Prolific Rockers, Umphrey’s McGee, Release New Single “Suxity” and Announce Tour Dates
Improv-rock group Umphrey’s McGee have always had an uncanny ability to melt down any genre of music, blend the molten styles, and hammer forge a new sound for each new song they write. While writing and recording their newest single, “Suxity,” the ingredients were—in guitarist and co-writer Jake Cinninger’s words—part Sly Stone, part Alice In Chains. Premiered yesterday via American Songwriter, “Suxity” was the first song Umphrey’s recorded during their sessions with producer Ryan Hewitt (The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Lumineers) at Nashville’s famed Blackbird Studio.
“When I first heard Jake’s demo for “Suxity,” I immediately got excited and knew it would turn into something substantial, and that it would happen quickly,” recalls guitarist and “Suxity” co-writer Brendan Bayliss. “Right away, I was getting ideas in my head for melodies and lyrics, and I always take that as a good sign after listening to something for the first time.” Cinninger was looking for a “drastic contrast between the verses and choruses,” a sound which keyboardist Joel Cummins considers “two of Umphrey’s hallmark sounds battling it out.” “A James Brown style funk verse with a 90s grunge chorus,” Cummins muses, “and Jake’s guitar solo adds a dash of Steely Dan to round it out.”
“It was the first time we’d ever tried to sit down with an idea in the morning and have a brand new song finished and recorded by the end of the day,” says Bayliss, and Hewitt had a steady hand in the success of their mission. “Working with Ryan Hewitt on ‘Suxity’ really helped shine a light on the song and bring out all of its idiosyncrasies,” says Cummins. “Ryan guided us toward the perfect arrangement where every note and space has a purpose and meaning.” At the end of the day, Umphrey’s left the studio with a fine-tuned product which Cinninger calls “one of the more exciting tracks that we have ever cut live in the studio. Just grinding, tight and heavy.” The band proved, once again, just how easy they can make it look, creating something strong out of seemingly thin air; musical blacksmithing for the 21st century.
Umphrey’s will headline two nights at New York’s famed Beacon Theatre to start off their 2020 tour. Stops at fan favorites like Penn’s Peak, The Fillmore Detroit, The Caverns in Pelham, TN, and the ExploreAshville.com Arena fill out the band’s January and February schedule before they head west for the remainder of February and March. Umphrey’s sold-out Rockjavik shows at Eldborg Hall in Reykjavik, Iceland, mark the first of their kind for the band, and fans lucky enough to get tickets couldn’t be more excited. Stay tuned to Umphreys.com for details on future single releases and new tour dates.
Catch Umphrey’s McGee On Tour
Jan 17 New York, NY – The Beacon Theatre
Jan 18 New York, NY – The Beacon Theatre
Jan 19 Brooklyn, NY – The Brooklyn Bowl
Jan 23 Jim Thorpe, PA – Penn’s Peak
Jan 24 Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
Jan 25 Columbus, OH – Express! Live
Jan 29 Ft. Wayne, IN – The Clyde Theater
Jan 30 Northfield, OH – MGM Northfield Park
Jan 31 Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit
Feb 01 Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit
Feb 12 Memphis, TN – Graceland Soundstage
Feb 13 Pelham, TN – The Caverns
Feb 14 Asheville, NC – ExploreAsheville.com Arena
Feb 15 Asheville, NC – ExploreAsheville.com Arena
Feb 26 Bend, OR – Midtown Ballroom
Feb 27 Eugene, OR – McDonald Theatre
Feb 28 Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
Feb 29 Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo
Mar 05 Aspen, CO – Belly Up Aspen
Mar 06 Aspen, CO – Belly Up Aspen
Mar 07 Aspen, CO – Belly Up Aspen
Mar 12 San Diego, CA – The Observatory North Park
Mar 13 Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
Mar 14 Oakland, CA – Fox Theatre
Mar 15 San Rafael, CA – Terrapin Crossroads
Mar 20 Reykjavik, Iceland – Rockjavik
Mar 21 Reykjavik, Iceland – Rockjavik
Mar 22 Reykjavik, Iceland – Rockjavik
Apr 02 Kansas City, KS – The Truman
Apr 03 St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
Apr 04 St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
Apr 05 South Bend, IN – Morris Performing Arts Center
Apr 16 Houston, TX – House of Blues Houston
Apr 17 Austin, TX – Stubb’s BBQ
Apr 18 Dallas, TX – House of Blues Dallas
Apr 19 Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
Apr 23 Pensacola, FL – Vinyl Music Hall
Apr 24 New Orleans, LA – The Fillmore New Orleans
Apr 25 New Orleans, LA – The Fillmore New Orleans
May 22-24 Chillicothe, IL – Summercamp Music Festival
Jul 2-5 Scranton, PA – The Peach Music Festival
Jul 16-19 North Plains, OR – Northwest String Summit
Jul 22-26 Floyd, VA – FloydFest 2020
About Umphrey’s McGee
The music of Umphrey’s McGee unfolds like an unpredictable conversation between longtime friends. Its six participants—Brendan Bayliss [guitar, vocals], Jake Cinninger [guitar, vocals], Joel Cummins [keyboards, piano, vocals], Andy Farag [percussion], Kris Myers [drums, vocals], and Ryan Stasik [bass]—know just how to communicate with each other on stage and in the studio. A call of progressive guitar wizardry might elicit a response of soft acoustic balladry, or a funk groove could be answered by explosive percussion. At any moment, heavy guitars can give way to heavier blues as the boys uncover the elusive nexus between jaw-dropping instrumental virtuosity and airtight songcraft.
Umphrey’s McGee is a touring powerhouse, performing 85+ shows per year, headlining annual shows across the US including Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado and the Beacon Theatre in New York. Umphrey’s is a constant US festival staple, with performances at major events including Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Rothbury, and Bonnaroo, as well as international festivals Fuji Rock Festival (Japan) and Byran Bay Blues Festival (Australia).
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