A few days before he and his bandmates arrive in town to play at the Canopy Club, Andy Farag of Umphrey's McGee spoke with Annie Fehrenbacher about their new album, their open-taping policy, and why they like performing in C-U

By Annie Fehrenbacher
Gargoyle co-editor-in-chief
Posted Wednesday, April 26, 2006, The OG, arts

Umphrey's McGee is a six-piece jam band, with hints of prog rock, metal, jazz, and funk. The original four members teamed up in 1997 at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., and eventually added and swapped out members and migrated to Chicago. They released their seventh album (third studio album), “Safety in Numbers,” on April 4.

They will be playing back-to-back shows at the Canopy Club on Thursday and Friday. This summer they will tour a heavy festival schedule, including high-profile gatherings such as Bonnaroo, High Sierra, and Lollapalooza. For more background info about the band, see the recent article at JamBase.

The following interview with percussionist Andy Farag took place over the phone on Monday.

Why have you chosen to play in Champaign-Urbana two nights in a row?
It's been a great town to play in — close to Chicago. We played the Halloween show [at the Canopy] a couple years ago. It's a great place to play, and the crowd is always really into it.

Can we expect to hear any of the same music both nights?
[The sets] will be completely different.

How are you able play shows for weeks on end without repeating a song?
Years of writing original material. We have over 100 original songs, so it's totally different every time. We're able to see what songs transition well into other songs

I saw you play at the Canopy in September, and the encore lasted about two hours. Can we expect that again this weekend?
You never know. If we're feeling it, and the crowd's feeling it. It depends on the moment.

Why has Umphrey's chosen to have an open-taping policy?
Because our shows are different every night, and people like to collect shows and trade. In the beginning, it was the only way we could get our name out because we weren't releasing records. We used it as a promotional tool.

Does the band have a preference for live or studio recordings?
We're definitely focusing on studio albums now. With the quality of recording equipment, we can record our shows, and people can buy them right away. It's like buying a new record every night. So, we're trying to focus on studio recording.

How did Bryan Schultz's death affect the writing process for “Safety in Numbers”? [Bryan Schultz was a close friend and fan of the group; he was killed by a drunk driver after one of the band's shows in 2004.]
There was definitely some inspiration there. [His death] was dealt with in the content of the lyrics. I think the idea of losing a friend is something that all people can relate to. He was a very, very close friend and an extremely successful young guy.

“Safety in Numbers” seems much more subdued than your earlier albums. Was this intended before Schultz's death or did the tone change after he died?
It definitely wasn't intended before, and we didn't intend it afterwards either. Originally, we were going to release a double disc. We had all the songs put in order, but it was just too much. So, we went through and picked all the songs that fit together lyrically.

Do you intend to use the other songs on future albums?
We released a “Safety in Numbers” on vinyl, and a couple of the songs are on there. We're not sure what we're gonna do with the rest.

How influential would you say festivals, such as Bonnaroo, have been in Umphrey's success?
They've played a huge part. The first time we played at Bonnaroo [in 2002] there were 10,000 people in the tent. That was by far the biggest crowd we'd ever played for. When you have that many people from all over the country together, it's like doing a whole coast-to-coast tour. So festivals have been huge for increasing our fan base.

How will playing at home in Chicago for Lollapalooza be different from other festivals Umphrey's usually plays?
Well, it's the only one in Chicago. It's a one-time thing. And there's a much different lineup from the festivals we usually play. There's nothing wrong with those festivals, but it's always good to branch out and do something new. I went to Lollapalooza in 1994, the one with the Beastie Boys and Smashing Pumpkins.

Which other performers are you looking forward to seeing at Lollapalooza?
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beck. I've got the lineup right here. It's huge, there are so many bands. Disco Biscuits, they're good friends of ours. Matisyahu, Common — I'm a big Common fan. Hopefully, we'll be able to stay and come back the next day to see some of the others.

CONCERT AT A GLANCE
• Who: Umphrey's McGee, a six-piece jam band with hints of prog rock, metal, jazz, and funk
• Where: Canopy Club, 708 S. Goodwin, Urbana
• When: 9 p.m. Thursday (with opening act Kick the Cat) & 9 p.m. Friday (special showing of “The Making of ‘Safety in Numbers'” at 8:15 p.m.)
• Tickets: $20
• Ages: 18 and older