Getting to Know Umphrey’s

I know next to nothing about Umphrey’s Mcgee. In 2004, I bought one of their records, “Anchor Drops.” Frankly, it didn’t do much for me, which was a bit of a disappointment. On paper, this is an act I should love: a Phish-like jam band with prog and metal sensibilities.

But there you go. I didn’t dig it.

Still, when I got a blast email from the 930 Club touting Umphrey’s recent two-night stand there, I was in. At the very least, I figured it would be fun to parachute into another jam band’s scene and compare and contrast with the Phish experience. It turns out I was right about that.

Thing is, I can’t yet call myself an Umphrey’s fan. Maybe with time? Sometimes music grabs you from the opening notes. Like, for example, when I listened to “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” for the first time last summer, sending me on an Iron Maiden bender that hasn’t really let up. But sometimes music requires a bit of work and patience.

Here’s why I’m ready to stick with Umphrey’s, based on a few observations I jotted down at the gig last Friday. (Umphrey’s fans who have stumbled across this post can skip the rest. Nothing terribly insightful on the band is written below.)

• Good crowd. It was fun to see folks rocking out, mouthing the words, knowing the secret cues of when to yell or whatever.

• Two guitars: Nice, synthy guitar interplay and dueling.

• Guitar tricks: Tapping! And at the end of one bit, the lead guitarist finished off by slowly tuning his low E string all the way down. Don’t remember ever seeing a guitar player do that one.

• Why I love jam bands: At one point, I thought the band was losing the crowd in spaced-out, formless jam. But then they took it into a sort of fierce techno jam. A little later on, they launched into a song with a weird time signature, which drew a big crowd reaction. I love jam bands.

• Metal: Umphrey’s metal vibe is something that Phish will never deliver, unless it’s tongue-in-cheek or close to it. The tapping, the dueling guitars, the booming double bass drums – as a metal fan, I have to say it’s pretty gratifying. One point, though, I wrote this: “Enjoying this but I sort of wish they would bust into ‘Run to the Hills.’” Probably a function of my not being familiar with the tunes.

Elevation!

See Emily Play describes the euphoria of a U2 show:

But truth be told, when I am in the middle of their sound, my mind is unplugged, and my heart is in over-drive.  I doubt I could ever explain what it is, or why it happens.  But it is a feeling that I have known virtually my entire life, and the rush of it is a shot to the soul like nothing else.

Forbes just runs the numbers:

The ageless rockers are wrapping up the most lucrative tour in the history of music: By the time U2′s two-year trek ends this summer, the band will have sold $700 million worth of tickets over two years and played to more than 7 million people.