Progressive titans Umphrey’s McGee are currently touring the West Coast as part of their it’s not us tour. The run, which continues the band’s celebration of both their new album and their 20th anniversary as a band, has already seen them hit Colorado for three nights at the Belly Up Aspen; one-night stands in Salt Lake City, Missoula, and Seattle; and a huge two-night run at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland, OR. This weekend, Umphrey’s will complete their West Coast leg of the it’s not us tour with shows in South Lake Tahoe, NV; Oakland, CA; Los Angeles, CA; and San Diego, CA.

Recently, our own Gideon Plotnicki chatted with UM’s sole West Coast resident, keyboardist Joel Cummins, to discuss a variety of West Coast-reltaed topics, such as his decision to move to Los Angeles, cherished tour memories, favorite venues, travel destinations, and suggestions on where to eat an amazing meal in his new hometown. Check it out below, and don’t miss Umphrey’s McGee as they close out their West Coast tour!

L4LM: Umphrey’s McGee is currently in the middle of the West Coast leg of your 20th-anniversary tour. How is that going?

Joel Cummins: It’s been a very exciting West Coast run for Umphrey’s McGee. Musically, it feels like we’re at the top of our game, and we’ve been able to break in all of the new songs from it’s not us over the past few months, which has been loads of fun. The cherry on top is that we’ve sold out seven of eight shows so far on the tour. It’s nice when everything comes together. Personally, I’ve been enjoying using my Mountain Collective ski pass on tour and days off. I think today will be day 17 of 21 for me on the tour. I just love our March West Coast tours where we usually get to experience three of the four seasons in just a few weeks. The natural element of everything around you can be very inspiring.

L4LM: Umphrey’s has toured the West Coast many times; do you have any favorite memories that stand out from those tours?

JC: I’ll never forget the camaraderie and stamina needed for our first West Coast tour in summer of ’01. We went out for six weeks and hit tons of new places I’d never been to. It was mind-blowing, challenging, and hugely rewarding. Back in ’04, Phil Lesh sat in with the band for the first time at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. That was an honor and quite surreal. Finally, getting to play The Wiltern in Los Angeles, my new hometown, was something that was a huge accomplishment for us. There aren’t very many bands in our scene that are playing 2300 capacity venues in L.A.—it’s just a tough city to conquer. But every year, a few more people have come out to the shows and the whole thing has grown, so it’s a very rewarding experience for me there. Psyched we’re going back in a few days!

L4LM: I’ve noticed that UM tends to tour the West Coast during the winter exclusively. Is that intentional?

JC: We’ve toured the West Coast in March for four primary reasons: 1) Spring break schedules at schools, 2) Avoiding bigger outdoor shows that will compete starting in April, 3) Better weather out west (typically) in March than in rest of country, and 4) March Madness games end before showtime on West Coast time. It’s worked very well for us to grow our audiences out west since 2012. I think there will probably be some changes coming up in the future though; hopefully, we’ll be able to hit some of the smaller outdoor venues and amphitheaters the next time we come around.

L4LM: A few years ago, you moved from UM’s home base of Chicago and the Midwest and ended up in Southern California; what drove that decision?

JC: When my wife and I started dating, she lived in Santa Monica. Both of her sisters (and now a brother-in-law) live very close to us in L.A., so we have family there. Venice Beach is an incredible place to call home and also a very inspiring place to live. I have my piano set up so I can play and enjoy natural sunlight. It’s also a much healthier environment for me off the road with all of the athletic options going on around me. I can do yoga, ski, run, play golf, hike, surf, swim or bike nearly every day of the year. Chicago will always be a part of me, and I still go back at least ten to twelve times a year to visit mom and friends and go to Cubs games, but Southern California certainly has my heart.

L4LM: Since moving out west, what’s been your favorite live music experience or experiences?

JC: There have been a lot of smaller shows I’ve seen in clubs that have been really incredible. Recently, we checked out the Barr Brothers at Troubadour, and it was fantastic. A more distant but enduring memory would be getting to see Bill Frisell, Matt Chamberlain, and Jon Brion at The Mint—a little 200-person club on the westside. As far as performing myself, we’ve had a lot of great jams at a local club in Santa Monica called TRiP. It’s about a five-minute drive from my house, so it’s been nice to have a few local gigs too.

L4LM: Festival culture is somewhat different on the West Coast. Do you have a favorite west coast music festival?

JC: High Sierra Music Festival is always one of my favorites, as it was our first festival we ever played. The familial vibe there is outstanding. Back in 2009, I played Outside Lands as a special guest with a friend’s band, Big Light. Outside Lands has probably been my favorite festival to attend. The music, the site at Golden Gate Park, and the food and wine area of that event make it pretty hard to beat. Could be a little bit warmer there, seems like most years the fog keeps temps in the 50s and it can get chilly. I also attended a couple Coachella festivals and a day of Festival 8 in SoCal and really enjoyed those.

L4LM: What’s your favorite venue on the West Coast?

JC: My favorite venue on the West Coast so far has to be The Fox in Oakland. Everything about it is first-rate from the venue and production to the staff, backstage area, and catering. I’m hoping the Greek Theater in L.A. will someday be my new favorite venue we’ve played. It’s a very special place.

L4LM: You are an avid traveler. Where’s your favorite place to vacation out west?

JC: It’s really impossible to pick a favorite place to vacation out west because there are just too many options. Most of the big traveling my wife and I do is international, but we’ve spent a lot of time skiing over the past few years. I can’t really pick a favorite here, so I’m just going to list a few of my favorites: Telluride, CO; Jackson Hole, WY; Mammoth Mountain, CA; Bend, OR; Moab UT; Sedona AZ; Palm Springs, CA; and Aspen/Snowmass. Feels like there are so many places for us to still explore out here!

L4LM: Umphrey’s returns to The Wiltern this weekend. You mentioned that it’s a special venue for you in your new hometown. With such a special show on deck, it’s only fitting that fans find the proper place to pre-game. As a local, do you have any restaurants or bars to suggest in the surrounding neighborhood?

JC: I’m definitely not the right person to ask this because I don’t drink before shows and usually only have time to order food in or eat catering while on tour. The Wiltern is in the middle of Koreatown so there is definitely some pretty amazing Korean BBQ and kimchi spots around. The Line Hotel just down the street also has some good bars and a restaurant called Commissary that I’ve enjoyed in the past. There are also plenty of cool downtown L.A. bars that are a short ride away from the venue if Korean food isn’t your thing.

L4LM: Outside of that neighborhood, what are some other restaurants you love in L.A. or close to your home base?

JC: Venice is filled with awesome restaurants. We really enjoy the Tasting Kitchen, Gjusta, Wurstkuche, and Superba Bread in our neighborhood. When we’re looking for some good vegetarian Indian food, you can’t go wrong with the Samosa House. I’d highly recommend a trip to Venice, Abbot-Kinney Blvd., Rose Ave., the boardwalk, etc. while you’re in Los Angeles. It’s a very unique and interesting neighborhood and unlike anyplace else on the West Coast.

L4LM: Finally, the band is upgrading venues in San Diego from the House of Blues to the Observatory North Park. Is it exciting to see your band move into larger and more beautiful West Coast venues over the past few years?

JC: It’s always nice to feel like your music is catching on around the country. The West Coast is a tough place for most bands to grow, so the consistent progression has allowed us to bring more production elements and do our full show. The Observatory in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego is a very cool renovated theater. I’m thrilled we’ll be ending the tour there once again. And I have to also mention how excited we are to have Organ Freeman joining us on this leg. I discovered their music a couple years ago and fell in love with the sound almost immediately. I think Umphrey’s McGee fans will really dig these guys, so get out to the shows early!

Don’t miss the remaining dates on Umphrey’s McGee’s “It’s Not Us” tour of the West Coast. See below for a full list of upcoming tour dates from the band. For more information, visit the band’s website.

Upcoming Umphrey’s McGee Tour Dates

Mar 22, 2018 – Harrah’s Lake Tahoe – Stateline, NV
Mar 23, 2018 – Fox Theater – Oakland, CA
Mar 24, 2018 – The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA
Mar 25, 2018 – The Observatory North Park – San Diego, CA
Apr 22, 2018 – SweetWater 420 Fest – Atlanta, GA
May 17, 2018 – Paper Mill Island Amphitheatre – Baldwinsville, NY
May 18, 2018 – The Strand – Providence, RI
May 19, 2018 – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom – Hampton Beach, NH
May 24-27, 2018 – Summer Camp Music Festival – Chillicothe, IL
May 31, 2018 – The Grove of Patriots Point – Mt. Pleasant, SC
Jun 1, 2018 – Jun 2, 2018 – Mountain Music Festival – Oak Hill, WV
Jun 29, 2018 – House of Blues – Boston, MA
Jun 30, 2018 – Stone Pony Summer Stage – Asbury Park, NJ
July 5, 2018 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
July 6, 2018 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
July 7, 2018 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
Jul 19, 2018 – Jul 22, 2018 – The Peach Music Festival – Scranton, PA
Aug 2, 2018 – Aug 4, 2018 – The Werk Out Festival – Thornville, OH
Aug 23, 2018 – Lockn’ Music Festival – Arrington, VA
Aug 24, 2018 – Lockn’ Music Festival – Arrington, VA