In the hierarchy of jam bands, no one comes close to the Grateful Dead or Phish. But if you were to make a list of the greatest or most successful jam bands of all time, there’s no doubt Umphrey’s McGee would be near the top (that’s just what happened when Rolling Stone made such a list in 2015). They’re consistently among the most popular live acts in a scene that thrives almost solely on live performances, selling out venues like the legendary Red Rocks in Colorado without ever having a hit single or major-label album.
And while the Indiana-based band spends plenty of time jamming, the members are influenced more by harder-edged progressive rock than by the rootsy, Southern music more typical of their jam-band peers. They also put extra emphasis on the visual aspect of their performances, augmenting their musical virtuosity with light shows and interactive elements, including the annual fan-driven performance UMBowl. The band’s most recent studio album, last year’s Zonkey, is a collection of mash-up songs combining various compositions by other artists into new medleys, taking the band’s jam aesthetic to a whole new level. It’s just one of the many ways they stay at the top of the ever-evolving genre.
Brooklyn Bowl at The Linq, 6:30 p.m. March 17, starting at $32.50 plus fee, 18+. 702.862.2695
