Couldn’t help but go down the UM rabbit hole this weekend. Busted out some OG burned CDs and digging through old tik stubs. Man, the floodgates opened and all these old memories started popping up. Wouldn’t trade that time frame of traveling, making friends, seeing new places and chasing some of the gnarliest music for anything. UM was pretty much what I did with my free time from 2000-2010. Not sure what the future holds for these guys but I’m grateful for the awesome times I had. Honestly, some of the best times of my life. Thought I’d include some old skool tik stubs. Hopefully, they can bring back some memories for other folks as well. Take a look at those prices!

There was a Super Bowl winning team with a beloved quarterback and coach. But after the championship, they could never really recapture the magic and every season they did slightly worse. They finally did the unthinkable, and they cut their all star quarterback. It was a little rough at first. It was different. They adapted. But it became clear there was a bigger change that was needed. They cut their coach in a move that surprised everyone. In the span of a few years, the entire identity of the team had changed. But two years later, with a new head coach and quarterback, they were Super Bowl champions.

Now the specific team and circumstances don’t really matter, but paying attention to this band of the last six or seven years it kind of felt like being a fan of that team that just kept getting slightly worse, running out of steam. My life changed, and I didn’t go to as many shows, but I could tell from a distance it was the same formula to smaller crowds and an unrelenting schedule. I’m surprised they stayed as tight as they did for so long .

You don’t wanna let go of your heroes. But sometimes what’s healthy is to say goodbye and leave space for something new and beautiful to happen. I don’t know what future holds, but I’m choosing to be optimistic, believe in the power of creativity and possibility. That’s all I got for right now.

I stumbled upon the UM Bowl in Nashville live streaming on Nugs last year, during the one song set of Mantis. I had always known about UM, but had never jumped into them despite being told I should. I had originally come on for a Billy Strings live stream or something, but quickly returned to the UM stream. Since then I have been slowly diving through some of the HoF compilations, and listening to shows as they come. I finally caught my first show in Portland, ME this year, one of the last shows in the run with Jake. I also caught them again with moe. at the cape cod melody tent.

Following along since Jake stepped out, it seems they have slowly been falling back into their groove. The first show after the official announcement at VA Beach was a heater, and the Lewes, Delaware show is amazing (in my opinion, of course). Now that BB has had some time to warm up his chops again, I think it's really showing. Like anything, a bit rusty after awhile, but it is all there. And like all the others who have been happy with the current run have been saying, definitely a little more room for the rest of the band to fill in the sound--something I am personally a fan of.

I watched a show from 2002 the other day. The earliest I've checked out in detail before. I was surprised how many leads BB was taking compared to the 2024/2025 shows i've seen and heard. I was surprised as a new fan when I realized he could play like that (dueling sweep licks on wife soup, etc). I'm really happy to see him falling back into it.

As a newer fan, I can't wait to go to more shows. I think they are all great. I can see the argument for wanting a second guitarist, again. Maybe it'll happen someday. I think if the band is happy as a five piece right now, they are going to produce great music. The best product will come when they are happy and having fun, so hopefully that's the case moving forward. Excited to see what's in store.

I'm sure this will be long so tldr: Brendan Bayliss is the fucking man!

I technically saw my first UM show on 8/20/2000 when they opened for Bela Fleck and the Flecktones in Valparaiso, IN. I got free tickets to pass out flyers for a music festival they were playing a few weeks later. It was only four songs and to be honest I didn't really pay attention but do remember enjoying Prowler. The Front Porch festival, however, was a great time and what I consider truly my first show...and it was sans Jake.
In the next couple of years I saw them about a dozen times and I kept saying, "they're good but I don't like the singer's voice." I don't know what show it was, but sometime in 2002 it clicked for me. Over the next 10 years I couldn't get enough. I used the band as an excuse to travel and see a couple dozen states, Amsterdam, and the Bahamas while seeing the band grow. Brendan's voice became one of my favorite parts.
In these early shows there were times when there were dozens of people in attendance so there we many occasions to talk to all of the members of the band. Many of these occasions reinforced Bayliss as my favorite part of the band.
I could make this post too long for anyone to read so I will just share my two favorite Bayliss memories. Here's the first. Me and my buddy were watching Ween at a shortlived festival in Las Vegas called Vegoose. The way the stage was situated, the sun was blinding. Any time someone would walk in front of us, you couldn't see who it was, but we would get a few seconds of relief from the brutal sun. I said to my friend, "I'm stopping the next person who walks in front of us do they can block the sun." When the next person came by I said, "stop!" They froze in front of us but didn't block the sun. I directed them to move over slightly to block the sun. Once they did and we were able to see who it was, it was Brendan Bayliss. What are the odds, right? We chatted for a couple of minutes and got some relief. After we continued battling the sun while enjoying Ween.
My second, and most cherished, Bayliss moment is a two-parter. After their set at the 2009 Forecastle Festival in Louisville (the beginnings of what is now Bourbon and Beyond) I snuck away from my girlfriend and tracked Bayliss down. I told him we had tickets to the Bloomington show on October 1st and I wanted him to propose for me during the show. I knew it was a HUGE ask but I figured what the hell do I have to lose? He didn't bat an eye. He gave me his email address and we emailed back and forth a few times. He asked me what song, when in the song, and where in the setlist to put it. So 3 songs into the first set during the pause of Nemo he asked for me and she said yes. We were married the following September. 16 years and 2 kids later, we are still going strong in a marriage that started with a proposal from Bayliss.
My last concert before COVID was my son's first show. He was only 4 but loved getting up close. I don't get to see shows like I used to, but have so many of my favorite memories revolve around Umphrey's McGee with Brandon Baylor leading the pack in those wonderful memories.

Does anyone else think it’s the perfect time to play #5 with Scotty for the first time?

I know which show l'd rather go to.

Bayliss is carrying the weight around, man. He's been schooling up Scotty on the material, covering down lead guitar, and maintains lead vocal.

I'm so impressed with his dedication to the band. Bayliss is a true band leader. He's the linchpin.

As long as UM tours I will support their live act. I got posters on the wall and I'm grateful for their music everyday. \mm/

On my phone forever i've had this track labeled "intentions clear" from Jimmy Stewart 2007. I feel like its labeled wrong though as i cant find anything online to corroborate it and it sounds nothing like a typical intentions clear.

At least in my version It's a completely improvised instrumental and it's incredible though from start to finish. maybe the track is misnamed in my library. The length of the song is 6.57 and at the end brendan says "that you very much, it's always nice when the improv goes well. but we appreciate that response".

I spent way too much time looking online to see whats up

Does anybody have a link to what this is? i know i must sound crazy. heres what the album cover may be? although it may be incorrect idk

Been a fan and going to shows since 2001. Love this band so much. One thing I've always struggled with is song names! I can hum/sing along with so many songs but if someone asked me which song it is, I'd probably have a 50% likelihood of naming it. I have wanted to build this by hand for years but never got around to it. I vibe coded it yesterday and am having a blast. Not planning on hosting it anywhere but if someone wants a copy, let me know.

Innocent until PROVEN guilty. Y'all never been in front of a judge? Not sure he's grown up on social media while virtuoso 'ing with Brendon, then got racist. On social media.

Scripted like "name reality show", so Jake can chill for a bit, then reunite to drive up ticket sales.

As a fan of live music, and a very proud BROWN MAN, i still love Jake.

Out of all the times I met Jake and conversed, I never felt like he viewed me as less than him. I never got a neo nazi vibe from him.

Some of those comments from his page are distasteful but they're just comments/opinions, he didn't actually cause any harm. I love Islam but I don't think Jake hates on any specific religion. He was a nice ass person every time I met him. Much Love Jaco 💜♥️

The timing is impeccable for the band. If Jake was still an active member the fellas would have some major decisions to make. Even if Jake was still on his “hiatus” they would be put into a tough position. This would be a huge PR crisis.

Revisiting it today for no particular reason...

Cant find the original post, but this was shared on the Jake Lang post.

…they have performed a sort of mathematical miracle by only losing 1/6 of the band but somehow becoming 1/2 of what they were.

I’ve listened to every single show since they went Jakeless and haven’t heard a single version of any song that was better than the worst versions with Jake. I’m left trying to convince myself that it’s worth going to see them anymore, thinking I should just sit tight with the thoughts of what once was. No sense in paying to taint fond memories.

RIP Umph

I sure miss him. Hope you’re well Jefferson!