The Omega Moos, a side-project formed by members of Umphrey’s McGee and The New Deal in 2007, will return this spummer. The group—who focus on the music of the 1970s and ’80s—will perform at Chicago’s Park West on June 21 and 22.
The quartet have not performed since 2015, though in early 2017 the band posted a missive on their Facebook page announcing their return, before clarifying, “I lied. How about gigs in 2018? Relax, it’s the Moos…the party will happen and when it does, you will smile and dance. Cheers to patient folks.”

The New Deal’s Jamie Shields (keyboards) and Darren Shearer (drums) formed The Omega Moos with Umphrey’s McGee’s Brendan Bayliss (guitar) and Ryan Stasik (bass) during a quiet period when their bassist Dan Kurtz was focused on Dragonette. Shearer has since parted ways with The New Deal and, during The Omega Moos’ last run of shows, Umphrey’s McGee’s Kris Myers sat behind the kit. For the group’s upcoming run, Ray’s Music Exchange member and longtime UM pal Nick Blasky will play drums. “You may know him from Rays Music Exchange, but we know him as the drummer who puts the 3 in Moos 3.0,” the group said in a Facebook post.

In others UM side-project news, Bayliss will perform with Jeff Austin as 30db at Milwaukee, WI’s The Miramar Theatre on May 9 and Chicago’s Martyrs’ on May 11.