Umphrey’s McGee is a leader in the field of jam bands.

The Chicago group has an open-taping policy at its concerts, releases a podcast from a live show at least once a month and recently brought its improvisation to uncharted territory — letting the audience guide the music.
The first Stew Art Series event was Oct. 3 in Milwaukee.

“Fans love the improvisational aspect,” said keyboardist Joel Cummins. “People can text phrases, words, ideas and cultural references into this platform and we moderate it.”

The words are displayed for the band and the audience and the improvisation begins. Suggestions in Milwaukee included “a bus ride in Jamaica” and “drinking piņa coladas in a hurricane,” Cummins said.

Umphrey’s McGee has come a long way since it began in 1997 when the members were Notre Dame students.
“We met for a burrito dinner on the night we decided we wanted to be a band,” Cummins said. “Our first goal was to see how we could avoid sitting behind a desk for the next 30 years.”

Instead, the band has extended bandstand stints, annually playing up to 115 shows a year. The two-set performances often last three hours and feature an elaborate light show. Except for a change of drummers in 2003, Umphrey’s McGee’s lineup has remained consistent.

“Since then we’ve really been able to expand our palate and include some heavier tones, some more progressive rock,” Cummins said. “It’s really an exciting clean slate we can step onto each night. Even if we have a set list, what might happen inside that set list you never know. It’s always a different thing every time.”

One thing is certain at each show: drummer Kris Myers will get a workout.

“He has to hold the “Guinness Book of World Records” for the amount of calories burned in a year,” Cummins said. “We haven’t checked that but I’d be willing to write that in pencil.”

When the band dines, Myers sometimes has two orders. (Bistro Elise staff, you’ve been warned.)

Umphrey’s McGee has built fan bases in San Francisco, Portland, Ore., Denver, Atlanta, New York, Boston, Philadelphia and especially in the Midwest. It is part of two singular annual events: the Jamaican Caribbean Holidaze in December and Amsterdam’s Jammin’ the Dam in March.

Cummins’ favorite venue, however, could be Wrigley Field, where the band has sung the “National Anthem” three times. The lifelong Cub fan hopes to someday sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during the seventh-inning stretch, a ritual that began with WGN broadcaster Harry Caray and continues with Len Kasper and Bob Brenly.

“I do know that Len and Bob are fans of the band and that’s pretty cool,” Cummins said. “Those guys are big music fans and have given us a few plugs over the years. I’ve gotten multiple texts over the summers saying, ‘Hey, they’re talking about you on the Cubs game.’”

While taping of a game without the express written consent of Major League Baseball is strictly prohibited, it’s encouraged at an Umphrey’s McGee concert.

“That’s something that’s been a huge boon for us over the years,” Cummins said. “Our main goal is to get people to come out to our concerts.”

Fans’ taping of shows began with the greatest jam band of them all, the Grateful Dead, who would perform songs live for years before recording them in a studio.

In contrast to the Dead, Umphrey’s McGee never performed any of the material on it’s latest album, “Mantis,” until it was released in January.

“Mantis” has been compared to Umphrey’s 2004 album, “Anchor Drops.”

“ ‘Anchor Drops’ was our first venture into more heavier sounds,” Cummins said. (“Mantis”) is definitely a return to a more aggressive sound. At the same time there are so many melodies and so many things going on; it’s quite a departure from ‘Anchor Drops.’ ”

During a Tahoe performance a few years ago, Umphrey’s McGee was so impressed with the Gamble Console at the Crystal Bay Casino, it purchased a similar soundboard.

“Crystal Bay Casino is a pretty sweet venue for a 600-person venue,” Cummins said. “They’ve really put their money in the right places to give the production the best chance it has to succeed.”

After the banks of speakers are set up in the Crown Room, the Chicago band will no doubt remember the famous line from the Cubs’ Ernie Banks when it considers its set list — “Let’s play two!”