Umphrey's McGee: "The Floor"

Umphrey's McGee is geen meneer

2010-03-09T14:57:00Z

Our sentiments exactly. A little something for our Dutch speaking fans...

Umphrey's McGee is geen meneer, maar een Amerikaanse band die in de afgelopen jaren van een volbloed jamband veranderd is in een bijzonder creatieve progband. Na het knappe album "Safety In Numbers", een kliekjesalbum en een liveplaat is "Mantis" de eerste nieuwe studioproductie in drie jaar. Gelukkig is deze nieuwe van het sextet uit Chicago het wachten meer dan waard.

Het album begint beeldschoon met een strijkje, waarna de band invalt met een poppy stuk dat de invloed van The Beatles, Jellyfish en Spock's Beard verraadt. Uit alles blijkt hoeveel de band gegroeid is in de afgelopen tijd, zoals te horen is in de veelstemmige samenzang en het jazzy intermezzo in Made To Measure of het ingetogen Prophecy Now. Dit is geen geïmproviseerde muziek meer, dit zijn geen jams die maar doormelken (hoewel de band daar live nog steeds niet vies van is), dit zijn ongelooflijk knappe, goed geconstrueerde en gecomponeerde stukken. Dat wil overigens niet zeggen dat de band vergeten is hoe er gerockt moet worden.

Titelstuk Mantis is een opgewekt, opzwepend stuk muziek met een fantastische gitaarsolo, maar in het middenstuk waagt de band zich ook aan een aan krautrock herinnerende, wat atonale passage. Daarmee wint het stuk aan complexiteit, al klinkt het wat geforceerd. Dat het stuk meer is dan los zand, openbaart zich dan ook pas na een flink aantal luisterbeurten. Dat is overigens geen straf. Mantis is een plaat die meerdere luisterbeurten achtereen meekan.

Toch is het meer ontspannen bluesje waarmee Cemetry Walk begint een fijn rustpunt. Dat duurt natuurlijk niet lang, na een minuutje zet de band een lekker stuk powerpop aan. De finesse van Christopher Cross en het venijn van The Knack, daar ergens tussenin. De band kan al die verschillende stijlen niet alleen moeiteloos aan, de zeer vaardige muzikanten weten ze tot één onderscheidend geluid te versmelten. Luister alleen maar eens naar Cemetry Walk II, waar hetzelfde thema de basis vormt voor bossa nova, disco en funk. Meesterlijk.

Ik moet alleen zeggen dat ik niet veel hoor van percussionist Andy Farag, drummer Myers lijkt me trouwens meer dan mans genoeg om het ritme te bewaken.

Met 54 minuten voelt "Mantis" niet te lang, de afwisseling van intense en luchtigere passages maakt de beluistering sowieso een feest. Turn & Run is wat rechtere rock, terwijl Spires meer concentratie vergt. Zo neemt de band de luisteraar moeiteloos bij de hand. De plaat kent geen winkeldochters. Umphreys McGee mag dan voor het eerst het materiaal niet uit ten treure live hebben getest, de heren zijn terecht zeker van hun zaak. Ze weten complex materiaal bedrieglijk simpel te laten klinken en zijn ondertussen niet te beroerd om dat met de meest schurende akkoorden te doen. Zo zit ik bij Spires steeds met kromme tenen van de valsigheid en vind ik het tóch mooi - wie dat kan, komt van goeden huize. Als kers op de appelmoes viert de band in Red Tape feest op dezelfde uitbundige, bijna naïef blije manier als Moon Safari. Geen twijfel: Umphreys McGee is het hélemaal.

De plaat bevat overigens een bonus cd met 10 stukken, waaronder nummers van vorige platen en drie nieuwe live uitvoeringen. Wie de website van de band bezoekt, vindt daar bovendien podcasts met nog meer materiaal. Tot slot hebben kopers van het album nog recht op een eigen website waar - naar mate er meer exemplaren verkocht worden - steeds meer bonustracks te downloaden zijn. In dát opzicht is Umphreys McGee een echte jamband gebleven: de fans zijn hun beste vrienden!

Erik Groeneweg

Progwereld

The Zildjian Tour

2010-03-06T11:28:00Z

Kris & Andy venture to cymbal heaven

Andy says, "If I've told them once, I told them a thousand times...put Andy Farag first, then Kris Myers..."

While we where taking a couple days off Kris and I where invited to visit the Zildjian factory outside of Boston. Makers of the worlds best cymbals, Zildjian was founded in 1623! (Joel was just beginning elementary school at that time) As we entered Zildjian HQ it seemed more like a museum than an office. Steeped in rich musical history many of the walls are adorned with pictures of some the most legendary of drummers as well as some really classic drum sets of these famed musicians. It was really cool to be up close and be able to sit on Buddy Rich's actual set!

We then took a tour of the factory (of which we have no pictures due to the top secret process that they create cymbals) I will tell you that this was probably my favorite part of the day. It was so great to be immersed in the sites, smells, and sounds of the factory. Kris and I are so very fortunate to have the support of such a great family run business. We love our Zildjian cymbals!

This is the main vault where thousands of cymbals of different sizes and models are stored, ready to be shipped to customers, artists, and music merchandise stores all over the world. Andy is told he can swap out some of his original touring cymbals with new, brighter, shinier ones.....needless to say, Andy is very happy!

This is the orchestral cymbal vault, where classical musicians travel from all over the world, trying out their favorite cymbals in a sound proofed room with reverb modeling so you can hear your cymbals in a concert hall or a cathedral or whichever you prefer. "Riiiiccola!!"

It was amazing to see the process of how the cymbals are manufactured through machine hammering and ridiculous technology. First you melt them into a small metallic "globule"...then, they flatten the molten metal, then they cut them to size, then machine hammered with these giant dyes, then they are lathed by hand to make the shiny grooves of the cymbal. At this point they are buffed and coated with a protectant finish. After one final "secret process" they are stamped with the Zildjian logo...then swiftly grabs the cymbal and puts it throught the last man on the assembly line to rack all the cymbals to be lastly inspected by an "expert cymbalsmith". So cool to watch!

One of the great perks to the factory was the different drumsets donated by certain Hall of Fame drummers. This is a drumset given by the great Gene Krupa, who is one of my personal favorites. Gene Krupa was one of the most popular big band era drummers in history, and was mostly known for his raging performances with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. He was the predecessor to the incomparable Buddy Rich, as well as others like Louie Bellson, who was known as the first drummer to incorporate double bass drums in a big band setting.

Speaking of Buddy Rich, there so happened to be one of his kits there as well. Buddy Rich was arguably the greatest drummer of all time, with brilliant musicianship and had lightning fast technique that was almost unheard of. To my understanding, Buddy was very close to the Zildjian family and when he was practically on his death bed, gave his kit from his last performance to Armand Zildjian, saying "take good care of it for me." Hope he doesn't mind me sitting behind his beautiful white marine Slingerlands....I couldn't resist.

Travis Barker's Red, White, and Blue

Ginger Baker's setup

Ringo, baby!

Isn't he lovable?

2010-03-04T20:25:00Z

Nothing Too Fancy

2010-03-03T08:03:00Z

or is it?

Calvin Theater, Northampton, MA 02/28/10

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From the "Waful Cam"

(2nd half coming out of "Alex's House") Check out the UMLive audio for the entire show.

A Day In The Life: NYC

2010-03-01T08:17:00Z

When I stepped off the bus on Thursday morning to find giant snowflakes hurling themselves towards the ground, one got the impression that the day would prove extraordinary. Those snowflakes inspired me to begin an impromptu version of our on going ADITL series. But rather than focus on anyone in particular, we kept the camera moving and tried to capture the essence of our collective day. From the morning snowstorm to a drummer ironing to the afternoon at CBS radio to rehearsal and show time at the Nokia Theater, there's a little bit of everything in here. I realize the video is almost 10 minutes long which is War & Peace-esque to the ADHD riddled internet age but I have faith in you. Focus young Padawan.

In addition, (almost) the entire soundtrack is culled from the evening's performance which can be found here.

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On a side note, I've been motivated by my conversations with Jefferson and am officially getting serious about learning how to edit video for real. No more dissolve only transitions. Happy Clayton?

Lisztomania

2010-02-26T13:13:00Z

Covering Phoenix at the Nokia Theater, NYC 02/25/10

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Download this track or the audio from the entire show here

Back at it...

2010-02-24T23:03:00Z

Kicking off a 3 week tour this evening in the Poconos. But before moving on we thought we'd share a few bits from the end of our last run.

Carved out a little time to visit the Moog studio in Asheville, NC and record a few songs for a Paste Magazine webisode.

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Naturally, UM would be in town for the first snow fall in 21 years in Charleston, SC. You can take us out of the midwest but you can't take the midwest out of us.

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Happy Valentine's Day Biatch!

And now onward forth in our never ending quest to melt face...

Stew Art Series: Atlanta, GA

2010-02-11T01:08:00Z

Let's mix it up a little this week with our S² recap. The Tabernacle provided the back drop for another intimate event full of twists and turns. While we usually give you the full play by play of the texts we choose, this week here is some of the those that didn't make it to the screen for one reason or another.

Brendan sings bob weir

off with her head!!!

bridgefull

Robert Palmer's jam band

what happens when farag gets on the mic

first umphreys song to play on mtv

utopian disaster

im feeling like one of The Residents

DJ UM

Satan's Plunger

B.B. King James edition

countrified lovin

pants on the ground

elton mcgee

not so neil young anymore

Jersey Shore Dopplegangers

a tribute to rothbury

stasik mullet explanation

Sociable Jimmy Page

Open letter from the MGMT

Thanks to Jon Leidel for the bottom 4 pictures!

Week Wrap Up

2010-02-08T14:40:00Z

What a week. 5 in a row plus a Stew Art event. Bookended sell outs in Omaha & Atlanta. And now 2 much needed days off. Enjoy this multimedia mix and match from the past week's action.

Omaha, Nebraska

A bright idea

Lawrence, Kansas

Joel demonstrates his transformation of "Passing" for an 8 bit gaming system

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The Happy Couple

The Unhappy Couple

St. Louis, Missouri

"A woman needs a man like a..."

Nashville, Tennessee

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Atlanta, Georgia

Give it to me Jaco!

"You got me on my knees, Layla"

"Well, It's a Joel setlist so..."

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So close, you can do it, almost there

Caption Contest #2 Winner

2010-02-05T17:52:00Z

And by early next week, we meant Friday.

A lot of great submissions this time around so we've included a few honorable mentions below that made the short list. But a hearty congrats to Sarah Schulte who took the prize this week.

Honorable Mentions:

"...little Joel is growing up so fast" - Matt Costa

"Ahh yes... and it will be called Andy Farag and the Umphrey McGees" - Benjamin Hackett

"hello darkness my old friend" - Timothy Gershon

And this submission by Stephen Albertson was way too good not to include. We like you stretching the boundaries as that's how we roll here at Umphrey's McGee. Drive fast and swerve.

Caption Contest #2

2010-01-28T11:21:00Z

And we're back with Caption Contest #2. And how can you go wrong with a picture of our beloved percussionist Andy Farag? You can't, that's the point. Ponder and submit a caption that you think best suits this picture of Andy from the Stew Art event in Burlington VT in November. Many thanks to bstetson for sending us this shot.

We'll vote on a winner and then send you a piece of swag from here at the UM HQ. Email submissions to umphreysblog@gmail.com and let us have it. Please enter "Caption Contest #2" in the subject line. And once agin, if any of you have any pictures that are just screaming for a caption, feel free to submit those as well. Awesome submissions only please. Carry on....

Look for the winner to be announced at the beginning of next week.

Stew Art Denver Recap

2010-01-26T16:43:00Z

And here is your official multimedia recap of the first Stew Art event of 2010 held this past Saturday at The Fillmore in Denver. Good stuff all around. Thanks to Brian Spady for the still shots.

This video contains snippets of technobluegrass > Rastafarian Snooop Dogg > How Ryan Felt When The Steelers Missed The Playoffs > Q&A > Cemetery Walk Part III > Panty Droppin' Pop.

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Improv I:

Technobluegrass
Rastafarian Snoop Dogg
Sound Engineer's Worst Nightmare
How Ryan Felt When The Steelers Missed The Playoffs
Sweaty Bunk Love
Mile High
Shirt Too Tight, Even For Joel
Wafuled
Myers Farag Duel
Save the Princess Part II
All Guns Blazin'

Improv II:
Wappy Dingleberry
Conan vs. Leno
Cemetary Walk Part III
Marc Brownstein vs. Jenn Hartswick
Coming In the Back Door
First Umphreys Tour Bus
Iron Maiden Does Devo
Song For Your Mothers
Reaction to Magner Sitting In the Front Row at Holidaze during the Moos
7 Years For Kris

Improv III:

Panty Droppin' Pop
Good Poker
Try to Confuse Jaco
NYE All Over Again
Umphrey's McGeeLand Theme Song
Funky Neil Diamond
1st Song You Will Play When You Headline Red Rocks
Brendan Imitates Jaco Guitar Playing Style
A Song For the 11 Chicks Here!
Joelless in Flagstaff Reprise
Twiser Reprise
How You Feel After Eating At Waffle House
Riders On the Snow Sorm
Acapella
Summercamp Preview

Day(s) Off

2010-01-23T15:31:00Z

Hitting the slopes on our 2 days off on this West Coast tour. Nice routing if I may say so myself...

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(with soundtrack - http://bit.ly/6XhM40)

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Happy Birthday Mantis!

2010-01-20T13:57:00Z

What a year it has been. Today marks the one year anniversary of Mantis and in honor of the occasion we are going to give you more free music because that's, well, that's what we do. These tunes sure have come a long way over the last few years and it's been a thrill to have you along for the ride.

To begin, here is a stream of the Great American > Stewart > Great American from 5/1/2006 in Birmingham, AL. The track starts acoustic, finishes electric, and contains the seed of what became the opening verse sections of the track "Mantis". It's a doozy.

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And attached for your free downloading pleasure is this unreleased version of"Made to Measure" from Acoustic Chrismtas 2009. With Jake on keys and Brendan on guitar, this baby is stripped down to the bare bones.

Thank you for all the support and love you've given Mantis and UM over the last year. It's truly the stuff that keeps us going. Keep spreading the word and turning on new ears so we can all take over the world together.

A Day In The Life: Jefferson Waful

2010-01-19T19:34:00Z

Part 5 of our ever growing series presents ADITL of Umphrey's lighting director Jefferson Waful. See his take on our show this past Saturday at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, CA.

Part I

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Part II

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