Umphrey's McGee

In the 24 years since eclectic improv-rock band Umphrey’s McGee formed, their sound has been an amalgamation of genres, moods, and tempos, effortlessly flowing from one feeling to the next throughout an album or a concert—or a singular song. Yet time and repetition breed personal and musical wisdom and maturity. With 2022’s album Asking For A Friend, Umphrey’s McGee entered the recording studio with something to say and a wise, measured way to say it. Mostly recorded in three distinct sessions at three different studios during the pandemic and never played live,the album is the band’s first since 2009’s Mantis that fans haven’t had a sneak peek of from stage. Working on new music by day and performing via live stream at night proved to be highly successful and entertaining for the band who’d just been sidelined a mere three months before. Pulling the ripcord and taking an enforced break after twenty years of touring resulted in a complex emotional reaction from members of Umphrey’s McGee. The astoundingly cohesive 14-song album feels like a fresh statement from a group of world-class musicians and friends reapproaching their craft with a new lens. The band longtime fans know and love remains present. It’s simply more refined; more focused.