Jam titans Umphrey’s McGee are gearing up for a huge 2018. With the band’s 20th anniversary approaching in early January and a year-long celebration in store, Umphrey’s will kick off the huge year with the release of a new album. The new album, it’s not us, will be released next week on Friday, January 12th via Nothing Too Fancy Music, and it will feature a mix of reliable, road-tested material such as “Remind Me” and “Speak Up”, songs culled from old jams and demos such as “The Silent Type”, “Forks”, and “You & You Alone”, as well as several unheard, brand new tracks. Fans have been itching to hear some of the new material, but, until now, have only been able to hear lead single “The Silent Type” and bass-heavy b-side “Looks” thanks to an exclusive Record Store Day Black Friday release and a fun music video.
Today, “Looks” is released in all its glory with a lyric video. Guitarist Jake Cinninger wrote the song, and described it as “an exploration of future metallic funk, with an undercurrent of uncertainty permeating throughout” to Paste Magazine in their exclusive premiere. He continues, “The track is about human misadventure, and the resulting bad behavior. It represents a peripheral vision for trouble. Sonically, we hope listeners recognize the fearless mashup of styles. The guitar solo at the end was actually the very first take I played, performed live while we were tracking the drums. It is not a typical Umphrey’s track … but then again, what is? Our formula is constant change, designed to keep us happy and forever moving forward as a band. It’s foreshadowing & reminiscing all in one.”
Jam out to Umphrey’s McGee’s new “Looks” in the video below:
January 12 Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre
January 13 Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre
January 19 New York, NY @ The Beacon Theatre
January 20 New York, NY @ The Beacon Theatre
January 21 New York, NY @ The Beacon Theatre
January 25 New Haven, CT @ College Street Music Hall
January 26 Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore
January 27 Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore
January 28 Jim Thorpe, PA @ Penn’s Peak
February 1 Columbus, OH @ Express Live!
February 2 Kalamazoo, MI @ Wings Event Center
February 3 Kalamazoo, MI @ Wings Event Center
February 15 Washington, DC @ The Anthem
February 16 Asheville, NC @ ExploreAsheville.com Arena
February 17 Asheville, NC @ ExploreAsheville.com Arena
February 18 Tampa, FL @ WhigFest Music & Arts Festival
March 7 Aspen, CO @ Belly Up Aspen
March 8 Aspen, CO @ Belly Up Aspen
March 9 Aspen, CO @ Belly Up Aspen
March 10 Salt Lake City UT @ The Complex
March 14 Missoula, MT @ The Wilma
March 15 Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
March 16 Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
March 17 Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
March 22 South Lake Tahoe, CA @ Harrah’s Lake Tahoe
March 23 Oakland, CA @ The Fox Oakland
March 24 Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
March 25 San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park