Life is Music™

Brendan Bayliss shines

“I’m just being a representative of the Midwest.”

Brendan Bayliss sings that lyric in the Umphrey’s McGee’s tune, “Slacker”. Yet when it comes to playing shows in the Midwest, Umphrey’s McGee has never slacked. Instead they continuously bring multi-day runs to the heart of their fan base and the fans show up big, oftentimes from all parts of the country. In their fourth year at the best rock club in the Midwest, the prog-rocking powerhouse brought it larger than ever with the inclusion of their newly innovative and wonderfully orchestrated Stew Art series (S2).

In the Stew Art series (named after “Jimmy Stewart” which is what the band calls their improvisational jams), a very limited amount of fans not only get to direct the music the band plays, but there is a question & answer and meet & greet session. I was fortunate to have taken part in this and it was a fantastic experience that I’ll never forget.

On Friday, March 12th, a capacity crowd welcomed the Chicago band with high spirits as Umphrey’s McGee returned to Minneapolis for night one of their three night run at First Avenue. The first set was a good primer for things to come. The second set rocked. And their were still two days left.

Friday, March 15th, 2010 setlist:
Set I:  Spires, “Jimmy Stewart” > Linear > Mulche’s Odyssey, Much Obliged > Hajimemashite > Glory > Hajimemashite, Hurt Bird Bath

Set II:  Professor Wormbog > Booth Love*, Cemetery Walk II > Making Flippy Floppy**, Gulf Stream > Miss Tinkle’s Overture > Masoka Tango > Miss Tinkle’s Overture
Encore:
Got Your Milk (Right Here), Waiting Room

Notes:
* with Get Up, Stand Up jam
** with Can’t You Hear Me Knocking jam

Brendan Bayliss

Umphrey's McGee

Ryan Stasik

Umphrey's Mcgee

Saturday afternoon I was one of fifty people to take part in the Minneapolis edition of the Stew Art series (S2) which the band started last fall in select cities. When we entered First Avenue, the shadowy club was dimly lit and a large projector screen stood upon stands on the main floor. Pizza and refreshments were provided and half an hour later things got started.

The idea behind Stew Art is to give the fans ultimate control over what the band plays. Fans text message ideas to the sound guru, Kevin Browning, who then displays them on the screen for the band to read. The band makes up the music on the spot and plays a few minutes before molding directly into the next idea which is highlighted. Entering (S2), I was a bit skeptical about this process, but Umphrey’s McGee quickly put those thoughts to rest. The precision of how they play while directing each other is nothing short of amazing. The band’s Midwestern humor has always been evident to me, and on this day hilarity oftentimes ensued from the ideas the fans sent in. Imagine for a moment the band playing as Revenge of the Nerds, or guitarist Jake Cinninger making up words to “Divisions” as he sang like Johnny Cash. That’s how things ended, and when it was over, it took a long while before I could wipe the smile off my face.

After a little over an hour of music, the band then stepped onto the floor to talk and sign autographs. It was a nice experience to talk to the band and their crew. Guitarist, Jake Cinninger, summed up the musical energy the band brings to every show. With a goofy smile on his face he illustrated to me how moments of their live shows peak, “It goes to you, it goes to me, it goes to you, it goes to me, it goes to you, it goes to me…..” The band’s openness and sincere appreciation of their fans is something to be admired.

Stew Art (S2)

Stew Art (S2)

Stew Art (S2) - Waful designs #1

Stew Art (S2) - Waful designs #2

Stew Art (S2) - Waful designs #3

Those who attended the Stew Art got to stay in the venue for the night’s show. Doors opened at 6PM and the venue was quick to fill. The band sounded well rested and they brought great energy straight from the start. The first set rocked.   The second set opened with the title track to their spectacular 2009 release, Mantis. The song was huge and from there I knew the second set was going to get heavy.  The band worked into a jazzed up version of “Wappy Spayberry” with the help of Minneapolis  saxophonist, Kevin Sinclair.  “Fussy Dutchman” was excellent before a dark and nasty “Ocean Billy” into “Plunger” mash. This was the best show I witnessed all weekend, and one of my favorite Umphrey’s McGee shows ever.

Saturday, March 13th, 2010 setlist:
Set I:  Prowler > In the Kitchen, Cemetery Walk > Pay the Snucka (parts I & II) > Atmosfarag > Resolution* > In the Kitchen , That’s All > Pay the Snucka (part III)

Set II:  Preamble > Mantis > Wappy Sprayberry^ > Mantis, The Fussy Dutchman, Push the Pig, Steppin’ Razor > Ocean Billy > Plunger > Kula > Plunger > Ocean Billy
Encore:
Alex’s House^, 1348

Notes:
* with Norwegian Wood jam and Rock Your Body (Justin Timberlake) teases
^ with Kevin Sinclair on sax

Brendan Bayliss as yoda

Jake Cinninger

Kris Myers

Joel Cummins

Jake Cinninger shreads

Umphrey's McGee

Sunday, March 14th was the finale of their recent American tour. Minneapolis’ own, Heatbox, opened the show with some funk driven hip-hop. Heatbox is a one-man band minus the tangible instruments. He plays beats and instrumentations with his voice and samples them over before adding lyrics. Umphrey’s McGee joined in for his last tune, and worked straight into “Jazz Odyssey” to start their show as he picked up his gear and left the stage. That’s not a show introduction one often sees.

First Avenue was maybe over two-thirds full leaving ample space to move. This was appreciative on a Sunday night as the band once again rocked for the hard cores. Last year I made some friends at the First Avenue shows. We labeled ourselves the “Circle of Trust” and on this night we returned to the same balcony rail that we met at a year before.

Set one was fun, but set two was powerful. The “Nothing Too Fancy” and “Andy’s Last Beer” mashes got things moving and the wicked “Wizard Burial Ground” encore tore the place down.  This was another terrific show and a great way to end the weekend.

Sunday, March 14th, 2010 setlist:
Set I:  #Jazz Odyssey > Hangover > Wife Soup > The Triple Wide*, Slacker > Dear Lord > Slacker, Rocker (part II) > YYZ > Hangover

Set II:  Nothing Too Fancy > Higgins > Get In the Van > Nothing Too Fancy, Andy’s Last Beer > Muscle Shoals Nitty Gritty > Andy’s Last Beer, JaJunk > London Calling > JaJunk
Encore:
Wizard Burial Ground> Made to Measure > Wizard Burial Ground

Notes:
Heatbox opened
# during his closing jam, Heatbox was replaced by Umphrey’s before seguing into Hangover
* with Rhiannon teases

If Umphrey’s McGee can top this weekend in their next Minneapolis run, I’d be a little surprised. But then again nothing this band does should be surprising. After all, it was Sunday night when singer Brendan Bayliss also sang in “Slacker”, “In the end I must confess, you have yet to even witness our best.”

Jake Cinninger

Ryan Stasik

Jake Cinninger

Brendan Bayliss

Brendan Bayliss

Saturday Set Break

Here’s another reason why Umphrey’s McGee treats their fans better than any band in the business.  First it started with incredible sounding live matrix recordings (mix of soundboard and audience) that the band uploaded for anyone to download for free.  Sound caresser, Kevin Browning, did this for several years until it evolved into UMlive where a fan can now take home the night’s show minutes after the show is over, or he/she can download it later in mp3 or FLAC format.

With spontaneity and trust in mind, last October the band then created the Stew Art Series (S2).  In the Stew Art Series (S2), the band selects certain cities they are already playing and releases a very limited amount of tickets to an all out improvisational afternoon concert where the fans dictate what the band plays on the spot.  A Q&A session and a meet and greet follow with each attendee taking home an autographed copy of the performance.  The band works through each idea the fans dictate with complex signals that keep everyone on their toes.  A portion of the proceeds go to the USTORM charity which helps children and young adults to improve their lives by providing access to various music and arts education programs.  What an awesome idea!

Now the band is now stepping it up once more with their own take on American football.  The first annual UMBowl will take place at Lincoln Hall in Chicago on April 24th, 2010. UMBowl is a 4+ hour musical extravaganza where the band will play four quarters of music, each with a different interactive theme.

The first quarter will be comprised of an acoustic set chosen entirely by the attendees who will cast their votes for which songs will be played in advance.  For the second quarter the band goes back to the Stew Art Series and will text their soundman ideas, he will then display them on a big screen and the fans must text in “plays” and march the band down the field.  The third quarter is the all request quarter.  Once again each attendee will fill out a ballot in advance and express how they want the songs and interludes to go.  In the final quarter, the fans are the quarterbacks.  During the songs the band plays, options will be provided on the big screen and the fans can then text in which direction the band should go.  The band aims to please and any attendee of this game will certainly get their moneys worth.

Umphrey’s McGee has come far.  Along this road to prog-rocking legendary status, it’s refreshing to know they never have forgotten their deep and loyal fanbase.  The band now fills theaters and clubs to capacity all across the country yet they still are willing to keep their ticket prices low.  Continually they look for new and unique ideas to impress and grant open access to their fans.  The band has never hid their love of sports and UMBowl again shows that.  This should be a wonderful experience for all those who attend.  Umphrey’s McGee is the best.  Midwest represent!

Also check out the band’s blog, The Floor, for a behind the scenes look into the day to day happenings of the band.

I am a great believer in quality over quantity, therefore 2009 was a good year for me musically.  I hope the new decade is filled with more great music for everyone.  Here are my top nine concerts of 2009.  Minnesota ROCKS!

1. The Hold Steady at Basilica Block Party – Minneapolis, MN 7.11.09- Wow, wow, wow!  This show was a musical riot.  It was spiritual.  It was energetic.  It was a perfect summer evening.  When The Hold Steady play Minneapolis one can expect fireworks, but I didn’t expect this.  Standing front and center of The Hold Steady’s preacher, Craig Finn, as the historic Basilica of St. Mary church shadowed the crowd from behind is something I will never forget.  I have been a part of many rock concerts, but there are only a handful of shows I have witnessed that compared to this.  The band was insane and the crowd was dieing for more.  It was a fist-pumping, musical uniting, rock-n-roll religious experience for the ages.  This was easily a top 10 concert ever for me.
2. The Decemberists at Walker Art Center – Minneapolis, MN 6.20.09- 2009’s version of “Rock the Garden” was a great success.  It was a hot summer day but thankfully when the headliner, The Decemberists, hit the stage, the sun had finally surrendered.  The band wasted no time working straight through their gorgeous 2009 rock-opera album, The Hazards of Love.  The addition of Becky Stark who played the role of the beautiful princess, and Shara Worden who played the evil forest queen was priceless.  Their added theatrics made this much more than any old rock concert.  I witnessed poetry in motion.  Singer/songwriter, Colin Meloy, appeared to be having a blast as 10,000 fans rocked across the grassy landscape behind the wonderful Walker Art Center.  Once again the crowd was terrific making this an unforgettable summer evening.
3. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit at The Turf Club – St. Paul, MN 4.15.09 – This was the most soulful concert I witnessed in 2009.  The former Drive-by Truckers singer and guitarist has been on his own for a few years, and on this night he showed all of the strengths of that experience.  Jason Isbell’s voice is pure.  Very few voices move me the way Isbell’s can, and I was fortunate to witness him at his very best this night.  His backing band, the 400 Unit, must be complimented as well.  They played flawlessly to a respectfully attentive sell-out crowd.  This night was beautiful, and leagues better than when they returned to the The Turf Club on November 20th.  That night they sounded tired.
4. Wilco at 10,000 Lakes Music Festival – Detroit Lakes, MN 7.23.09 – Leave it to Wilco to cue “The Price is Right” theme song before stepping on stage.  Wilco was the main stage headliner on Thursday night of the seventh annual 10,000 Lakes Music Festival in Detroit Lakes, MN.  Having the alt-rocking powerhouse band, Wilco, headline a night at a predominantly jamband festival had me a bit worried, but Wilco prevailed, even while being under the barrage of glowsticks at one point.  Although Jeff Tweedy is the singer/songwriter of the band, there really is no leader.  Wilco is a band, the very definition of it.  Each member is a master of their instrument and while a good portion of the crowd seemed unfamiliar with their work, Wilco proceeded along with their eternal professionalism and had the crowd rocking.  Most of the material was from their 2009 album, Wilco (the album), but they balanced their set wonderfully with songs from the past.  This show was fantastic, and added a wonderful mix to a wonderful festival.
5. Umphrey’s McGee at First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN 1.31.09 – Night two of Umphrey’s McGee’s three-night run at First Avenue rocked!!  Just over a week after the release of their brilliant prog-rocking album, Mantis, the band introduced the new tunes with force while mixing in plenty of older favorites.  Friday night was for the rookies, but this night was for the pros.  First Avenue was filled with the hardcores, making it an amazing experience.  The night opened with the heavy head-bobbing “Push the Pig”, and ended with an awesome “Syncopated Strangers > Cemetery Walk II > Syncopated Strangers” mash.  This was an amazing night that shook the cold winter blues.  I’m grateful for the new friends I made this weekend.
6. The Swell Season at The State Theatre – Minneapolis, MN 12.5.09 – This was a beautiful show.  The Swell Season are made up of The Frames’, Glen Hansard, and Czech pianist, Marketa Irglova.  Together they won a an Academy Award for Best Song from a Motion Picture for the ballad “Falling Slowly” from the low budget Irish film, Once (a must see if you haven’t already).  On this tour they were supported by Hansard’s band, The Frames.  The night was mixed with songs by the duo, Glen Hansard playing solo, and together with the addition of The Frames.  They even included a nice cover of “Two-Step” by the Minnesota band, Low.  The State Theatre was the absolute perfect venue for this wonderfully moving show.
7. The Jayhawks at Basilica Block Party - Minneapolis, MN 7.10.09 – Seeing the Basilica of St. Mary gospel choir back up The Jayhawks on “Blue” while rain fell steadily is one of my biggest musical highlights of 2009.  There was a lot of anticipation for this show since the only other date the band reunited for in 2009 was for a festival in Barcelona, Spain.  It was unfortunate that it rained through most of the concert, but the packed crowd welcomed the music with little regard.  All night the fans could be heard singing along to the songs of these Minneapolis alt-rocking legends.  And Gary Louris’ guitar work impressed me more than I ever could have imagined.  I am very grateful to have been a part of this show.
8. Trampled by Turtles at First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN 11.6.09 – There is no questioning that this band is for real.  Trampled by Turtles is a quintet from Duluth, MN who play their own brand of bluegrass.  On this night they were on, and the sold-out crowd that packed First Avenue to witness it were blessed with an amazing performance.  I’ve seen Trampled by Turtles a lot of times, but this night was special.  A Radiohead cover started things off, and from their they hammered through songs from their four albums and also tunes from their currently untitled fifth album which is due next April.  It was a great night to celebrate Minnesota, a great night to celebrate Trampled by Turtles.  This band deserves the success they are starting to see.
9. Dan Auerbach at First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN 3.7.09 – I am probably one of the only ones around who think that Dan Auerbach is better with his solo band than he is with drummer, Patrick Carney, as the duo, The Black Keys.  This show at First Avenue made me realize how great of a songwriter Auerbach really is.  He plays guitar like an old bluesman sitting on a front porch, yet with catchy bounce that is hard to resist.  His solo album, Keep It Hid, that he was touring behind is fantastic.  The band, Hacienda, acted as his band on the record and tour and they were very impressive.  The addition of My Morning Jacket’s, Patrick Hallahan, on percussion certainly didn’t hurt matters either.  This was a great show.  Dan Auerbach is a legend in the making.

10,000 Lakes Festival 2009

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009 

Gomez – Gomez rules.  This was one of the bands I was really excited to see at the festival.  The crowd was relatively slim and while most were quite chatty with first-day festival energy, Gomez put on a very fine rockin’ performance.

Widespread Panic – With the day #1 crowd finally packing full the concert floor and most of the lawn, Widespread Panic headlined the night.  Their first set was nothing to write home about, but their second set brought the energy.  Still I have a hard time getting too excited over this band.  Jimmie Herring is a damn impressive guitarist though.

Kinetix - This Denver, CO rock band is led by a hip-hop singer and funky ass rhthym section.  These guys were a nice small stage treat after Widespread Panic.  I didn’t see it all, but what I saw was good and a whole lotta fun.

Pretty Lights - This set kicked butt.  Onstage was dj Derek Vincent Smith and drummer, Cory Eberhard.  Together they shook the entire concert bowl with electro-driven rhythyms and great mixes.  I was impressed.  

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

Railroad Earth - Over the years I’ve heard a lot of good things about this band.  This was my first opportunity to see them and they were excellent band to bounce around to in the mid-day sun.  Rootsy Americana tunes is their game and they play it very well.

Mason Jennings - Umm, boring.  We’re talking a major yawner here.  And I waited through the entire set to ensure I had a good spot for Wilco.

Wilco - This was the best show of the festival and it wasn’t due to “the Price is Right” intro.  I talked to a lot of people up front who had never even heard of Wilco before, and once the music progressed I watched these same people rock their asses off.  The band opened with “Wilco (the song)” and ended with “Hoodoo Voodoo”.  In between was a lot of recent tunes with “One Wing”, “Bull Black Nova” and “Country Disappeared” sounding phenomenal from the new album.  The band was on all night and most of the crowd appreciated it.  Of course there were a few dipshits trying to ruin the party for everyone.  For every glow stick that hit that stage some little girl’s puppy died.  You stupid punks who were throwing those should truly be ashamed. 

Wilco will love you baby

Nels & Glenn of Wilco

Atmosphere – As soon as I got to the stage sprinkles came down.  I don’t know a lot about this hip-hop band but the section of their set I hung around for was fantastic.  The crowd was rocking as much as I had seen all weekend.  When the first downpour came, I tucked my camera under my arm and ran like Adrian Peterson.  I give props to those who tried to stay it out.  In the end a big set was cut way short due to thunderstorms.

Friday, July 24th, 2009

Tea Leaf Green – My first time seeing them and I wasn’t overly impressed.

Steve Kimock’s Crazy Engine – The band was ripping it!  I only caught a few tunes on my way to the main stage to hold down a front row spot for Trampled by Turtles but these guys were great.  Thankfully I heard the rest of their set from afar while waiting for TBT.

Trampled by Turtles – The boys from Duluth have grown up to the Main Stage!  I’m thinking the Field Stage would have been a better fit as this huge stage dwarfed the band but the crowd was out in groves and it was great.  They started off with a few jitters (can’t blame them), but as things warmed up their hardcore fanbase and new listeners gave them the support they deserved.  It was great seeing one of Minnesota’s finest treasures letting it fly up there on the big stage and it seemed to end far too soon.

Dave Simonett & Tim Saxhaug

Ryan Young & Dave Carroll

Erik Berry & his son

Widespread Panic - Hey promoters, why the hell didn’t Umphrey’s McGee have this headlining spot?  Seriously though, are you people friggin’ crazy?  Midwest represent!!  Although I’ve had some great times at Widespread shows in the past, their unchanging tempos, stale drumming and similar song structure is boring.  This set was just OK in my book, which ain’t saying much of anything at all.

Wookiefoot – This show was a load of fun and one of the highlights of the festival.  Although their music has never captured me, the stage show is the brilliance behind this band.  Everything from the lights, to the fire dancers, to the back-up singers, to the alien bugs on stilts makes this an impressively theatrical show.  The band pushes the creative envelope and delivers a positive message which in the end will always make me smile.

Saturday, July 25th, 2009

Umphrey’s McGee - My love for the music these guys create is definitely not unknown, but I had a hard time getting into this set.  They seemed to be on a mission to destroy everything in front of them with some very heavy jams.  They played as well as they always do but it wasn’t the most festival friendly set in my opinion.  The sun was incredibly hot which didn’t help at all.  These guys need to be seen at night to truly appreciate, and put them in a rock club and it’s prog-rocking heaven.  They have one of the best light shows out there and that arsenal wasn’t even touched.  Hey 10KLF, main stage headlining with two sets next time OK?  Thanks!

Umphrey's McGee

Dave Matthews Band - My love for this band faded the day I realized quality beer was not available in 30 packs.  That didn’t stop me from checking them out though and I’m glad I did.  I had just as much fun watching their hardcore (and large) fan base enjoy themselves as I did watching the actual show.  Their “Burning Down the House” cover was excellent.  Even though I felt they cut it short (why not 2 sets?), this show was good fun.  It was also another gorgeous night for tunes and a fine way to end my 10KLF 2009.

With beautiful people everywhere, near perfect weather, friendly security and staff, this ranks very high in my 10,000 Lakes Festival experiences.  My only gripe was with the scheduling but one cannot control everything.  Next time make Umphrey’s McGee a headliner for the sake of everything good in music.  Then I shall return.

On the run to support the newly released album Mantis, Chicago’s finest band Umphrey’s McGee paid Minneapolis and the best rock club in town a three day visit once again.  It was eleven months since their last shows at First Avenue and expectations were high, especially from those of us who attended the 2008 run.

Night one was Friday, January 30th and for some reason this night turned into the amateur hour.  I secured one of the best spots in the house on the balcony, had a pint, and made some new friends while waiting for the show to start.  Finally Umphrey’s McGee was back onstage in Minneapolis and they opened with “Red Tape” and also worked in “Spires” off of the new album during the first set.  “Miss Tinkle’s Overture” was an interesting rendition but wait, did I just see a crowd surfer down on the floor?!?  No way…

Set two was more lively and became a good primer for what night two would bring.  They brought in the set with “Pay the Snucka” and worked through an awesome “Ja Junk” which pushed the energy levels up.  Hey is that girl crowd surfing down there?  What the shit?  Hey there’s another guy crowd surfing too!  Awesome!!!  I’m surprised the usually iron-fisted and authoritative First Avenue security guards didn’t start cracking heads.  “Cemetary Walk” from Mantis ended the set in style and for the encore they finally worked back to resolve “Pay the Snucka”.  This show was average due largely in part to the disrespectful distractions on the floor, but it did leave a lot of possibilities open for a Saturday night rock show.

Saturday, January 31st was the first time in the entire month of January that Minneapolis reached above the freezing mark.  The sun was shining bright and warm, loosening those winter blues and optimistic smiles were pasted on everyone’s faces.  I went back to the same balcony rail as the night before and met some new friendly faces as well as the guys from the night before.  The area soon became known as ”the circle of trust”.  Saturday night was going to go off!

The band waltzed onstage and drummer Kris Myers clicked his sticks together one-two-three-crack right into the slow and heavy head bobbing “Push the Pig”, a perfect show opener.  “Andy’s Last Beer” was terrific as was “Turn & Run” from Mantis.  For the first time I got to see “Bright Lights” live which was jazzed up by the addition of local-boy Kevin Sinclair on saxophone.  Now there was no turning back.

Set two started with a big “Hell’s Bells” tease which worked into the teenage wasteland “Baba O’Riley”.  Awesome!!  Soon the song “Mantis” came big and my wait was over, this song is grand in every which way.  Not to be outdone, “Front Porch > Resolution” stepped up next and the show officially went off the deep end.  High-fives were flying all around and it was impossible to stop smiling being engulfed in the wonderful energy.  The night ended with a nice “Syncopated Strangers > Cemetery Walk II” mash and then it all seemed to be over too soon.  Thankfully Sunday night was still remaining.

Umphrey's McGee - 01.31.09

Umphrey's McGee - 01.31.09

Umphrey's McGee - 01.31.09

Umphrey's McGee - 01.31.09

Each night Pittsburgh native and bassist Ryan Stasik sported a different Steelers jersey.  Night one was Willie Parker, Hines Ward was night two, and for Super Bowl Sunday it was Troy Polamalu.  First Avenue held a pre-show Super Bowl party and I walked in during the wild fourth quarter and joined a few others who had been watching the game.  About twenty minutes after the game, the curtain was raised for night three and there Stasik was waving a terrible towel.

By the time the headbanging “Wizard Burial Ground” was complete, it was obvious the band was loose and it was going to be a fun night.  With First Avenue maybe two-thirds full there was room to move and soon “Phil’s Farm” brought the boogie and was easily the highlight of set one.

The Mantis number “1348″ that I’d been waiting to hear live opened the flood gates to set number two and it was every bit as good as I had hoped.  Pink Floyd’s “Breathe” cover was a nice treat and “Triple Wide” was fun although not quite as rockin as usual but set-ender, “40’s Theme”, didn’t have a problem making up for it.  The encore of the night was Led Zeppelin’s “The Song Remains the Same” and upon its conclusion a very memorable fist-pumping, music-uniting, rock show of a weekend was over in style.  And I could not be more grateful.

Umphrey’s McGee is releasing their sixth studio album entitled Mantis to the world on January 20th, 2009.  Perhaps not by coincidence, this is also inauguration day in America for a fellow Chicagoan which marks a progressive step forward in a new direction for our country.  Thanks to the prudence of Umphrey’s McGee and the dedication to their fans, I received my copy of Mantis a few days before they hit store shelves.

For their past studio efforts, Umphrey’s McGee molded and remolded tunes onstage while wide eyes watched and then they layed them down in the studio.  But for Mantis the band moved in an entirely new direction.  This album was chiseled out in the studio and offers 100% new material that fans had yet to hear.  A few months before the release Umphrey’s McGee released some tracks to their myspace page and then offered a one of a kind pre-order package that was eaten up with overwhelming success.

Mantis starts off with”Made to Measure”, a short and fun concoction with great lyrics and choruses that makes one feel as though he’s bouncing over speed bumps on a Huffy bike.  Title song “Mantis” is track three on the album and a true monster that will undoubtedly be huge onstage.  Huge may be an understatement as with the first listen this song stood out as the strongest on the album and each subsequent listen only makes it better.  Jake Cinninger’s guitar rips through the emotion Brendan Bayliss’ lyrics build and the subtle addition of a string section over the interlude works wonderfully.

Track four is entitled “Cemetary Walk”.  The tune starts off with a Joel Cummin’s piano intro then breaks loose with verses toned in a danceable 80’s rhythm.  Only half-way through the album and thematic undertones of introspection are becoming very clear.  By the time “Cemetary Walk” ends it feels as though you are being pushed through a meat grinder.  This song is great, especially if you like being pushed through a meat grinder! 

Number six is entitled “Turn & Run”.  This is a nice tune with great vocals but overall it isn’t much of a standout until Cinninger let’s go on the second half of it.  And when I say let go I mean letting go in an Eddie VanHalen-esque shred your mind with tight leather pants, ripped sleeves and big hair sort of way!  Holy shit!  “Turn & Run” leads into track seven perfectly and I could easily see these going back-to-back onstage.  Track seven is “Spires”, a muff heavy guitar song that asks a lot of questions and then answers them by the end with a slight sense of optimism.  “Spires” is as much of Mantis as any tune on the album, yet it seems to be the one that could not be removed without significantly damaging the other remaining parts.

“Prophecy Now” is the title of track eight.  This is a chanty prayer-like song sung by keyboardist, Joel Cummins, with an electronic drum beat driven rhythm.  I’m not sure how it will translate live, but it may make for a wonderful show or set opener.  Track nine is called “Red Tape” and is dominated by the synthesized sounds of Joel Cummins.  The tune is fairly forgettable on the album but should work well onstage.  Mantis ends with “1348″, a melting pot of Umphrey’s McGee’s sound and I cannot wait to hear this one live!  Kris Myer’s drumming is every bit as heavy as Jake Cinninger’s progressive guitar-work, and before the song is over everyone has had a chance to interject.  ”1348″ ends in double time leaving the listener dizzily wishing that he had worn a seat belt.  A great closer indeed.

Mantis is the strongest studio album to date for Umphrey’s McGee.  Leaving their always anticipated midwest humor behind, it’s an album thematically heavy on self-introspection, reflection and change and by the end it I believe the title is finally understood.  Mantis is not referring to the female insect that has a nasty habit of eating her male partner after mating, it is referring to death of the past and optimism for the future.  Regardless of its symbolization Mantis deserves a good listen.  With two years of effort put into it, Mantis is gorgeously composed and the most artistically cohesive album to date for the band.  

Mantis

TRACK LIST:
1. Made to Measure 3:12
2. Preamble 0:36
3. Mantis 11:49
4. Cemetery Walk 7:30
5. Cemetery Walk II 2:19
6. Turn & Run 7:25
7. Spires 7:41
8. Prophecy Now 2:47
9. Red Tape 5:43
10. 1348 4:49

                                              Total Running Time: 54:04

Starting January 19th, Umphrey’s McGee will be touring heavily in support of this album so please do yourself a favor and go see them live when they come to your town.