Umphrey’s McGee, a progressive rock/jam band from South Bend, Indiana makes its Geneva debut!

Umphrey's McGee has enjoyed a rabid following among jam band aficionados for years. Through their seamless compositing of diverse musical influences, from progressive-rock to metal to funk to folk to jazz-fusion to classic song-based rock-and roll, all woven together with infectious melodies, thought-provoking lyrics, pristine harmonies, blistering musicianship, and rollicking grooves, Umphrey's McGee has risen to the upper echelons of the improvisational-rock scene. The band brings to mind the heyday of Phish. Its improvisational jam-band style has easily lent itself to the obsessions of the "Umphreaks," or "McGeeks," who trade the group's live recordings over the Internet.

Coming out of the Midwest in the mid-'90s, Umphrey's McGee edged toward the Frank Zappa side of the improv rock scale, as opposed to the Grateful Dead/Allman Brothers Band direction espoused by many of their contemporaries. The group has cultivated an impressive presence both live and in the studio. Keyboardist JoelCummins, guitarist Brendan Bayliss, bassist Ryan Stasik and original drummer Mike Mirro all studied at the University of Notre Dame, while percussionist Andy Farag was at the South Bend branch of Indiana University. Guitarist Jake Cinninger, from Michigan, had a South Bend-based band called Ali Baba’s Tahini -- as well as an open invitation to join Umphrey’s, which he accepted in the Fall of 2000. His addition, along with Kris Myers’ arrival in 2003, proved critical to the band’s success. Together, the gifted collective elevated its game.

Umphrey's McGee is presented by Hobart and William Smith Colleges' "Live from Geneva" music series. Tickets for Umphrey's McGee are available at the HWS College Store, The Smith box office