Umphrey's McGee

Umphrey's McGee is the band that prog-rock fans, metal fans, jam fans, and jazz fans all agree on - and that almost never happens in the real world. Since forming at Notre Dame in 1997 (yeah, they started at a Catholic university, which makes their genre-shredding live shows even more entertaining), they've built one of the most technically impressive and wildly fun acts in all of live music.

Here's what you need to understand about an Umphrey's show: these guys are MUSICIANS. Capital M. Every single one of them. They can pivot from a crushing metal riff to a funky groove to a jazz fusion breakdown within a single song, and it never feels forced or gimmicky. Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger on guitars are like watching two virtuosos engaged in the most entertaining musical conversation you've ever heard, and they both have a sense of humor about the whole thing. The precision is insane but the vibe is always fun and accessible.

Their setlists change every night (they've played over 2,500 shows, so repetition isn't really their thing), and they're known for incorporating covers that range from Radiohead to Led Zeppelin to Phil Collins - all reimagined through the Umphrey's filter, which basically means they make everything heavier, more complex, and somehow also more fun to listen to. The lighting rig is also absurd and rivals concert production values of bands with ten times their mainstream profile. The visual experience alone is worth the ticket price. Their fan community is fiercely loyal and for good reason - this band rewards repeat attendance in ways that most acts can't even begin to approach. Every show reveals something new.

If you want to see a band where every member is operating at peak performance and having an absolute blast doing it, Umphrey's McGee is the call. Find tickets on Evil Tickets and prepare to have your mind blown. Bring earplugs though. Seriously. They're loud and proud about it.