March 2010 - Posts
We are very pleased to offer UM in High Resolution for the inaugural UMBowl. A brief video extolling the virtues of this delicious sounding audio.
More details to come about playing 24bit FLAC files on your home system. There are several free desktop players that allow you to play back this audio with ease, for example. Additionally, they are easily burned to DVD-A for those on the move. We hope to bring to you more high end offerings in the future so go ahead and give this a shot and see what awaits. Pre order here.
Home from another outstanding Jam in the Dam and the clock is almost back to normal. It is truly an honor to do what we love in the World class city that is Amsterdam. Thanks to all who joined, including a record number of European fans that made the journey.
A taste....
"The Linear" from 03/23/10
Ask and Ye shall receive
Many of you are constantly asking for more glimpses into the onstage microphones we use to facilitate an evening with Umphrey's McGee. As most of you know, we use these mics for everything from keeping on schedule to cracking jokes to make each other laugh. And yes, we occasionally use them to compose music on the spot for (y)our entertainment.
This snippet is from the Mulche's Odyssey last Friday night at the First Ave. in Minneapolis. Jake had some chord changes popping around in his head and this is how it played out.
Pick up this complete track or the whole show here
Off to Amsterdam we go...
Yet another routine day in the UM camp as we became honorary citizens of Madison, WI. Apparently our long affiliation with face melting the city earns you a Mayoral Proclamation.
Thanks to Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and his Chief of Staff Janet Piraino. And we'd like to give a hearty shout out to Andy Kahn for lobbying on our behalf.
Some well researched stats in here (minus the typo, can you find it?)
Now, therefore, be it resolved...
Our sentiments exactly. A little something for our Dutch speaking fans...
Umphrey's McGee is geen meneer, maar een Amerikaanse band die in de afgelopen jaren van een volbloed jamband veranderd is in een bijzonder creatieve progband. Na het knappe album "Safety In Numbers", een kliekjesalbum en een liveplaat is "Mantis" de eerste nieuwe studioproductie in drie jaar. Gelukkig is deze nieuwe van het sextet uit Chicago het wachten meer dan waard.
Het album begint beeldschoon met een strijkje, waarna de band invalt met een poppy stuk dat de invloed van The Beatles, Jellyfish en Spock's Beard verraadt. Uit alles blijkt hoeveel de band gegroeid is in de afgelopen tijd, zoals te horen is in de veelstemmige samenzang en het jazzy intermezzo in Made To Measure of het ingetogen Prophecy Now. Dit is geen geïmproviseerde muziek meer, dit zijn geen jams die maar doormelken (hoewel de band daar live nog steeds niet vies van is), dit zijn ongelooflijk knappe, goed geconstrueerde en gecomponeerde stukken. Dat wil overigens niet zeggen dat de band vergeten is hoe er gerockt moet worden.
Titelstuk Mantis is een opgewekt, opzwepend stuk muziek met een fantastische gitaarsolo, maar in het middenstuk waagt de band zich ook aan een aan krautrock herinnerende, wat atonale passage. Daarmee wint het stuk aan complexiteit, al klinkt het wat geforceerd. Dat het stuk meer is dan los zand, openbaart zich dan ook pas na een flink aantal luisterbeurten. Dat is overigens geen straf. Mantis is een plaat die meerdere luisterbeurten achtereen meekan.
Toch is het meer ontspannen bluesje waarmee Cemetry Walk begint een fijn rustpunt. Dat duurt natuurlijk niet lang, na een minuutje zet de band een lekker stuk powerpop aan. De finesse van Christopher Cross en het venijn van The Knack, daar ergens tussenin. De band kan al die verschillende stijlen niet alleen moeiteloos aan, de zeer vaardige muzikanten weten ze tot één onderscheidend geluid te versmelten. Luister alleen maar eens naar Cemetry Walk II, waar hetzelfde thema de basis vormt voor bossa nova, disco en funk. Meesterlijk.
Ik moet alleen zeggen dat ik niet veel hoor van percussionist Andy Farag, drummer Myers lijkt me trouwens meer dan mans genoeg om het ritme te bewaken.
Met 54 minuten voelt "Mantis" niet te lang, de afwisseling van intense en luchtigere passages maakt de beluistering sowieso een feest. Turn & Run is wat rechtere rock, terwijl Spires meer concentratie vergt. Zo neemt de band de luisteraar moeiteloos bij de hand. De plaat kent geen winkeldochters. Umphreys McGee mag dan voor het eerst het materiaal niet uit ten treure live hebben getest, de heren zijn terecht zeker van hun zaak. Ze weten complex materiaal bedrieglijk simpel te laten klinken en zijn ondertussen niet te beroerd om dat met de meest schurende akkoorden te doen. Zo zit ik bij Spires steeds met kromme tenen van de valsigheid en vind ik het tóch mooi - wie dat kan, komt van goeden huize. Als kers op de appelmoes viert de band in Red Tape feest op dezelfde uitbundige, bijna naïef blije manier als Moon Safari. Geen twijfel: Umphreys McGee is het hélemaal.
De plaat bevat overigens een bonus cd met 10 stukken, waaronder nummers van vorige platen en drie nieuwe live uitvoeringen. Wie de website van de band bezoekt, vindt daar bovendien podcasts met nog meer materiaal. Tot slot hebben kopers van het album nog recht op een eigen website waar - naar mate er meer exemplaren verkocht worden - steeds meer bonustracks te downloaden zijn. In dát opzicht is Umphreys McGee een echte jamband gebleven: de fans zijn hun beste vrienden!
Erik Groeneweg
Progwereld
Kris & Andy venture to cymbal heaven
Andy says, "If I've told them once, I told them a thousand times...put Andy Farag first, then Kris Myers..."
While we where taking a couple days off Kris and I where invited to visit the Zildjian factory outside of Boston. Makers of the worlds best cymbals, Zildjian was founded in 1623! (Joel was just beginning elementary school at that time) As we entered Zildjian HQ it seemed more like a museum than an office. Steeped in rich musical history many of the walls are adorned with pictures of some the most legendary of drummers as well as some really classic drum sets of these famed musicians. It was really cool to be up close and be able to sit on Buddy Rich's actual set!
We then took a tour of the factory (of which we have no pictures due to the top secret process that they create cymbals) I will tell you that this was probably my favorite part of the day. It was so great to be immersed in the sites, smells, and sounds of the factory. Kris and I are so very fortunate to have the support of such a great family run business. We love our Zildjian cymbals!
This is the main vault where thousands of cymbals of different sizes and models are stored, ready to be shipped to customers, artists, and music merchandise stores all over the world. Andy is told he can swap out some of his original touring cymbals with new, brighter, shinier ones.....needless to say, Andy is very happy!
This is the orchestral cymbal vault, where classical musicians travel from all over the world, trying out their favorite cymbals in a sound proofed room with reverb modeling so you can hear your cymbals in a concert hall or a cathedral or whichever you prefer. "Riiiiccola!!"
It was amazing to see the process of how the cymbals are manufactured through machine hammering and ridiculous technology. First you melt them into a small metallic "globule"...then, they flatten the molten metal, then they cut them to size, then machine hammered with these giant dyes, then they are lathed by hand to make the shiny grooves of the cymbal. At this point they are buffed and coated with a protectant finish. After one final "secret process" they are stamped with the Zildjian logo...then swiftly grabs the cymbal and puts it throught the last man on the assembly line to rack all the cymbals to be lastly inspected by an "expert cymbalsmith". So cool to watch!
One of the great perks to the factory was the different drumsets donated by certain Hall of Fame drummers. This is a drumset given by the great Gene Krupa, who is one of my personal favorites. Gene Krupa was one of the most popular big band era drummers in history, and was mostly known for his raging performances with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. He was the predecessor to the incomparable Buddy Rich, as well as others like Louie Bellson, who was known as the first drummer to incorporate double bass drums in a big band setting.
Speaking of Buddy Rich, there so happened to be one of his kits there as well. Buddy Rich was arguably the greatest drummer of all time, with brilliant musicianship and had lightning fast technique that was almost unheard of. To my understanding, Buddy was very close to the Zildjian family and when he was practically on his death bed, gave his kit from his last performance to Armand Zildjian, saying "take good care of it for me." Hope he doesn't mind me sitting behind his beautiful white marine Slingerlands....I couldn't resist.
Travis Barker's Red, White, and Blue
Ginger Baker's setup
Ringo, baby!
or is it?
Calvin Theater, Northampton, MA 02/28/10
From the "Waful Cam"
(2nd half coming out of "Alex's House") Check out the UMLive audio for the entire show.
When I stepped off the bus on Thursday morning to find giant snowflakes hurling themselves towards the ground, one got the impression that the day would prove extraordinary. Those snowflakes inspired me to begin an impromptu version of our on going ADITL series. But rather than focus on anyone in particular, we kept the camera moving and tried to capture the essence of our collective day. From the morning snowstorm to a drummer ironing to the afternoon at CBS radio to rehearsal and show time at the Nokia Theater, there's a little bit of everything in here. I realize the video is almost 10 minutes long which is War & Peace-esque to the ADHD riddled internet age but I have faith in you. Focus young Padawan.
In addition, (almost) the entire soundtrack is culled from the evening's performance which can be found here.
On a side note, I've been motivated by my conversations with Jefferson and am officially getting serious about learning how to edit video for real. No more dissolve only transitions. Happy Clayton?