I wanted to start something that you don’t really see on any music blog with the content we typically cover. So, I thought it would be interesting to take a specific jam from a few select bands, choose one song, and dissect it like crazy, listening for intricacies that your ears may have missed, or giving credit to a version of a song that most people may overlook…
I’d like to start off the series with one of my personal favorite versions of any song… The Linear by Umphrey’s Mcgee. This particular version is from 10.30.10 (Which you can call All Hallow’s Eve Eve). If you have never heard it, I am currently weeping for you. If you have heard it, then you deserve a pat on the back
So let’s get into it…
Cue it up, listen well, and prepare yourself…
Lift off!
0:00 – erie start per usual
0:18 – harmonics from jaco>delay filled chords/fills
1:00 – main song begins
1:09 – Jaco’s version of a whale call
1:25-2:11 – Bayliss vocals
2:12 – driving mellow typical break down
2:35 – back to main riff
3:00-3:46 – Bayliss lyrics
3:47 – driving mellow break down with Jaco on top with stuttering licks
4:09 – Jaco with a quick peak to the next plateau
4:30 – Drop out to Kris and Farag
4:40 – Pay attention to Pony here (this is where the Halloween teases begin)
5:18 – Jake on heavy distortion power chords/Joel with heavy Halloween teases
6:15 – Joel drop out, Jake leads
6:27 – Bayliss kicks in with chilling repetition riff
6:46 – Mid jam break down, pay attention to Myers’ 16th notes on the hi hat
7:15 – back to main section of jam
7:32 – full band drop out, just Jaco, with hints of Farag
7:52 – first major peak of explosiveness
8:14 – Wah induced B section led by Jaco, Joel on synth behind
8:58 – back to section A with Halloween teases from Joel
9:16 – Jake now shows everyone how a guitar is played
9:20 – complete drop out, just Joel, full Halloween teases
9:36 – Myers’ laying quick hi-hat hits
9:42 – next major peak! hard power chords, major RAWK (based around section A)
10:03 – back to section B, more Wah LOTS more way, as if there couldn’t be enough
10:19 – Listen for Stasik’s driving bass line here it sets up the rest of the jam
10:26 – roller coaster climb to the top, lots of build, just stupid good build
10:46 – peak #3, if you weren’t at the show/watching iClips, imagine desks flips and punches thrown
10:54 – Ryan Fabec Stasik on that fill, ladies & gents
11:08 – peak #4, peak #3 was just a teaser, peak #4 contains obnoxious amounts of face melting, and some of the most intricate Jaco playing of the whole jam
11:28 – Bend over Eddie Van Halen
11:39 – one final quick build and then…
11:50 – full band drop out for Old Man Cummins on Halloween
I have a deep seeded love affair with not only this song, but this version, as I’m sure many people who were there to witness this would. This was my first legitimate introduction to live UM. It comes out of an All in Time opener (which starts a full AIT sandwich), but more importantly, it was my first introduction to being able to witness Umphrey’s in the mix of a jam, completely live and fully in the moment. Two things I will always remember about the scene opening up before me during this particular version of The Linear:
1) During the heaving peaks, some one on the right side of The Pageant (If you’ve been there, you’ll understand where this is) floor had locked their legs into the railing and was in the upright and locked position raging face hard. I remember laughing to myself, but thinking that’s absolutely amazing, this band could move someone to do that. It was the official moment I fell in love with this band’s music.
2) Jake was in fact wearing a hat, in case anyone on The Bort is overly curious.
If you haven’t heard this particular Linear, or even the full show, I highly suggest that you go here, as quickly as you can click.
And here is just a taste thanks to The Youtube…
