Umphrey's McGee's one-of-a-kind pre-order campaign for their highly anticipated new studio release, Mantis (January 20, 2009 / SCI Fidelity Records) is already being recognized as a brilliant and innovative use of digital technology. The power of this new pre-order concept is in the hands of the fans.

The Chicago progressive jam outfit Umphrey's McGee brought their explosive live show back to Colorado over Labor Day weekend, and rained down a handful of stunning performances to the Rocky Mountain faithful.

There's a lot of music floating around out there these days that falls under the greater umbrella of rock and roll, but doesn't really subscribe to any specific genre therein.  Bending and blending genres has almost become a genre unto its self.  Not that I'm complaining, and not that it hasn't always been this way to some extent in the world of music.  But being where we are in history, there is more music behind us than there ever has been in the past, meaning there are more possible sources of influence than ever before too.  This, of course, should be obvious, since

The 7th Jammy Awards at the Wamu Theater at Madison Square Garden in the heart of New York City left no one disappointed to say the least.

So, I'm leaving in a few days for my first Langerado festival…my first, but this is the 6th year of the party's existence. I've always heard fabulous things about it but never have been able to go.  I have to say that even though things haven't gone as originally planned, like they ever really do right? I'm getting super stoked about going.

Festival season!  I love it, and it is almost upon us.  After viewing the initial lineups for some of the big music festivals I couldn't help but notice the large number of indie rock bands that are sneaking their way into what are usually very jam-heavy celebrations.

This Halloween the Chicago-based sextet Umphrey's McGee brought their progressive jam-rock to the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, and in turn paid homage to some of the greatest horror movies of all time.  Not only did they fee

One would think that a band that is so well-known for their live performances would have released multiple concert discs by now.  With the exception of a few "indie" releases years ago, prog-rock kings Umphrey's McGee waited until this month to birth their first commercially available, official live album entitled Live at the Murat.