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A Real to Reel Interview: Umphrey’s McGee

Look, they’re not Kanye, but former college band Umphrey’s McGee has reached a new level of success

By Dan Ochwat

Hometown band Umphrey’s McGee went from playing Chicago street fairs to playing The Showbox in Seattle, The Roseland Theatre in Portland, The Avalon in Hollywood and the House of Blues in San Diego and Anaheim. And that’s just what’s scheduled this week (Oct. 18-25). They return home for New Year’s, not to play a DePaul bar, but rather, The Aragon Ballroom on Dec. 29, 30 and 31. Three consecutive shows at the Aragon!

Need there be more proof that this Notre Dame band has blown up, at the very least, they have to be acknowledged as one of the biggest bands coming out of Chicago right now. Some would argue that today’s music scene is being driven by the indie movement, and I’m certainly partly to blame for that. It’s what I listen to, so successful bands like Umphrey’s may not get the respect that other local legends like the Fiery Furnaces get, but that wacky duo ain’t going to sell out the Aragon three nights in a row.

Regardless, it’s all sort of nonsense anyway, as Umphrey’s McGee doesn’t care how you classify them. They’re just playing solid music — for three hours — for their fans, who drummer Kris Myers says, “just can’t get enough.”

The twist here: I know Kris. Well, kind of. It’s a strange circumstance: When I researched this band, I recognized Kris in the lineup photo, and had an “Oh Shit” moment, realizing I went to high school with him, and caddied with him at a golf club. We aren’t exactly friends from back in the day. This is more an interview from one kid who shared the same school hallways with another, but one ended up being a drummer in a popular rock band.

Q: So, I am talking to the Kris Myers of Umphrey’s McGee, but more importantly Fremd High School, correct?
A: Yeah, that’s right.

Q: I graduated with you in ’95.
A: Really?

Q: I had a brother, Jay. I also worked with you at Inverness Golf Club...
A: Oh, yeah, what’s up man? I remember you guys. The twins! F--k man, looong time.

Q: So you had to be the coolest graduate at the 10-year reunion?
A: Interestingly enough, I guess a lot of people didn’t know what I was doing or know the band. And that’s fine, I’m fine with that. I did have a great time that night, met up with my old friends.

Q: You had to have the coolest job at the reunion?
A: Oh, you can say that for sure. Some people are totally domesticated now. It’s OK, you know, family first.

Q: I faintly remember you being into drums in high school, but now drumming for a major band, a legitimate band — not just your friend’s band, but a touring band — it’s kind of crazy.
A: Yeah, I was into all kinds of styles of music, mainly rock, but ska and punk was the scene when we were seniors. I was in the Skalawags.

Q: How did you get involved with Umphrey’s? I know you’re not an original member.
A: It was after grad school. I finished up at DePaul University to earn a Masters, finishing there in June of 2002. Then in November, I got word that this band was looking for a drummer. My friend, Brian Abraham, another great drummer, told me about the gig, thought I’d be a good fit. I had no idea who Umphrey’s was, didn’t know anything about their music until I went to the website. I heard the first track, and it reminded me of King Crimson. It was very progressive, right up my alley.

Q: Did you have to try out?
A: I had to audition. I sent them a press kit, drove it to their manager’s house. A few days later, I got a call and went and auditioned at Jake’s house (guitarist/vocalist Jake Cinninger) in his basement down by Wrigley Field. I auditioned, and they taped me. They also came out to one of my local shows. I was freelancing, doing recording work in Chicago, doing all sorts of random gigs. They came home after touring, after auditioning a couple of other drummers, too. In December, they told me I have it if I want it. I decided at that time in my life and career, I’d give it a shot. I joined the band, and so far so good.

Q: And the band’s blowing up. I’m talking to you now because a reader e-mailed me complaining that I don’t talk about Umphrey’s McGee, and seeing you at Lollapalooza, the fan base was huge.
A: We’re growing rapidly, and it’s throwing a lot of people and local newspapers off guard. They’re used to the band being in the position it was about four years ago, where they were playing opening slots, headlining small clubs, you know, 1,500-person rooms at the most. In all truth, right now, we’re playing in front of 5,000 people, we’re sometimes doing arena shows too. We’ve had an amazing run, and a lot of it has to do with our new booking agent. He’s one of the biggest names in the business — Jonathan Levine at Monterey Peninsula Artists. It’s the same booking agency that books all types of bands like Dave Matthews, the Allman Brothers, Les Claypool, the Black Eyed Peas. It seems to be happening for us.

Q: You recently played with Bela Fleck and Mark Broussard. Those had to be big arena shows.
A: The arenas are few and far between. We just played with Dave Matthews in an arena environment. That was an amazing tour. We got to see the top-notch production and quality of players, but this tour is more of an outdoor festival, really nice places. We just did one in Vienna, Virginia, a beautiful place called Wolftrapp. We played in Baltimore on the pier, today we’re in Glen Allen, Virginia, then we go to North Carolina tomorrow and then into Nashville.

Q: You seem to be a band that specializes in the live show, and that’s where the following began. Especially at Lollapalooza, you out drew Ryan Adams it appeared. What was that fest like, compared to Bonnaroo, which you guys are more known for playing?
A: That’s exactly it. Bonnaroo is more of our staple crowd. What I like about Bonaroo, there is a lot more variety than Lollapalooza, just in my experience. You get so many different artists from different genres. Lollapalooza, my impression was that it had a lot of MTV, popular, new wave, retro punk bands. I think they all look the same, they wear the same kind of clothes, the same hairstyles — that L.A. kind of look. Bonnaroo is more about the music, and the variety of the music.

Q: And those new-style bands, they would probably characterize you as a jam band, which can come with some preconceived notions like pot and long solos, right?
A: Yeah, and a lot of newspapers say that, and I honestly don’t think some of them go to our shows anymore. They use the same review they wrote last time.

Q: Is that frustrating then, being pigeonholed in a genre?
A: Sure, absolutely. But it’s not about that. People can say what they want. Most of us let things be.

Q: You still playing Chicago a lot?
A: We always come home to Chicago. We’re doing New Year’s with Taj Mahal and some other artists. We had a show at the Riverview Fest. It was the only Umphrey’s gig I could walk to. It’s where the Riverview amusement park was, another great summer festival in Chicago.

Q: Does everyone still live in Chicago?
A: Yeah, everyone lives around the Wrigley area. There, or Lincoln Square, all over the north side.

Q: Where do you guys hang out?
A: We tend to frequent The Store on Halsted and Armitage. Occasionally, we’ll go to places where music is happening, too.

Q: Do you think you guys will stay in Chicago long, or is a larger market calling?
A: I would imagine. We don’t have any options to move anywhere, because we need to be close to each other for routing reasons. We can’t afford to pay for each other’s plane tickets to fly in from different states. But I personally would like to move away just once in my life. I thought it would be cool to move out west somewhere. I don’t think it’s going to happen for a long time, which is fine. Chicago has always been my home, and it’s a great place to raise a family.

Q: You graduated from DePaul in jazz. You still a jazz drummer at heart?
A: Absolutely. Jazz changed my life, put the world in a different color, so to speak. I was raised on the rock, but always into Zappa and some varieties of underground music growing up. I got my undergrad degree in performance at Elmhurst College, and then a year later went to DePaul and did a Master’s program in jazz studies. I was thinking of being more of a session drummer, play on soundtracks, commercials, other artists’ albums. Didn’t really expect to go on tour with a band, and now I am, and I’m so glad. It’s made me a better person.

Q: What is the touring experience like? Was it overwhelming at first?
A: Oh yeah, I didn’t think I could hang. After the first few months, dealing with some pretty heavy touring and the band, the trailer, and more importantly, the group dynamic. It’s very solid, very positive, but we all have our days just like anyone else in any other corporation or group. That was a reality check, and it’s always a process. And also, that’s what being in a band is all about.

Q: One last question, do you miss caddie life at Inverness Golf Club?
A: (Laughs) You know, I do miss some parts. I do miss the chumming around, the funny stories. I grew up around Inverness. My parents were members there. It was a great experience. You get to meet people in the club world and see successful businessmen and families. There were some great memories there. And caddying kept you in shape, cash money, no taxes. I sure enjoyed that part of it. There was some funny shit, some funny characters.

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