Umphrey's McGee: Live at the Murat

Written by Fumo Verde

To start off, I’m sorry not to have been at either of these shows. Umphrey’s McGee played the Murat Egyptian Room in Indianapolis, IN on April 6th & 7th 2007, and just from listening to this dual-disc set I wish I had seen this show. This coming from a kat who has seen them only three times, and each time they get better and better. Live at the Murat is typical UM, high energy, unbelievable improvisation, inspiring lyrics and powerful jams. These katz are professionals and they pride themselves on giving it all when on stage, and from the shows I have seen along with reviews from others who have seen them live, UM never disappoints.

I don’t know if either night started with “The Kitchen” but Disc One does. The number came in four parts with the band jamming for almost twenty minutes, revving up the crowd and getting them involved right away. From there they bust into “Higgins” followed by the “The Fuzz.” These two songs rip the top off the scene as the band goes supernova into “Nothing Too Fancy.” While Myers and Farag drive the rhythm with drums and percussion, the guitars face off between Bayliss and Cinninger, rocketing skyward like a dogfight between fighter jets. The raw power the band generates can be felt through the sound of the crowd with their screams and cheers. When you scream at an Umphrey’s McGee show, it is in between the gasps of breath you try to take in while sweating like a beast, grinning from ear to ear.

Disc Two is more of the same and that’s not a bad thing. “40’s Theme” opens up and once again the crowd is immediately involved. Chanting back the lyrics and responding in unison, the crowds at UM shows play a big part. The band feeds off the energy of the audience and vice versa. “Push the Pig” slows things down a bit, giving the crowd a rest as Bayliss and Cinninger tickle their guitar strings. Cummins has some super-spacey sounds coming out of the keys as Stasik thumps about along with the rhythm. This all goes down between the new segments the band just rehearsed backstage before the show (I found this out via the liner notes). “White Man’s Moccasins” opens up an array of sound the band produces due to the talent they have. Cummins’ piano-playing along with the percussion sounds Farag keeps mixing in give off images of lush tropical islands with crystal-clear waterfalls dropping from black lava rock mountains. The guitars, drums, and bass join in almost making this track operatic: bold, full, energetic.

The tracks on this album were picked by the band, and not only do they play well, they are great judges of their own music. It’s hard for bands to put together a live show but Live at the Murat is one of those special times when a great band has an unbelievable performance and it’s edited just right so the listener comes away feeling like they were there. The liner notes said that this is their first “live” CD; I think they did a fine job.

Thank you, UM. This is a great set.

Animal Liberation Orchestra: Roses and Clover

Written by Fumo Verde

Hey katz and kittenz, it's Fumo here with the new CD by Animal Liberation Orchestra and let me tell you, this is one of the reasons why I do this job. Roses & Clover plays as sweet as the name proclaims with its gentle blend of rock, jazz, and rhythm and blues-- prepare yourself for a journey. With melodies and harmonies reflective of the sounds of the ‘70s and lyrics that echo the feelings of today, ALO has captured the magic of Steely Dan and Boz Skaggs, bands with the musical talent to play and write. ALO crafts each song to perfection and Roses & Clover proves that right here.

I'm still debating which song is my favorite. Out of the ten tracks I have yet hit a song where I could say, "This wasn't needed here," or "How does this fit with the rest of the album?" I've had this CD for four days and haven't stopped playing it. As I write this, “Water Song” is playing. Reminiscent of James Taylor, there’s a feeling of being out on the open range with the crickets chirping, as the lone piano comes into play. "Canyons carved by oceans beneath a light of a billion stars./ The Old ones knew the truth about us,/ the purpose is to be just what we are." If you were ever looking for deep lyrics that really make sense, ALO is that band. This song rolls through your mind like a river, reflecting the pictures of your life in their words. If this tune doesn't get you back to thinking of things that you once held near and dear, then I don't know what will.

Each song has that similar sensation to it, giving the listener a chance to engage the images and emotions that flow thru words. “Maria” is a love song and the lead track off the album. It opens with the piano pumping out that '70s feel-good sound, which made its way into almost every film soundtrack from that decade. This song gives me the idea of jumping in my truck and taking a ride on the 101 heading north towards Ventura, but then I remember that this is 2007 and I could play this disc five time over while sitting in stop-and-go traffic on the 10, but I would still be in the "get out of town" mode.

“Try” has more of the R&B root to it but with a funk twist. If the slapping of the bass doesn't get you, the organ’s wha wha pedal will. It even sounds like they had a little bit of a brass section drop in to play. With an old blues beat, “Roses & Clover” taps into the funky blues with a tiny drop of jazz. “Monday” has a jazz/rock essence to it with its easy drumbeat, soft guitar riffs, and backing vocal harmonies. It becomes that Monday morning commute song that wakes you up smoothly as you drink your coffee on the drive into work. “Shine” slows the album down, adding more of a jazz aspect while giving the song a European flair from what sounds like a harmonica. This song makes me imagine Paris in the rain with all the people biking around.

Although each song is different from the next, one gets the impression that ALO wants you to use your mind when listing to their music, which isn't a bad idea nowadays. If people weren't taking ALO seriously, the better start now. A contemporary album with an old school flavor, Roses & Clover is sweet and sharp like its namesake. It may not get the airplay some of the other “music” out there is getting but it does deserve respect.

One last thing, see these guys in concert. It is well worth it.

Umphrey's McGee: The Bottom Half

Written by Fumo Verde

Talk about putting magic on disc, Umphrey's McGee has done it again. Pack a fresh one, find the lighter, turn the volume up loud, and enjoy sitting courtside in the studio as you listen to the boys of UM put together another one of their fantastic CDs. The Bottom Half is all about goes deep into how one of the world’s premier jam bands puts together the music we are all coming to love.

Disc one is the ten-track CD that has the songs and jams that didn't make it on their last album Safety In Numbers, which El Bicho let me download in to my PC, but I still bought the CD because I want the liner notes and any extras that the band may have thrown in there. There are really only nine tracks because track four is the band discussing a song they want to play, which is track five, but that's just a taste of what they give us. Disc two holds the diamonds in the rough, with songs sung a cappella, short guitar jams that are discussed and will be expanded on in future shows, and other bantering amongst band mates that only studio walls usually get to hear.

Disc one starts with the title track, the unmistakable sound of UM comes alive, and I wonder why these songs didn't make it because they sound great to me. UM's lyrics have a truth to them, a meaning that comes through, giving us something to relate to. "I try not to be rude/ You know how I am/ I tend to bitch and moan..." I personally related to this line myself. "There's not a thing worth remembering when tomorrow brings someone new/ Get used to the thought you can't be what you're not, life has already got plans for you" flows the chorus, followed with the crashing of guitars, horns and drums. The keyboards smooth out the ruckus only to be chased by the flames of guitar riffs burning the song into its final embers.

Track two, “Bright Lights, Big City,” has a ‘70s funk sound as the lyrics flash images of where the band has been and what they have seen. It ends abruptly and leaves you hanging and wanting more. "Great American" follows and is a great jam because it brings in all of UM’s instruments into play, It takes you on a journey that at times feels like you're shooting the rapids of the Colorado river, yet slows down creating that lazy feel at the beach.

Disc two is where the fun really begins for the true fans. Twenty-eight tracks made up of jams and more of the band discussing what they liked and didn't like about what came out of that "last track." Starting off with “Words,” it is sung a cappella and highlights the natural harmony the men have together. No other band is so organic, so real and true to what they are.

One of my favorite tracks is called “Time Eater” and the reason why begins with the track that came before it. As the previous track’s guitar solo ended, the boys were asking the guys at the soundboard how long the solo took. When finding out the answer, the band was happy and stated that that little jam was a "time eater" and that during live shows that jam could be expanded "big time." Sounds great to me! Disc two is the jewel as you listen to songs you've heard before, but here they may sound a little different, and that's pretty cool.

This is a band that needs to be seen live; they have a relationship with the crowd that is hard to find in a world of sound bytes and one-hit wonders. This double CD reveals how a band of this caliber works and thinks. It gives insight to how a band can make music sound like it is done effortlessly. We can hear the effort these guys put into the work they love, which is music we enjoy and keep close to our souls. Thank you, Umphrey's McGee, for giving us, your fans, this chance to see how you guys put it all together. For any UM fan, this is a definite must-have.

This is Fumo letting you know the next time UM comes to L.A. or Orange County, El Bicho and I will be somewhere in the crowd puffing away and rocking out to one of the hardest-working jam bands around, Umphrey's McGee.