Concertwire.com

The members of South Bend, Indiana, progressive jam band Umphrey's McGee met at the University of Notre Dame in the late ‘90s while they were players in a combination of successful bar bands. The group soon became popular for their improvisational take on hard prog-rock like that of Yes, King Crimson, Pink Floyd and Frank Zappa. Their taper-friendly jaunts across the area college bar and party circuit built a solid grassroots following that propelled them into the national scene with a fierce debut at the inaugural Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in 2002. At Bonnaroo, Umphrey's rubbed elbows with groups like Widespread Panic and Trey Anastasio and sold copies of their debut studio album Local Band Does OK. After that, Umphrey's McGee became a staple on the festival circuit, releasing several successful albums and making appearances on shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live. Umphrey's McGee is currently touring in support of their 2007 release, Live at the Murat, and expects to release a new studio effort this year.