Say what you will about jam bands. Strong opinions are had about them. You love ‘em or you hate ‘em. Say what you will about Umphrey’s McGee – call them a jam band if you must. Lead guitarist, Jake Cinneger, understands how you may label them that and he’s sorta ok with that.
“I generally say we’re just good old rock ’n’ roll. I guess we are a jam band because we do jam. But even Cream was a jam band. I guess the idea of a jam band is just a rock band that takes its chances improvising.”
UM has never been a band to stick to cliché jam band aesthetics, techniques, formats or sounds. Pilfering inspiration from multiple genres, the songs are an amalgam of Led Zeppelin blues rock, George Clinton funk, 80’s hair band power chords, electronic drones, Dick Dale tones, and Wes Montgomery jazz guitar. Has anyone ever read Austin Kleon’s Steal Like An Artist?
No song epitomizes this more than set one closer, “Phil’s Farm”. Floating effortlessly from metal to psychedelic, to funk, to classic rock – where the bridge reminds me of the Layla outro – to Cinnegar’s jazz guitar over top. Then back whence everything is tightened up.
Minus a small set-break the audience was treated to nearly three hours of Umphrey’s tight musicianship that is rarely seen in a live setting. These guys simply rock. Even if they don’t look like they would. And even if you still call them a jam band.
Fillmore Philadelphia | 1.14.23
SET ONE
Attachments
Nemo
Dump City
The Silent Type
Ordinary Times
Phil’s Farm
SET TWO
Out Of Focus
JaJunk
Alex’s House
All In Time
Ocean Billy
ENCORE
Escape Goat
All In Time
