include: “End of the Road,” “The Weight Around,” and “Divisions,” which, I assume, is a reworking of the track of the same name from their first album. Legendary cover artist Storm Thorgerson (who created covers for Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, among others) created the cover art. The sessions for “Safety in Numbers,” were so fruitful, that they were able to release a double album the following year (2007) called “The Bottom Half,” considered the 5th studio album. This album has another Storm Thorgerson cover, but he didn’t create it for UM. It had been rejected by Jane’s Addiction, but fit the album’s title perfectly. It depicts two young ladies who morph into giant red onions at their waistlines. It is actually quite amusing. The first disc contains complete songs that were not used for “Safety in Numbers,” while disc 2 has outtakes from the sessions. In looking at the titles on disc 1, however, I see that some of the songs might be alternative versions of songs on “Safety in Numbers,” including another version of “Divisions.” (I might need to compare the three versions one of these days.) From disc 1 I have enjoyed the title track. From disc 2, I have heard and loved “Believe the Lie,” “Rocker,” and “Wws.” Additionally in 2007, they released the live album “Live at the Murat,” which won a Jammy for best live album. Then in 2008 they put out yet another live album called “Jimmy Stewart Live.” Jimmy Stewart is a reference to the “Jimmy Stewart Ballroom,” at the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel, in which, years before, they had developed their approach to improvisation during a late-night jam session following a wedding gig there, which was recorded. When the band heard the tape, they were pleased with the results, and began calling their improvs “Jimmy Stewarts.”
The 6th studio album from UM, was released in 2009, and titled “Mantis.” Taking a page from Marillion’s playbook, the band used pre-orders to help finance the album, using a system by which the more pre-orders that were received, the more bonus features were unlocked. Apparently, they are continuing to update the bonus content monthly. The tracks on this album, unlike previous albums, are almost completely composed of songs they had never played live before. Standout tracks include the nearly 12 minute long title track, “Cemetery Walk,” and “Spires.” The album is seen as a return to a more progressive rock style after the less prog “Safety in Numbers” and “The Bottom Half.” Some have said it was their best release since “Anchor Drops.”
Up next for UM is album #7, “Death By Stereo,” released in 2011. This is an album that I only recently added, somehow having been missing from my library until I began working on this spotlight. As such, I cannot say much about it, except that since I added it, I have heard and “loved” the track, “Conduit.” What I can say is that it is the lowest ranked UM album on Prog Archives of original studio tracks. I will form my own opinion as I hear more. A couple of songs that they have been playing live for several years are included– “Hajimemashite,” and “The Floor.”
Beginning in 2011, UM began releasing an annual album called the “Hall of Fame” for each year, based on fan votes for the best songs from live performances for each year.
In January of 2014, the UM family received the devastating news that original drummer Mike Mirro had died at the young age of 36. This article helps to shed light on what happened: Keeping the Spirit Alive: The Mirro story | Grateful Web . Lets suffice it to say that it’s referred to as “complications fo Bi-Polar Disorder.” May he RIP. When I first read that he left to pursue medical school, I actually found a Dr. Michael Mirro in Indiana, before I saw that the UM drummer had passed. It turns out that the Dr. Mirro in question is Mike’s uncle, and has established “The Mirro Center at Parkview,” in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, to research Bi-Polar Disorder in Mike’s memory. His bandmates and even his successor have had nothing but praise for Mirro,
Later in 2014, UM released their eighth studio album, “Similar Skin.” This is the first album to be released on UMs own label called “Nothing Too Fancy Music,” after the earlier song from “Local Band Does OK.” This album is seen as a rebound from the previous album, which many fans found disappointing. I have heard and “loved” a number of tracks from this one, including “The Linear,” “Similar Skin,” and “Educated Guess.”
As The Beatles are often cited by members of UM as a primary influence (along with Led Zeppelin), the next album, studio album #9, is probably a dream-come-true for the band. “The London Session–A Day at Abbey Road Studios,” was released in 2015 after a marathon “live-in-the-studio,” 12-hour session. In recording the first six tracks, they did a few takes and chose the best one, however on the final four tracks, they recorded them back to back in one “mini-set.” The album is a combination of reworked UM songs which may or may not have made it onto a UM album before, acoustic versions of two songs on “Similar Skin,” and a terrific cover of the Beatles’ classic from the “Abbey Road” album, “I Want You (She’s So Heavy).” Additionally, I have enjoyed several tracks from this one including: “Bad Friday,” “Cut the Cable,” “Plunger,” and “Eat.”
Next up is an album that I really enjoy, but is ranked at a similar low score as “Death By Stereo,” on Prog Archives– 2016’s album of “mash-ups” “Zonkey.” UM have been doing mash-ups in their live shows for years, and decided to record some of them, apparently. I especially like “Electric Avenue to Hell,” “Sweet Sunglasses,” and “Frankie Zombie,” which includes a portion of PF’s “Have a Cigar.” It is considered to be studio album #10.
In 2018, the band released two studio albums with connected titles. The first one, “It's Not Us,” (#11) was released in January. I have “loved” the following tracks: “Half Delayed,” “You & You Alone,” “Forks,” and “Piranhas.” The companion album, “It’s You,” (#12) was released in May. Both albums were recorded in the same sessions. The two titles form the phrase, “It’s not us, it’s you,” as an homage to their dedicated fans. As it was explained on the band’s webpage, “it is not us, it’s truly you, the fans,” [who are important]. I have heard and enjoyed the following tracks on “It’s You”: “In the Black,” “Seasons,” “Attachments,” and “Upward,” which has two truly amazing guitar solos.
In 2021. They released studio album #13, with the mouthful of a title: “You Walked Up Shaking in Your Boots, but You Stood Tall and Left a Raging Bull.” Apparently, in 2006, UM guitarist, Jake Cinninger, sat in with Los Lobos who were opening for UM in what was referred to as their “New Year’s Run” in Chicago. After the show, Los Lobos’ Cesar Rosas said those words to Cinninger. UM also has a tradition of starting their shows with “walk-on music.” These are instrumental pieces that are meant to help build the crowd’s excitement to kick off the show. This album is a collection of those instrumental walk-on tunes. The tracks I have heard from it are fantastic! They include: “You Got the Wrong Guy,” “Tango Mike,” “Nipple Trix,” “Gurgle,” and the stunningly good “October Rain.”
This brings us to the 14th and most recent UM studio album, to date, “Asking for a Friend.” The album seems to have gotten generally good reviews. However, what I am reading in reviews and hearing as I check out a few tracks, is that it is more in a “Yacht Rock” direction. That doesn’t mean it’s bad, but not exactly prog. On “New Wings,” for example, the intro reminded me of something a band like Ambrosia (who have some serious prog-cred) would have done on one of their radio-friendly pop tracks. I liked the song though. I have also liked “Hiccup,” and “Escape Goat,” thus far.
So, here we are in 2025. Where are Umphrey’s McGee? Out on tour, of course! They aren’t college kids anymore, and I am amazed at the stamina these guys have for touring. It’s January 2025 as I type this and they have tour dates booked from now until June, mostly in the US, but one stop in Morocco!! One thing that came up regularly as I was researching for this article, is that they must be seen live to truly appreciate them. Hopefully, that day will come soon for me. My final thought is that after listening to their library on shuffle for two days, I would describe them as a prog band with jam band sensibilities. I hope you’ll check out the links for listening and see if you like them as much as I do.
Thanks for reading!
LINKS FOR LISTENING:
From “Greatest Hits, Vol III”
“Divisions”
“Kimble”
From “Local Band Does OK”
“Andy’s Last Beer”
“Prowler”
From “Anchor Drops”
“Plunger”
“Anchor Drops”
From “Safety in Numbers”
“End of the Road”
“The Weight Around”
From “The Bottom Half”
“The Bottom Half”
“Bright Lights, Big City”
From “Mantis”
“Mantis”
“Cemetery Walk”
From “Death by Stereo”
“Conduit”
“Hajimemashite”
From “Similar Skin”
“The Linear”
“Similar Skin”
From “The London Session”
“Bad Friday”
“I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”
From “Zonkey”
“Electric Avenue to Hell”
“Sweet Sunglasses”
“Frankie Zombie”
From “It’s Not Us”
“Half Delayed”
“Forks”
From “It’s You”
“In the Black”
“Seasons”
From “You Walked Up Shaking In Your Boots But You Stood Tall and Left a Raging Bull.”
“Nipple Trix”
“October Rain”
From “Asking for a Friend”
“New Wings”
“Escape Goat”
Comments
Post a Comment