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The History of Umphrey's McGee Local Chicago upstarts have garnered much attention coast to coast with their guitar-heavy jams and melodic vocal work. Who are these six individuals who played before 12,000 people at the jam paradise of the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennessee? Around the nation, people are flocking to their local venues to see what all the buzz is about. The local band is Umphrey's McGee and they are doing O.K. Over the last few years Umphrey's McGee has toured the nation coast-to-coast, spreading their orchestral smorgasbord of sound. Having traversed the countryside, Umphrey's McGee has built up quite a repertoire of original music that changes with every show, and a large following of loyal fans to boot. Busting genres left and right, Umphrey's originals span everything from classical to bluegrass, gangsta-rap to hair-metal, jazz improv to downright dirty funk. Throw in some fun, unexpected covers and a great light show and you've got yourself a must-see performance. There really is something for everyone in Umphrey's McGee! It began in December of 1997 at the home of the Fighting Irish in South Bend, Indiana when two up-and-coming bands merged to form Umphrey's McGee. After playing together for a few months and releasing their first album, Greatest Hits Volume III, original members Joel Cummins (keyboards, vocals), former drummer Mike Mirro (drums, vocals), Brendan Bayliss (guitar, vocals) and Ryan Stasik (bass) had the opportunity to play a few shows with percussionist Andy Farag. In June of 1998, they invited Andy to join the band full-time, and in November they recorded their second release, entitled Songs for Older Women. In September of 2000, Niles, Michigan guitarist Jake Cinninger found himself without a band, and Umphrey's jumped at the opportunity to bring this versatile musician into their fold. After a few practices it became apparent that Umphrey's McGee had found the full sound they were looking for. Jake joined Umphrey's McGee full-time on guitar and vocals, and the band set its sights on becoming a successful national act. In January 2003, Umphrey's said their farewell to original drummer Mike Mirro, who decided to pursue his passion for medicine by going to medical school. The latest addition to the band's line-up is newly acquired Chicago drummer Kris Myers, who picked up where Mike left off starting in 2003. Umphrey's McGee's live music is some of the most widely spread and highly sought-after on the Internet, and the band has a legion of fans who trade and collect their live recordings. Recognizing the fast-paced, unpredictable nature of the music industry, Umphrey's McGee relies on its loyal fans to help with promotional efforts. Working with the band's management, fans burn mass amounts of shows which are then labeled and distributed, along with flyers and posters, to previously untapped markets. As a result, Umphrey's has experienced capacity crowds in places where they have never played before! This innovative grassroots marketing strategy has proven to be very fruitful and effective for the growing organism that is Umphrey's McGee. By virtue of its prolific live performances and sensational musicianship, Umphrey's McGee has gained a reputation for being a national top draw. The combination of a large repertoire and remarkable improvisatory skills make each of Umphrey's McGee's live concerts stand alone: one night is never the same as another. The group's third release, entitled One Fat Sucka (2000), is a compilation of live tracks recorded from the Fall of 2000 that showcases the band's versatility. And this brings us to 2002, an incredible year for Umphrey's McGee in which the band landed spots at some of the country's hottest music festivals, including the Bonnaroo Music Festival, High Sierra Music Festival, South By Southwest, Hookahville, and HarvestFest, among others. Another high mark is the development of the very first Umphrey's DVD, filmed at the Skyline Stage in Chicago this past July, which will be released in February 2003. Umphrey's McGee has released its third studio album, Local Band Does O.K., that displays the strength of their songwriting: concise yet orchestral melodic ideas blended with unique and thoughtful lyrics. Their first studio release in over four years, LBDO is the result of twelve days spent in Audioasis Studios, a studio/barn in Southern Ohio. "What we tried to capture was the true energy and performances of songs that we had already written, combined with some late-night improvisations," says keyboardist Joel Cummins. Umphrey's McGee is Joel Cummins (keyboards, vocals), Brendan Bayliss (guitar, vocals), Ryan Stasik (bass), Andy Farag (percussion), Jake Cinninger (guitar, Moog, synthesizers, vocals) and Kris Myers (drums, vocals). Also with the band are Sound Caresser Kevin Browning, Lighting Designer Adam Budney, and Manager Vince Iwinski. This six-headed monster will rock your world - and a few others, too. Check out the artist's website: http://www.umphreys.com Track List: 1. Fdr> 2. Der Bluten Kat> 3. Pennis (Ocean Billy)> 4. 10th Grade> 5. Der Bluten Kat> 6. Divisions> 7. Glory> 8. Divisions> 9. Der Bluten Kat Other Genres:
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