Umphrey's McGee | 12.31.07 | Chicago

Great review and photos. It was a great time, thanks for bringing back some memories.

unbelievably talented band. say what you want about them, but they can really play. the only issue i've ever had was that they are a little too heavy sometimes. i still think they put on the most exciting show out there right now, they've been in their stride for a few years now.

What an awesome 3 days that NYE run was. To all who missed it, I'm sorry....It was a rockin' time....they forgot to mention the late night Lotus show that took place at the Kinetic Playground after the Umph show on the 29th......THANKS UMPH FOR THE BEST NEW YEARS EVERRRRRRR

Awesome, Awesome run of music. Thanks to everyone, old friends, and the many new ones I met along the NYE run, for making this such an awesome experience. I've never seen anything like that soundboard jam before...

Here it is: http://youtube.com/watch?v=xpAEpE7tfzs

This run was probably my favorite 3 night run of music I have ever attended. The 29th was slightly above a standard show, but the 30th and 31st were dare i say "epic." Kaiserbun, I used to feel the same way about Umph, but I have grown to love some of their heavier prog rock. I think its great that they can switch it from a slow jam with vocal harmonies to a funky untz jam to a straight up metal jam. Even if you don't like Umph they definitely deserve respect. NYE was twice as fun as last years. It was worth the trip from Maine again.

I was there for all 3, they melted my brain. Every time I see them, they are better than before.

I was also there all 3 nights. Wonderful time, Stayed in the chicago inn. Met a lot of cool people. They kicked-ass all three nights, first night was kinda full though. Crowd sucked for me that night. Got hammered New Years and had a hell of a time. I battled over Yonder NYE or Umphrey's. It was the best choice I could have made. See you all next year.

-More Cowbell (hahahahhahahh chicago lodge, I will be back)-

I topped off 2007 with around 25 Umphreys shows under my belt with the new years run, with no festivals. . . Well Riverview if you call that a festie (I was too 'overserved' to get in because i was helping a drunk buddy).. . It was a good year. Im thankful for evry bit of it.

3 nights of rocking, grooving, and dancing, once again thanks for the great time UM. the stew after plunger is sweet, the sound board jam was off the hook!and 5:15 was rockin

Great pictures! This run of shows was definitely one of the best times of my life. The NYE show was great but nothing i repeat nothing holds a candle to the show the night before. Umphrey's rules the world!

I've been to one of these UM show's and its more like Umphrey's Mc Dude Fest or Umphrey's Mc Sausage Fest!

Stay in the south and shake your NYE A$$ with some beautiful women!

Just sayin'...

^ and what was up with the stasik banana hammick? That was disgusting, not funny. I like them even less now. Cinninger should start his own band, the rest of those clowns have no talent.

I've never been to a 'bad' umph show and wish I could have made it to Chicago!

say what you will about umphrey's, but to say that they have no talent just makes you sound foolish.. this is the most talented, tightest band i have seen in my history of attending shows.. and they're only gonna get better..

wish i had been there with my partyin' peeps for this one.. looks and sounds like it was another great run - i had to 'settle' (if you can call it that) for greyboy allstars to ring it in.. nice pics and review.

They'll get bigger, perhaps better. Think they can handle it? I saw them a few times in 2002 and 2003. Couldn't really get into it.

treetops78 "I've been to one of these UM show's and its more like Umphrey's Mc Dude Fest or Umphrey's Mc Sausage Fest! Stay in the south and shake your NYE A$$ with some beautiful women! Just sayin'..."

I am by no means a fan of the Umph, but I always find that people who focus on the dudes at shows or refers to them as "McSausage Fests" really have issues with their own sexuality. Just sayin'...

Excellent review and phenomenal pics.

"Smittea"- Not sure I understand your point. My sexuality is pretty solid, locked that down a while ago. Thanks for the personal jab.

All's I'm sayin', which I guess I could have kept to myself, is that I like music that my wife likes and my friend's that are girls like to shake a$$ to and that does not include UM. I do tend to see the freaker girls (for lack of a better word) I am friends with at those shows.

mduva - if "the rest of those clowns" have no talent, then why do you list UM as one of your favorite bands? Just to be cool? Just to say "hey look at me, I'm cool, I know whats going on in music right now"?

Smittea"- Not sure I understand your point. My sexuality is pretty solid, locked that down a while ago. Thanks for the personal jab.

All's I'm sayin', which I guess I could have kept to myself, is that I like music that my wife likes and my friend's that are girls like to shake a$$ to and that does not include UM. I do tend to see the freaker girls (for lack of a better word) I am friends with at those shows.

...and this isn't turning into a flame war. I'm just saying that I always hear so many people making that same homophobic comment. I too have been to a lot of male dominated shows, both with and without my wife. Just because there is a predominance of males in the audience does not make the music any less viable, groveable or good. I find in most cases, the ladies avoid the floor and pit and can be found in abundance on the fringes of the audience. In addition, I think it takes a special woman to appreciate some of these non-lyrical protracted jam driven band types and as such, your statement also speaks the obvious. I guess I was just tired of hearing it... I figured if I defended a band I didn't really care about, maybe it would have more weight with those thinking of making the same types of comments in the future.

Sorry to single you out. I saw your profile (married)...

My wife loves UM. She has a great appreciation for great music. To tell you the truth, I've never noticed anyony BUT my beautiful wife when we're shakin' it down front. I guess it's all how you look at things, huh?

"Smittea"- ALL GOOD!

Altough, I wonder what it means for me to have a tendency to steer clear of UM and PGroove, etc. and towards bands that aren't pounding it down your ear canals in a "Boy's Only Club" type of way. I remember seeing PGroove a couple of Halloween's ago after just seeing Secret Machines that same night, there are some friends of friends type thing with the PGroove boys, and thinking that I just got mind blown by SM, sound, visual, in the round, lyrics, and here is PGroove essentially trying to do the same thing but not even coming close. But the kids love it and its sold out and they are the next great thing (similar to UM). Whatever...

It's like wine, if it tastes good, it is good.

Don't listen to anyone who makes snap judgements about a band based on a show's gender distribution. They should lose all credibility.

Sounds awesome. Umphrey's is one of my favorite bands right now. There set at 10k last year was the best of the weekend and I can't wait for 1st Ave shows at the end of Feb.

if you love um and you havent made it to their NYE, you are missin out big time. aside from turning into the whiskey monster and dancing like a fool, everything went great. we took the 'L' train from our hotel right to the aragon, partied, and jumped the train home. me and my friends will definately be holdin it up in our stoop next year.

Article was a little light, bUt the face-Melty goodness was still conveyed. I've been seeing UM since 1998 and they continue to amaze me. Bring on 2008 (and at least two Michigan shows, yo!)

'..and this isn't turning into a flame war. I'm just saying that I always hear so many people making that same homophobic comment'

Your point makes no sense... a sausage fest has nothing to do with being homophobic... he just wishes more girls went to umph shows... i think that would be the opposite of homophobic.. either way I agree, most shows are not a good place to meet girls.

Looks like a great show. awesome pictures as well

best photo's i have ever seen of umphs might want adam at every show yo

First of all i cant believe someone had a problem with umohreys being to heavy thats weak, and smitea your a fool because ive been going to umphreys shows in the south full of sexy chicks for 4 years

these shows were great. it would appear that umph is emerging as the premier, non niche oriented jam band) meaning yes wsp is much bigger but its kind of all basically southern jam rock. Yes ymsb is amazing but its still all rockin bluegrass. Bisco pretty much only does the techno stuff, but lets be honest its their vocals that hold that band back, UMPH would seem to be well it. Ok now type at me till ur fingers bleed if you disagree.....hah

hey nick, if you're at shows to meet chicks then your there for the wrong reason.

by the way i AM a chick and i flippin love umphrey's, i've been to about 13 um shows and NYE was the sweetest most diggity dank party umphreys has ever thrown. jimmy stewart baby :)

Judging from the one picture of the crowd, I see plenty of boobs. UMPH brings the boobs in, too. Peace.

i know that when i go to shows i will stand outside and count the number of hot girls to go in, if its not 60% i wont go in. i am too cool for that noise. hahaha. UM rocks face and is probably the best/hardest working band out right now.

ugh. im dieing to go to any wrapped around chicago show.

i need my phrey's fix.

that show looked amazing.

Is anyone going to go see UM in Amsterdam in 2 months?? Now those 3 nights are gonna be the Chit!

i got to touch on this girl topic here just to say that girls certainly dont make a show but any girl u meet at a show is bound to be a down ass girl

capt- hells ya i just bought my jam in the dam ticket can not wait to see the boys playing in paradise

missed this run this time around, i hope everyone that was there smoked as many cigarettes as they could before the midnight chicago smoking ban

great review - unbelievable pics