Umphrey's McGee Get Heavy at Bonnaroo

Posted on Jun 14th 2008 3:00PM by Benjy Eisen
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What with all the first-time Bonnaroo bands -- including metal masters Metallica, the Sword and Mastodon -- it almost seemed weird when Bonnaroo standards and jam band kings Umphrey's McGee took to the Which Stage on Day Two, kindly reminding the audience to stay hydrated. Afterwards, bassist Ryan Stasik told Spinner he wishes he took the band's own advice. Characteristically, Umphrey's did the whole jam band thing by bringing a special guest -- Jeff Coffin (Bela Fleck's Flecktones) -- on stage to jam for a couple of tunes, including the show-stopping 'Higgins.' But there was something different. Fitting in with their 'Roo mates, Umphrey's McGee played heavier and harder than most expected.

"When we're feeling heavy, we play heavy," Stasik explained. "I don't think we're a hippie-dippy band but we're not a metal band either. We have both tendencies." Appropriately then, Umphrey's didn't only prove they could jam -- they also proved they could shred.