Band owes rising popularity
to its loyal fans
 By
Ashley Carter
Staff Writer
Umphrey's McGee's popularity is increasing, and
the band owes it all to its fans, according to a member of Purdue's
Student Concert Committee.
Started in 1997, the band has quickly gained national
acclaim, partly credited to the encouragement they give their fans to
record and trade live shows.
"Most jam bands allow recording and Umphrey's McGee
is one of those bands that has made it on the scene of trading live
music," said Tim Deller, a junior in the Schools of Engineering and
member of the committee, which is sponsoring the concert.
Allowing its music to be traded can benefit both
the band as well as the fans. According to Deller, the band can concentrate
more on playing and less on recording and marketing and the fans can
have better and cheaper access to the live music — which is where
some fans say the magic truly happens for jam bands.
A self-proclaimed evil-funk and ethereal groove
band, Umphrey's McGee originally began in South Bend, Ind. The buzz
about the group spread quickly through Indiana and now the band tours
all over the nation.
"They have lots of local fans, so we're really
looking forward to having them," said Laura Clavio, the committee's
adviser and assistant director of Purdue Convocations.
The band recently finished a successful national
tour and has opened for bands such as Bela Fleck and The Flecktones.
Now Umphrey's is recording a studio album in Cincinnati.
Umphrey's McGee will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday
Dec. 8 at Loeb Playhouse.
"The Purdue Student Concert Committee thought it
might be a nice break for students to have coming out of dead week and
into finals week," said Clavio.
"They're just a really fun band to go see," said
Deller, who's seen the Hoosier band on tour. "Everybody should go see
them. It's a good way to spend the Saturday night before finals."
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