Umphrey's McGee at the Tabernacle

CRITIC'S PICK:
Tues., Dec. 30
Umphrey's McGee, Tabernacle - Any band that titles its debut studio album Greatest Hits Vol. 3 kicks off their career with a refreshingly dry sense of humor. Since Indiana's Umphrey's McGee is basically a jam sextet, that makes it even more pronounced. But these guys mix their instrumental improvisational wanderings with healthy doses of prog, funk, jazz, folk and even metal influences. They found their audience early and haven't stopped delivering a dizzying array of live and studio sets, cataloging the group's journey better than any Wikipedia entry could. The latest, Blueprints, documents various studio jams that turned into songs, aided by fan input. It's yet another twist in musical direction they are known for, and makes for inspired listening. This two-night stand will likely consist of different songs for each one, but that's not unusual since no two UM gigs are alike anyway. And maybe some of these moments will appear on a future release. Regardless, they are well worth a look, even if you're not a fan of the genre. - Hal Horowitz