I've heard a couple of tracks from Umphrey's McGee and thought they were pretty decent. They also headlined three end-of-year shows here in Chicago, and chose some pretty amazing opening acts: Los Lobos, Taj Mahal, and North Mississippi All Stars. Adrian Belew has even joined them on-stage for a bunch of shows.

Any thoughts on these guys? Like I said, I've only heard a few songs on the radio and have been pretty impressed, even though I am NOT a jam band kinda guy.

Jam band fans? Ish?

I've never heard them, but man was their terrible name EVERYWHERE in Chicago while I was living there. It seemed like they played 3 shows a night at separate venues. So, in short:
1) hard-working band
2) terrible name

True story: I saw them once and thought they were so bad that I fell asleep while tripping.

I've never heard their music.

(In fact, I've only ever really listened to one 1 or 2 "jam bands".)

I love you.

I've never heard their music.

(In fact, I've only ever really listened to one 1 or 2 "jam bands".)

I thought you were a jam band kinda guy. My mistake.

I think they're great. They appeal to the jazz fan in me. They all have great chops, and they're influenced by lots of styles.

I can see how people would get bored seeing them live. I've got 2 live DVDs of them, and I can't watch either in one sitting. A few songs at a time, please. But on the CDs, the songs are more concise and enjoyable.

And I don't see how they can be called a jam band. Even live, the songs are brutally structured.

I don't know too many people who REALLY like Mouthus and REALLY like Umphrey's McGee.

There is a band formerly thought of as a jamband that put out a pretty good little record in 2006... The Slip.

From what I've heard and read about the new album, its not indicative of their previous work. They took some new strides apparently on this new one. I never really got into them. I think they are in that whole String Cheese Incident crew.