<p>Hey jam heads, welcome back to <em>Schecky’s Jam Bands</em> — the show where we dive deep into the groove, the improvisation, and the magic behind the best jam bands on the planet. Today, we’re talking about a group that perfectly walks the line between precision and chaos — a band that’s as tight as Rush but as unpredictable as Phish. Yep… we’re talking about <strong>Umphrey’s McGee</strong>.</p><p>The story of Umphrey’s McGee starts back in <strong>1997</strong> at the <strong>University of Notre Dame</strong>. Guitarists <strong>Brendan Bayliss</strong> and <strong>Joel Cummins</strong>, both from earlier campus projects, decided to team up with drummer <strong>Mike Mirro</strong> and bassist <strong>Ryan Stasik</strong>. The guys were just college friends jamming for fun — but the chemistry was instant.</p><p>They started gigging around South Bend and quickly developed a reputation for their technical chops and fearless improvisation. In 2000, after releasing their first album <em>Greatest Hits Vol. III</em> (yes, they led with that name — total jam band humor), they began drawing a serious cult following.</p><p>By the early 2000s, the lineup solidified with <strong>Jake Cinninger</strong> on guitar, <strong>Kris Myers</strong> on drums, and later <strong>Andy Farag</strong> and <strong>Ben Atkind</strong> adding percussion and rhythm texture.</p><p>So, what’s with the name <em>Umphrey’s McGee</em>? Turns out, it came from a friend’s father — an actual guy named Umphrey McGee — whose quirky name stuck as a joke between the bandmates. When it came time to pick something official, they went with it. It’s got that perfect blend of weirdness and originality that fits their vibe.</p>
