For the record: concert edition

Artist: Umphrey's McGee

The Green Apple Festival is America’s largest celebration of Earth Day. Since its birth in 2006, the event has grown to 10 major cities across the United States. Each year, bands play in the festival to educate audiences about environmental issues. Specifically, the Green Apple Festival promotes life choices that help to create a greener America — stressing the importance of saving energy, recycling, reducing water use, eating wisely and driving less.

Umphrey’s McGee is one of these “environmentally aware” bands, and has played in the festival since it started in 2006. Even the band’s manager, Vince Iwinski, became a part of the event when he produced the Green Apple Festival in Chicago two years ago. Umphrey’s — as the band name is commonly shortened — was also afforded the privilege to play in front of the White House at the Festival in 2008.

Though the band did not use the stage to enlighten the audience about all things environmental last Thursday, Nov. 12, at Higher Ground, they attracted many fans looking to get in touch with Mother Nature. That is to say, there were lots of hippies congregated in South Burlington dancing in bohemian glory to a band that, at least for a while, seemed to be the heirs to the “Phish throne.” Of course, Phish got back together and ruined all chances of such a triumphant ascension.

Back to the issue at hand: Umphrey’s McGee rocked Higher Ground last Thursday. The concert was more a celebration than anything else. After all, the band got to count down the moments to Ryan Stasik’s birthday, and, at the conclusion of the show, even invited the crowd to a bash at Metronome. Umphrey’s was having a great time partying on stage, and the audience followed suit.

On “40’s Theme,” guitar shred-master Jake Cinniger muttered nonsensical lyrics with corny hand motions, which made the tune more theatrical than anything else. And the crowd responded positively, finishing the lyrics at the appropriate times.

Those in attendance were certainly ready to party along with Umphrey’s. On the fast paced “All in Time,” the ballroom shook as everyone, in unison, happily jumped and swayed to the voice of guitarist and vocalist Brendan Bayliss. Then, the band jokingly introduced a drum solo by Kris Myers: “Give it up for my favorite drummer in the whole f*cking world!” Once the solo was over, and everyone was back on stage, Bayliss and Cinniger took over to deliver their usual two-guitar onslaught.

These moments — when Jake and Brendan compliment each other on guitar — make Umphrey’s McGee a great band. Just as the song seems to be disintegrating into a structural void, the guitarists start dueling — riffing at an ever-faster pace — until some sort of pinnacle is reached. Once there, the guitarists hold their riff for as long as possible, and, as a spectator, you can’t help but think that these guitarists are the most rockin’ guitarists in the world.

Although I was disappointed that Umphrey’s refrained from playing a more recent, “Mantis”-heavy setlist, I was happy that the band was having fun jamming to their classics. And, so long as everybody is having a good time, I’m having a good time too.