Finally Indiana Gets Some!

Although I am not sure if the days will ever come where I do not have to travel to Chicago once a month for live music, things are certainly looking up! Jam band (that's improv. for those who missed out on the last blog) powerhouse Umphrey's McGee is coming to Indiana on October the third. Unfortunately it is going to be at Ball State (ack!), but nonetheless I know that I will be making the trip up, down, east, west, or whatever direction Ball State is in. Umphrey's McGee, believe it or not, actually changed my life. It began in 2001 when I was just in eighth grade that I saw Umphrey's Mcgee for the first time. They changed my whole perspective on music, and pointed me in the direction that helped me to develop the musical tastes that I have today. Since the first time in 2001 that I witnessed the fitness of Umphrey's Mcgee, I have seen the group upwards of forty-something times (I tried to keep track but lost count after thirty in 2007). Umphrey's is a progressive rock group with both beautiful melodic rock n' roll tunes, and heavy, borderline metal jams. What separates Umphrey's from the rest is the guitarists, Jake Cinninger and Brendan Bayliss. It has been said they produce guitar riffs so fast, they will literally "melt your face off". Not only can the guitarists shred, but the usage of two drummers keeps a tempo and beat that would make most drummers cry tears of joy. Of course I can not forget to mention the keyboard stylings of Joel Cummings, and the bass of Ryan Stasik. Both of these gentlemen are fine musicians, deserving of your and my attention. This is a group which is based out of Chicago. In the past five years, the band's popularity absolutely exploded in the Chicago rock scene. If you are from Chicago, chances are you have heard of Umph, or you have a friend that is an Umphreak. Not only does Umphrey's Mcgee make outstanding music, but the whole mood and scene is amazing. One of the great things about the audience is that everyone is willing to go out of their way to make the concert more enjoyable for the people around them. When everyone acts like this, it makes for a warm community where the entire crowd has a blast. I hope you are interested, so I'll save you the trouble of looking up the information. The show is at the Emens Auditorium in Muncie, Indiana. The address is 1800 West Riverside Avenue, and this is an all ages concert. Doors open at 6:30, the show begins at 7:30. Tickets are $24.50, well worth the three hours on cloud nine. So I hope to see you guys there, and if you have room in your car...LET ME KNOW!!!