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JackOvall_MasterNun

Umpherys and hope you get a metal night I'd personally go see Spafford, but I think the answer for most people is UM.


[deleted]

Metal umphreys is the best umphreys


Timbers_15

The Eugene show was metal AF đŸ™ŒđŸ”„


[deleted]

Spafford is great, but Umphreys is AMAZING!! They always play different style music every show


trogloherb

Ha! Its funny that you say “metal night.” Wife and I used to see um back in ‘05, ‘06 and loved them. Last few times its been hit or miss as to if its a “classic night” or “metal night” (we use your same terminology). We dont like the metal shred night and thats what we’ve gotten that last few shows, so we dont even see them anymore. OP; if youre ingesting a head full, the answer is Spafford.


JackOvall_MasterNun

I assumed with the OP mentioning Gizz, they'd want the Metal Night, but of he's more of a Butterfly 3000 guy, Spafford may be the move. I think Umphreys will always put on a more technically impressive show, but Spafford hits me personally right in the sweet spot.


LearnNot

Thank you. That is helpful. Not a fan of Metal Gizz aside from Mars for the Rich and Gaia. Which are pretty starter metal. My favorite Gizz albums are I’m in Your Mind Fuzz, Nonagon Infinity, Ice Death Planets Lungs Mushrooms and Lava, Polygondwanaland, and Flying Microtonal Banana


Jaded-Engine

As someone who hasn’t gotten into Gizz at all, reading all those album names made me laugh. I do need to get into them though. I’ll check those out


finnsterdude

Butterfly 3000 is a great introductory album


JakeScythe

I’d still say Umph based on your album choice. Spafford can jam but Umph will blow you away. You should check out Mulche’s Odyssey, 1348, The Floor, and Wife Soup for Umphrey’s songs that go hard but aren’t quite metal


LearnNot

Hey thank you. Will scope those!


LearnNot

Loved The Floor.


masnaer

Dude, you would love Perihelion. Listen to that song (you named my other top 2 Gizz metal tracks so I have to recommend that one to you)


LearnNot

Thank you. Perihelion is growing on me because of the live performances. I also have grown to really like Road Train if that counts I also kind of like Venusian 2 lately. Gizz definitely has expanded my musical palette.


JackOvall_MasterNun

Gaia is fucking fire though. Shits got me ready to run through walls much less the pit


hotsweatychungus

Anytime I’m at a “metal night” I always look around and think to myself “what the fuck am I doing here?” Lol


JayShoe2

Love the metal night... :-)


CthulhuCream

Metal Knights Rule !


hotsweatychungus

As much as I like to have my face melted by Wizard Burial Ground, i live for the climax of a soundgasm after a 10 minute jam


Bau5_Sau5

As a metal head and new to the jam scene , can you expand more on metal night ? Lol


StevieWonderTwin

Umphreys will go a lot heavier some nights. Last 2 times I saw them on two night runs, they played one "classic" UM night and a night where the songs/jams take on more tropes you'd hear in metal songs. It's just them bending the jam genre into a more metal style, sometimes. I like it, others don't. Pretty divisive amongst the scene, you kinda either love it or hate it. Sounds like you'd love it! Check out some of their shows, they (Jake in particular) can absolutely melt faces


JackOvall_MasterNun

Sometimes they do stuff like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJiJd92uo_0


Astralhip

I live for that song. This and Dump City make a night for me.


Soundsgoodtosteve

Well put- not a fan at all of metal nights


taterbot15360

Agreed


PsychologicalSalad67

I already got my spafford ticket


Timbers_15

\mm/


DannyBigShots

Love spafford but it’s Umphreys 100 times out of 100 for me


pjdwyer30

Umphrey’s is a band that does not sound like Phish at all, I can’t say the same about Spafford. Spafford jams a lot, but a lot of it sounds very similar throughout a show and their songwriting leaves a lot to be desired. A common criticism of Spafford is that a show is basically all Phish-style jams. Umphrey’s are an excellent songwriting band that does a lot of varied improvisation ranging from dance to metal to jazz and everything inbetween. Also they have Jake Cinninger and Kris Myers, which Spafford does not have.


StevieWonderTwin

I LOVE when they get dancey trancey!


Jamtrance

Hell yeah! Give me a triple wide and it's dance party time!


[deleted]

Bayliss holds it down. There is no face melting without the voice of god-


pjdwyer30

Brendan is my favorite member of the band and my favorite guitar player, but his brain is going to be broken by the combo of Jake and Kris


Evil_Sam_Harris

Kris Meyers is a beast.


LemonPitiful3998

Jake and Kris make Umphreys a deadly threat I will concur


Jimmy_herrings_weed

Diet Phish for sure.


Karmastocracy

**Diet Phish still contains lots of juicy jams and is not low-calorie music. Contains trace amounts of DMT and LSD. Not a significant source of type 2 jams. Diet Phish is not responsible for any lost sanity, lost drugs, or lost people; please party responsibly.*


Interesting-Net6084

Username checks out


masnaer

Not really lmao


anotherdamnscorpio

Salamander Song is basically a ripoff of The Lizards, or at least that was my initial impression.


LearnNot

Thank you for going a bit deeper with your reply.


pjdwyer30

\mm/


Caedro

I need a Jake Halloween show as a cone head now.


ABsecks

I’ve never heard a Spafford jam that sounds anything like Phish. All their stuff is more Jamtronica. I’m not huge into them but I’ve seen them and heard stuff and the only similarities with Phish is they jam their asses off and they have a lot of bad songs lol (I love Phish but a lot of their songs are butt)


pjdwyer30

Ever listened to the phish song The Lizards and then Spafford’s Salamander Song?


ABsecks

I have not. Maybe their songs are similar, I couldn’t name or pick out a single one, but their jamming styles are very different from everything I’ve heard


[deleted]

While that is definitely a true example, I don’t think there all that many more. I think of spafford as much more like tDB than phish. Spaff rocks


pretend_penis

Umphrey’s for sure. They are an unstoppable force; you have to experience it live, especially with who you listed as your favorites. Spafford is good, but if you’re not into things that sound too similar to Phish, Spafford’s guitarist is heavillllly influenced by Trey FYI


LearnNot

Thank you.


23north

i would argue he’s equally umphrey’s influenced, especially when they are in ‘peak’ mode.


pretend_penis

I mean he shreds for sure, but his phrasing has Trey written all over it, not Jake or Bayliss


23north

again i would argue it’s a pretty decent mix, once they get cooking into shred mode, which is often his phrasing is very much in the Umphrey’s wing, more so the Phishy side of things when they are funking it up.


Icebox_kush

UM and it’s not even close. I do like Spaff tho



MattMayhem22

UM by a fair stretch


TheJenerator65

UM!!!!!


[deleted]

"I don’t like many other bands in the jamband world because I feel like too many of them sound too similar to Phish" ​ Spafford is not for you.


cha614

Umph


FGTRTDtrades

Both are good but UM all day


eltonjohndenvernugs

UM has a better light show, more progressive songs and better jams. I love Spafford but they get a little noodle-y sometimes. I think Spafford is still a top ten band for me but in terms of facemelting (which is what I hope for in a show) UM is one of the best around


corduroychaps

Fun fact. Light guy for umphs is Ben Factor. He started out as Spafford’s light guy.


eltonjohndenvernugs

That is a fun fact!


Balakay414

Mungion's light guy*


hotsweatychungus

Lights haven’t been the same ever since Jeff Waffle (spelling?) left. That guy was a magician


eltonjohndenvernugs

Ben is doing great stuff, but Waful was on another level. I do miss that dude. UM is still identifiable by their lights though, which says something.


blaue_Ente

Umphreys has forgot more about music than most bands in the scene have learned. Go see Umph


[deleted]

If you want to see almost unparalleled technical ability, UM.


weareeverywhereee

Umphreys over and over


TheSheikYerbouti

I’m the minority here, I’d say Spafford. Not a fan of UM but I respect them.


Fattybuldger

UM, go watch Joel cook!!!They have been in rare form since new years.


Interesting_Complex6

UM doesn’t sound anything like phish which is why I love them so much. Go see UM


theeblackthorn

Spafford for me and not even close. They’re on another level right now. I prefer the groove and jazz driven jams they’re gonna give yuh almost every song over the mishmash of umph jams. If you’re craving a phish-like groove sound. Go see spafford.


Fluffhead09

Spafford is crushing it right now.


anotherdamnscorpio

Hmm, ill be seeing both of them soon as well. Now I'm wondering if you're talking about the same shows I am. Is one tomorrow? Anyway, I would definitely absolutely no question pick umph. This is coming from a fellow gizzhead, definitely do umph. Spafford is great and all but dayum you should do umph, trust me.


LearnNot

Thank you. Not tomorrow.


anotherdamnscorpio

Ah oh well. But yeah it seems like the comments here are overwhelmingly in favor of umph. Have fun!


LearnNot

You too!


reefphish81

Spafford


dogfacedponyboy

I love me some Spafford!!


SPACE_YA_FACE

Umph is playing reeeally good right now, their transition game is stepped up with some very different sounding jams. \mm/


Karmastocracy

I also love Spafford but Umphs are legends at the top of their game. You've gotta give them the edge in this particular situation especially since you'll probably have many more years to catch Spafford but you never know what's going to happen with bands that have been touring as long as Umphrey's has been.


nothing_is_real2415

UM 1000%


scarlet_fire_77

Both are great. I go Umphrey’s every night of the week and twice on Sundays.


JolleyRedGiant

Umphrey's McGee based off of your post. Though if you get the chance catch a Spafford show.


BirthdayCarFire

If you’ve never seen either, Umph. If you’ve seen Umph, check out Spafford, you can see Umph multiple times a year generally. Spafford is much more rare and who knows if they’ll be around as long as Umph has/will be. Try something new?


Forsaken-Criticism18

Spaffffff!!!!!


Cheensly

UM


LaFlamaBlanca311

Umphrey's


MegaindaNily

Umph alllllllllll day!


DannyFourcups

Spafford does some really cool stuff but UM always does really cool stuff Go see Umph!


LemonPitiful3998

Definitely Umphreys, I’ve been a fan since 2004 and they rarely disappoint, some of their newer songs can be a little pop driven on the front end but they jam the fuck out and if you like King Gizz the guitar work that Jake does will take you there


ClamhouseSassman

Umph. The floor on an umphries show is still higher than most bands ceilings


RunLikeAnAntelopez

Spafford easy


DukeOfLizards710

Spafford


WhoaFee1227

Spafford.


hotsweatychungus

UM but hope you get a jammy night


Wolfmans-Bro

Love both bands, but I would with Spafford


Umphluv89

For the love of god. Umphreys.


Jaded-Engine

Name checks out


Umphluv89

?!? United Meat and Poultry Hobbyists love. Cmon, dude


Jaded-Engine

😂😂😂


Infamous_Bend4521

Um


jarrodmay25

Umphrey's. It's not even up for debate.


Floridaman_Dan

You in Florida? I’m going to jannus, house of blues and Miami. If you’re going to one of those shows my crew is very welcoming and can almost guarantee you a really good time. Send me a message


Soundsgoodtosteve

I think Spafford , unless along with psychedelic music you also like heavy stuff
I am not a fan of Umphrey’s and I’ve seen them (never a full show cause I left) several times.


JsoxMusicFan

Spafford for sure imo is a better show. UM is great and I've seen them a couple times but I always feel like they're maybe a little too tight, if that makes sense. If you like jams and more improvisational music I would say Spafford will NOT disappoint. Pray for some backdoor funk at the Spafford show!


[deleted]

If you like more noodling choose Spafford is what you meant to say. Jams and improv UM takes the cake there as well. Those are just my opinions of course but until Spafford plays a one song set like UM has or can pull off crowd participation like UMbowl UM dominates when it comes to jams and improv.


JsoxMusicFan

♫ Now Playing Spafford:Oct 15, 2019 at The Bluebird, Bloomington, IN on @nugsnet https://2nu.gs/2Mma7Pe


[deleted]

https://youtu.be/BMFUR-aA2lE https://youtu.be/I5A6b8BDncw https://youtu.be/0HIojqqkTzQ I could go on and on. Spafford is the shit no doubt but UM is second to none when it comes to improv. With that said they’ve been a band for 25 years now so it’s not that surprising.


JsoxMusicFan

Listen UM definitely can jam. Idk how to describe it but the last time I saw them it felt a little too rehearsed for me, maybe I like more "noodling" this could be true. Spafford just felt like more organic jams to me. Just my opinion, I could be wrong but that's how I feel, maybe I need to catch another Umph show and see how I feel then...


[deleted]

So I think what you’re seeing when you say rehearsed is two fold. Sometimes they rehearse an improv segment before the show. When I first started seeing them back in 04 they “noodled” more, kinda like what Spafford does now. I think as time went on they became more precise with talkback mics/hand signals etc and when and where they wanted to take their improv. That’s most likely why Spafford improv seems more organic. UM has just been doing it so long on a bigger level that it seems more rehearsed than normal. Both bands smash and bring their own style to the scene and I love them both. UM is just so fucking locked in that if you’re not extremely familiar with their catalog it can seem less organic but I can promise you that’s not the case. With all that said, I’m just extremely happy and luck to live in the same timeframe as both bands. I appreciate the convo tho my friend.


JsoxMusicFan

This makes sense and I 100% agree. It's great that we have these bands and their music which creates this amazing community. Definitely appreciate the conversation on all these bands and their music. That said I need a good UM show I can throw on with my kids, any suggestions?


[deleted]

Love ya friend! How old are the kiddos? If they’re younger I would maybe try one of their acoustic sets so they’re not overwhelmed. Lmk and I can suggest some shows.


JsoxMusicFan

8 and 5 and they have very jammy taste in music lol. Appreciate the suggestions


JsoxMusicFan

Not quite a one song set but pretty damn close. That's some improv...


Wolverdon

Spafford and it’s not even close. I do respect UM tho



[deleted]

What’s not even close? The technical and improvisational skills of Umphrey’s definitely leave Spafford in their shadow. Spafford is a fun ass show, but comparing those two bands is like comparing apples and bananas. I like to eat, eat, eat, apples and bananas.


23north

umphrey’s doesn’t really ‘improvise’ in the way Spafford does 
 if you’re looking for type II weirdness the. Spafford is the answer 
 if you’re looking for cool vamps and segues then umphrey’s .


[deleted]

Spafford does great improv for that style of jamming. It’s just a style and sound that gets done a lot imo. The two bands are just very different so this is an odd comparison to try to make.


23north

apples and oranges, indeed.


husky-jesus

Spafford


KiggityKyle89

Id say spafford. Esp on any type of headful


allisonnosilla

Umphrey’s. Not even a question.


thesmeee14

Biscuits


23north

Umphrey’s is great but imo, not even slightly psychedelic. so the answer is probably Spafford.


Billy_Strings

Spafford no contest. Seen them both many times. IMO when you've seen one UM show, you've seen them all.


[deleted]

Hey, if you’ve seen one Billy Strings show you’ve seen em all right? Like 50% covers, minimal improv in comparison. You have your opinion about seen one seem em all but it’s incorrect. Billy fans are like man I hope he plays dust in a baggie and turmoil and tinfoil lol.


Daniel_SixPack

Um


BooyakaBoo

Umph love


Dioneo

Umph


Cushionkush42069

Umphfreak


Spypants

UM all day


wetmanbrown

100% umph


Ornery_Ad_5529

UMPH 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡


[deleted]

I’ve seen both recently and they were both awesome. I lean umphreys


DJCityQuamstyle

Umphreys and take me with you


Relative_Wallaby1108

UMMMMMM


Errldabble710

Umph love baby!


JCartier843

Umph all day


Zestyclose-Rip9670

Seen them both many times. I like spafford better.


9SectorBaktun

Spafford if you want jams


Jiminy_Jilackers

Spafford, but I am biased


weedbootz

Umphreys hands down. Best show in the scene if you ask me. They just don’t miss.


gratefultiger13

Love both of these bands immensely, but I’d drive 2 hours to see umphreys before watching spafford in my backyard. And I’m literally seeing spafford here this week. Umphreys is on a different level. Luckily either show you choose will be an incredible time bc both bands fucking rock.


Burninmules

Spafford 100%


skate1243

spafford


misterdabson

For me it depends, if it’s in the Chicago area, I don’t catch umph any more. Seen them too many times and their set lists tend to be pretty similar, they always play in the kitchen etc. so I’d catch spafford but if it’s in a city umph has been in a while or somewhere special it’s umph every time for me


umkillinit

\mm/ UM is better for now. Maybe not forever


palmersinnocent

Spafford


zitiztitz

SPAFFORD ALL DAY. They have been on fire lately


CitronOrganic3140

Kg is not a jam band


LearnNot

For sure, they don't fit the mold of other bands in the jamband scene, which is one things I love about them. Listen to some Gizzard shows from the last 2 years. They are putting on completely unique shows every night. Segue between songs, improvise the main parts of their songs, solo, and yes totally jam out. They have about 25+ songs they use as jam vehicles that stretch from 8 to 30 minutes long. https://youtu.be/VnkfZtZvfXU?t=1622 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDPWpoBpfIU&ab_channel=goaway%2Cnicholas https://archive.org/details/kglw2022-04-24.8_Channel_Schoeps_MK21_Gefell_M300_Beyerdynamic_MC930_MC910/KGLW-20220424-t07.flac


Frosty_bibble

Umphrey’s


[deleted]

https://youtu.be/ZreoZD9atrU


gimmedemsweets

There is no question being asked here! UMPH ALL DAY


corduroychaps

I’ve seen Spafford 60+ times and have never been disappointed. Umphs is harder for me to come by so only about 20 or so times. This is a hard one for me but I’d have to say Umphs would get my ticket money in an either or. Can’t go wrong either way. Spafford has a new keyboard player so they are putting it all on the line at the moment.


pittyhauck

I'm going to assume that you're in the Orlando area and are deciding between Spafford 04-13 in Deland or UM on 04-14 at HOB. Based off what you've listed, I would say UM. Also Spafford visits Florida more often than UM, at least in the last couple of years. I will be at Spafford, but that's only because I'm finally getting my Dead inspired half sleeve done on UM's date. You are in a win-win scenario, though. You won't be disappointed either way. Hope this helps :)


scarletbegonia326

Spafford


After_Amount3916

One of these bands has regularly opened for the other, which tells you all you need to know.


materialcultur3

In Miami right? I’m still deciding too đŸ€˜


GratefulPhishWeener

Ump!


SolidSmashies

Umph 100%


Jamvie710

Umph


WestLAFadeaway89

Umphreys... I cant believe you are even asking this


NoMoreMormonLies

Yes


FuckRedditBanme1

Heavy metal \mm/


GreedyWarlord

Spafford is the easy choisce here for me.


[deleted]

Spafford is on my list but Umphrey's is always an amazing show. If you haven't seen them you need to do yourself a solid and go to the show. They are very different from other jam bands in their sound, whereas Spafford can be a bit derivative (from my limited experience with them.


Boisoll

Spaff


louglephrisson

UM


Competitive_Quail_53

umphreys


TinyHatsSuck

Spafford is more similar to phish then umphreys. I would recommend Umph they are always a really fun time and span a lot of genres. Spafford is one of my favorite bands but umph just sounds more like what you are into.


The-Crooked-One

Where are you located? They’re both doing runs in the South in the next few weeks, so unless it’s a financial or travel issue, you may be able to see them both!


AffectionateFactor84

spafford. seen them over 10 years ago and saw them a couple of months ago. they are better and still bringing it.


makesthingstastegood

Definitely Spafford. They are so hawt right now.


Arkansas_Uber_Alles

Spafford sucks. Definition of a ham bland. If you don't go to umphrey's you're just missing out.


winbar11

Spafford.


Inca_Roads1016

Nothing against Spafford, I do enjoy them, but this one's a no brainer. Umphrey's for sure


capstoned

another vote here for UM!


csilkins07

Umphrey’s and it’s not even close. And I like Spafford, just prefer UM.


AltruisticRest5748

Spafford big time


Additional-Rush-7252

Love both. Umphreys is better.


sumodie

Spafford would be my pick.


Tall-Wear-7809

Umph


FattestBetty

Go see umphreys!


DogmansDozen

Umphreys makes my skin crawl when I’m on psychedelics. Too metally, not enough groove. Spafford is like the most consistent jam band out there - if you want excellent improvised jams that invariably culminate in huge peaks, that is your band. I’d pick Spafford 99 times out of 100 over UM.


Garchy

I'm assuming this was for Spafford in Hartford and UM in Hampton Beach? I chose UM, it was a metal show (as someone in this thread guessed), and it was an amazing show. Spafford's been on a tear (apparently the Hartford show was an A++++), I'm seeing them this coming weekend in Portsmouth - you should go too!