Umphrey's McGee complimented

Example of foresight ? you decide  ...

as quoted from Bob Lefsetz email newsletter

From: Adit Rao
Subject: A Serious Inquiry

Dear Bob,

I've been reading your blog with great interest over the past few months.  My friend Joel Cummins, who plays in a band called Umphrey's McGhee recommended I pay attention to what you had to say.  He's actually a poster child for the mindset/approach which you promote in your writings.

It's a semi-interesting story actually:  About 10 years ago, as college freshmen, Joel and I took two separate paths:  he remained in Chicago and began touring with his band locally.  I moved to LA and pursued a record deal.  Years later, it's pretty clear which one of us made the right decision.  His band does about 150 shows a year (sometimes to festival crowds).  They're not millionaires, but their company is a sustainable enterprise which supports the livelihoods of about a dozen guys (including their crew).  Pretty impressive.  My bands on the other hand, have floundered around the southwestern U.S., worn thru a couple of rotten experiences with labels, and disintegrated when our morale was destroyed.  Joel wasn't a prophet... he simply played music which labels didn't care for (Jamband stuff).  So they were forced to take a grass-roots approach from the start.  And as it turned out-- they were way ahead of the curve.  I'm very proud of them.

If that's their short term goal, then they might as well stay home. Umphree's Mghee has built a career. They may even be millionaires by now, but if not, it would seem that they have been able to maintain an acceptable level of income to continue playing music. 

I'm glad I'm seeing them in a week!!!!

The only need a label can fill is distribution. The rest should be doable by the band. Financing, managing, recording, touring, all are in reach of the musician. You answer to yourself. And if you're lucky, and luck plays a big role, you find, build, and maintain a sufficient fanbase to work at a job you  love - making music. 

seein them april 11. shold be awesome.

i always wondered if it's harder to sustain a band financially when theres more members than less. i guess they do fine. their popularity seems to grow everyday

ghost_of_morphy wrote: UM is the second best underground band out there

whos #1?