Citing specifications in the jamband blueprint, Umphreys McGee will embark on an indefinite hiatus in 2008. The groups first extended road-break will come on the heels of a sold-out Red Rocks run. We will be taking a little break to get back to our roots, says guitarist Brendan Bayliss. Somewhere around our first Roseland Ballroom appearance, I think well lose sight of our vision. I think well start to believe we were a little unfairly lumped in along with all the jambands. We always considered ourselves more of a improvisational prog-rock band who happens to jam—-not a jamband.
The group also will be diagnosed with a mild case of aRAQnophobia which is the fear of being compared in a favorable light to a really kick-ass band.
Thankfully, Umphreys will return fifteen months later on a nationwide tour sponsored by passedoutwookies.com.