Chicago’s eclectic rock band Umphrey’s McGee has been keeping fans on their toes for nearly 28 years now. Though often pigeonholed into “jam band” circles, Umphrey’s doesn’t fit that traditional mold, and their fans don’t either. Is it prog rock? Song-forward, Beatles-esque arrangements? Be careful, they might hit you with some metal riffs mid-set, too. Pushing 3,000 live gigs and 300 million+ tracks streamed, you-had-to-be-there moments include the band’s performance at the first-ever Bonnaroo and selling more CDs (remember those?) than any other act on the bill.
A leader in the live music world, Umphrey’s McGee became the first group to launch its own single-artist streaming service with UMLive.net, which houses recordings of every show since 2005. The service has since grown and now lives on through Nugs.net, used by the likes of Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, and more.
Beyond intimate backstage encounters and ski trips with their most diehard fans, Umphrey’s McGee instituted the groundbreaking “Headphones & Snowcones” program, granting fans access to professional headphones and a soundboard-quality mix to listen wirelessly at shows. At their UMBowl, they empowered the audience to vote on the setlist in real-time and choose favorite improv themes via text message. In 2017, they stepped into another realm altogether by integrating themselves into VR platforms and 360 video. All of the above has earned the band status as kings of the live music scene, with standing yearly engagements at iconic venues, their own events in Morocco (Morockshow), Iceland (Rockjavick) and Dominican Republic and Mexico (Holidaze), and co-hosting Chillicothe, IL’s long-running Summer Camp festival.
In April 2025, Umphrey’s led their faithful fans on another bucket list musical adventure: Morockshow, a three-night event in Marrakech, Morocco. This marked yet another signature international destination for the band’s one-of-a-kind live experiences.
Following their 2022 full-length Asking For A Friend, which showcased more evolved songwriting and thoughtful arranging, the band released the Out of Focus EP in July 2025 followed by their full length Blueprints album in September 2025. The new material draws from deep fan engagement, with compositions born from live “Raw Stewage” segments voted on by the UM faithful. These songs were recorded live during their exclusive Top Note Sessions at Chicago’s Metro, fusing the raw energy of improvisation with studio-quality fidelity.
As Umphrey’s McGee steps into their next chapter, they remain a band in constant evolution—restless, fearless, and deeply connected to their audience.
The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "ICE SS" by the Central Jersey punk act Sally Draper.
