Getting to Know Umphrey’s
Posted: September 8, 2011 Filed under: Artists, Concerts Leave a comment »
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.
Secondary Market Loves #Trey
Posted: August 31, 2011 Filed under: Concerts Leave a comment »I missed the boat on getting tickets for Trey’s October gig here in DC. They’re presently changing hands on StubHub at $98, minimum. Grim.
I Guess I’ll Spend an Hour in Transit to See Trey, I Guess
Posted: July 26, 2011 Filed under: Concerts Leave a comment »Always nice to have something to look forward to: Trey Anastasio returns to D.C. in October. But this time he’s not playing the 930 Club. Instead, he’ll perform at the newly opened Fillmore Silver Spring, a venue owned by Live Nation.
I’ve enjoyed Trey’s 930 shows, although the house has always been really, really packed. Maybe this venue will be roomier. On the minus side, it’s a long poke out to Silver Spring on the red line. Google tells me the commute by mass transit will take just under an hour.
Elevation!
Posted: July 20, 2011 Filed under: Artists, Concerts 2 Comments »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.
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.
Chip Off the Old Block
Posted: June 25, 2011 Filed under: Concerts Leave a comment »Lefsetz writes about a recent Rush show:
That was what was positively stunning. You’d turn around and everybody knew the words. They were playing air guitar. My favorites were the father and son in the row behind me. The dad was one of those barrel-chested fortysomething guys drinking beer…and playing every note on his imaginary axe. But even better was his towheaded not even ten year old son. He was playing every lick too. And like his dad, singing every word!
Thoughts on #Phish at Merriweather Post Pavilion, June 11, 2011
Posted: June 12, 2011 Filed under: Concerts 2 Comments »Phish tore it up last night. Great show. Are they the greatest rock band on the face of the earth, as I said a few days ago? I am still comfortable making that argument.
Mr. Miner, as usual, has a good blow-by-blow of the gig. Here are some of my observations.
Lot. My buddy and I parked in nearly the exact same spot as last year – in a garage. Not at all picturesque, but fine enough for pre-show beverages and snacks (thanks, Mike!). One lot incident: these two guys near us set up some percussion (conga and snare drum, etc.) behind their car. It added a bit of festivity to the dreary garage, but their chops were fair to poor, and the drums were pretty loud. It might have been tolerable outdoors, but after a while, two other people couldn’t take it anymore and yelled at the drummers to shut up. They stopped.
Daniel Saw the Stone. The show started off with Trey picking up a sign from the audience that read “Daniel Saw the Stone.” I hadn’t heard of this song, a bluegrass cover. According to Phish.net, Phish hadn’t performed it since August 2003. Trey grabbed the sign, held it up to the audience (to big cheers), then held it up to his bandmates. They then nailed the tune. Now, it could be that they had rehearsed “Daniel” and were gearing up to bust it out. But it sure looked like just a random fan request…for a song they hadn’t played in eight years. I really do think Phish might well be the greatest rock band on the face of the earth.
Nice breeze. The temperature at the show was perfect, with a steady breeze coming through the pavilion (helped along by windmill-like fans on the ceiling). I don’t like to dwell on the druggie side of this scene, but the breeze carried a pretty distinct pot waft.
Crisp. At point I wrote, “Trey – crisp. In fact, everybody crisp.”
Mike. During Ocelot, I noted that Mike was up in mix. “Nice beautiful bass,” I wrote. Another thing, toward the end of the gig, it looked to me like Mike was not playing a Modulus. Looked like a Fender or something. I’ll have to investigate.
Tom Sawyer tease? At one point, Mike made a sound that seemed an awful lot like that big, synthy opening note of “Tom Sawyer.” My buddy didn’t pick that up, so maybe I’m just a Rush fan who’s hearing things.
Patient. One description of Phish jamming that I’ve seen quite a bit recently is “patient.” That came through for me on Ocelot.
Fishman!
Reba. They nailed this tune, which I hadn’t seen live since 1991.
Bud Lime – Never Again. During the set break, I grabbed a veggie burrito, drank a Pepsi, then drank a Bud Lime (the only beer the burrito shack was selling). Never had the latter before. The beer itself is pretty bad (and I like normal Budweiser), but then I felt awful. I even had to sit down for a while. “Sitting down. Riding it out,” I wrote. I was worried for a minute that my night was over. Thankfully, my stomach recovered after a while, and I hit a big second wind for the rest of the second set. It could have been the burrito/soda/beer combo that got me, but I blame the Bud Lime. I’m never drinking that stuff again.
Velvet Sea. Some people hate on this tune, but I love it. All four guys on vocals.
Mound
Posted: June 9, 2011 Filed under: Concerts, Videos 2 Comments »I must try to dial down my expectations for this gig on Saturday. It’s tough.
Too Bad I’ve Got Plans for Saturday
Posted: June 7, 2011 Filed under: Books, Concerts 1 Comment »It turns out Bob Mould is playing a show at 930 this Saturday. I’d love to attend, but I’ll be in Columbia, MD for a night with the greatest rock band on the face of the earth, if not in recorded history.
Consolation prize: Mould’s book is coming out next week.
