Umphrey's McGee at The Observatory North Park

It's All About The Music
(article and photos by Stephen Anderson)

MARCH 19, 2017
Unlike some bands that pander to the social needs of their audience (by going out into the crowd and taking selfies with the fans); Umphrey's McGee is all about the music.UM hardly interacts with the crowd but instead focuses on playing one incredibly crafted song after another. I was down on the floor during the concert and I didn't hear any idle chit chat going on during the show. Instead of treating UM like they were props in their social scene, the sold-out crowd gave their complete attention to the music. UM have some serious music fans. In fact, some fans were so into the music that they rented headphones that were directly linked to the soundboard so they could hear the live music in its purest form! On one of the rare times, I heard the band speak to the audience, lead singer and guitarist Brendan Bayliss mentioned the name "San Diego" while UM was playing a rousing cover of "Reeling in the Years" by Steely Dan! The crowd gave out a hoot at being recognized and then went back to cheering the music that they came to hear. UM went on to play over two hours of intricately woven polyrhythmic driving music that pulled the crowd higher and higher until I thought the roof was going to blow off the old theater! So, on this night it was all about the music and music won!

All photographs are copyrighted images.

Setlist:

Black Friday
Walletsworth
Mantis Ghetts
Mantis
Example 1
Draconian
Reelin' in the Years
JaJunk
OG Cut the Cable
Dump City
Call to Arms
Slacker
Miami Virtue
Eat
1348

Encore
Hajimemashite

        2017 Tour Dates
May 20 Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
        Hampton Beach, NH
  May 25 Three Sisters Park  Chillicothe, IL
  May 26 Three Sisters Park  Chillicothe, IL
  Jun 01 Augusta Common Augusta, GA
  Jun 02 Music Farm Columbia, S.C.
  Jun 07 Great Stage Park  Manchester, TN
  Jun 08 Great Stage Park  Manchester, TN
  Jun 17 Founders Brewing Company Grand Rapids, MI
  Jun 30 Red Rocks Ampihtheatre Morrison, CO
  Jul 01 Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, CO
  Jul 02 Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, CO
  Jul 07 Summer Stage Central Park New York, NY
  Jul 08 Levitate Music Festival Marshfield, MA
  Jul 09 Levitate Music Festival Marshfield, MA
  Jul 21 Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
         Chicago, IL
  Jul 22 Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at
         White River State Park Indianapolis, IN
  Aug 10 Montage MountainScranton, PA
  Aug 11 Red Hat Amphitheater Raleigh, NC
  Aug 17 Sloss Furnaces Birmingham, AL
  Aug 18 Chastain Park Amphitheatre Atlanta, GA
  Aug 19 Ascend Amphitheatre Nashville, TN
  Aug 20 Tennessee Theatre Knoxville, TN
  Aug 23 Infinity Downs Farm  Arrington, VA
  Aug 24 Infinity Downs Farm  Arrington, VA
  Aug 25 Infinity Downs Farm  Arrington, VA