Umphrey’s McGee bassist talks 5 favorite metal shows he saw growing up
Jam vets Umphrey's McGee are releasing their new studio album Asking For A Friend this Friday (7/1), and if you haven't heard them already, four of its 14 songs are streaming now (listen below). Umphrey's touch on all different types of music, and though you might not guess it from the new singles, they've always had a love of heavier rock, as they've shown off with covers of Fugazi, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Tool, Pantera, Danzig, Iron Maiden, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, and more. Ahead of the new album's release, we caught up with bassist Ryan Stasik over email to talk about his five favorite metal bands/shows that he saw growing up as a preteen/teenager in Kalamazoo. Take it away, Ryan...
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1. Pantera
Hands down this was the band that did it for me as a teenager. Fortunate to see them many times as a teen. Always in the pit, always 100% full throttle anger and aggression. It was fucking beautiful.
2. Beastie Boys with Rollins Band in 1992
Henry Rollins is an icon. This pairing was so raw and full of energy that it ranks in my top 5 concerts of all time.
3. Tool
My first show was in Kalamazoo in 1995 or '96 I think. Still my favorite band to this day. The progressive metal bug was implanted for life that day. I had never seen production with metal at that level before. I was instantly connected. These are pre cell phone days too thankfully. I was locked in from beginning to end. And every Tool show since, I've been the same way.
4. Prong
This band opened up for every band that played Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo in the '90s. I was early to the shows and never missed this power trio’s high energy performances.
5. Nine Inch Nails
One of the most memorable nights of my life as a group of 10 of us got dressed up and attended the NIN show. Jim Rose Circus opened before Pop Will Eat Itself did their thing. I was not prepared for the highest level of musicianship, art, production to slap me upside the head. Basically putting a hole in my head. I left shirtless, sweating, possibly bleeding as I enjoyed the pit then. And all I wanted to do was go back for more.
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Listen to four songs from the upcoming Umphrey's McGee album...
Umphrey's McGee -- 2022 Tour Dates
July 8 - Baldwinsville, NY - Bud Light Amphitheater at Paper Mill Island
July 9 - Marshfield, MA - Levitate Music & Arts Festival
July 10 - Selbyville, DE - Freeman Arts Pavilion
July 14 - Outer Banks, NC - Roanoke Island Festival Park
July 15 - Asbury Park, NJ - Stone Pony Summer Stage
July 16 - Thornville, OH - The Werk Out Music & Arts Festival
July 21-24 - North Plains, OR - Northwest String Summit
Aug. 5-7 - Kenai Peninsula, AK - Salmonfest
Aug. 18 - Indianapolis, IN - TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park $
Aug. 19 - Maryland Heights, MO - Saint Louis Music Park $
Aug. 20 - Pelham, TN - The Caverns Amphitheater $
Aug. 21 - Pelham, TN - The Caverns Amphitheater
Aug. 24 - Grand Rapids, MI - Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Aug. 26-28 - Bridgeview, IL - Sacred Rose Festival
Sept. 1 - San Diego, CA - The Observatory North Park
Sept. 2 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Palladium
Sept. 3 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
Sept. 4 - Reno, NV - Grand Sierra Resort & Casino
Sept. 8 - Salt Lake City, UT - Red Butte Garden
Sept. 9 - Bozeman, MT - The ELM
Sept. 29 - Richmond, VA - Music at Maymont
Sept. 30 - Wilmington, NC - Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
Oct. 1 - Savannah, GA - Johnny Mercer Theatre
Oct. 2 - Birmingham, AL - Avondale Brewing Company
$ Co-bill with The Disco Biscuits