Article Contributed by Tony Mueller
Published on 2026-08-26
Umphrey's McGee | Hillsboro, WI | August 22nd, 2026 - photos by Tony Mueller
There are few things better than arriving at Driftless Music Gardens on a beautiful summer day with a full night of great music from one of your favorite bands on the horizon. I got my campsite set up, settled in under the canopy, and was ready to spend the afternoon meeting neighbors, sharing stories, and enjoying the kind of atmosphere that makes Driftless feel like home.
With Umphrey’s McGee not taking the stage until 8 p.m., there was plenty of time to get comfortable. When the band finally walked out, the sun was still giving us a little bit of light after sunset, and the night was ready to begin. After a short “Preamble,” they went straight into “Mantis,” which flowed into “Half Delayed,” then “Turn & Run,” and finally “2x2.” What a great jam that was. No breaks between songs, straight to business on the Driftless stage.
It was immediately obvious that this band has been practicing a lot lately. Stasik and Scotty laid the groundwork perfectly on bass and drums. Joel stepped up tremendously on keys and is looking like a new man. Bayliss took the reins with confidence and was jamming like we've never seen before. And of course, Andy glued the whole thing together with the perfect percussion fusion.
Then came a fun surprise. The band pulled out Bananarama's “Cruel Summer,” a song they hadn't played since 2013. They eventually brought the set full circle by closing with the end of “Mantis.” A whole Mantis sandwich. And sitting right in the middle were two songs that hadn't been played in years. Not a bad way to kick off the night.
The second set was a full-on lock-in from the band. “Seasons” led into “Concessions,” which moved into “Ocean Billy,” then “Fenced In,” “FF,” and finally back into “Ocean Billy.” It was one giant rollercoaster of jams, again with no breaks in between. The band continually found new places to take the music. The whole thing felt like it was building toward a peak, and by the time they finally finished “Ocean Billy,” the crowd had been taken on a musical adventure.
But they weren't done yet. The boys came back out and started the encore with “Example 1” before they closed the night with Poolside's version of Neil Young's “Harvest Moon.” A cover of a cover, if you will. Umphrey's McGee might be the best cover band in the world when they want to be, and this was one of the best versions I've ever heard them play. It was beautifully unexpected, and somehow the perfect way to bring the whole night to a close.
Except we still weren't done. Deep in the woods, Andy kept things going with a late-night DJ set at the campfire stage. He was spinning some of the best hip-hop and R&B from the '90s and early 2000s. Combine that with a roaring fire and you got the ideal way to end a festival day.
But now we need to address the elephant in the room. I'm definitely not the first writer to talk about it, and I certainly won't be the last. I've been seeing this band for half of my life, and Jake has always been one of my favorite guitar players ever. His absence is noticeable. There's no reason to pretend otherwise. This band has changed form. But after seeing them in this new form, I can also tell you something else. They're still Umphrey's McGee.
These guys didn't skip a beat. If anything, there were moments where they sounded even tighter as a five-piece. The improvisation is still right up there with the best of them, and Bayliss is clearly taking on a bigger leadership role within the band. The jams he was creating throughout the night were something special, and it was obvious that he isn't afraid to step into that space. And that's what people need to hear.
If you've been staying away from Umphrey's because you've been waiting to see what happens next, now is actually the time to go back. Go see this band. It doesn't matter if it's been years since you last saw them, and if you have seen them recently, you know what I’m talking about. They are still doing what they do. They are still taking songs to places you didn't expect them to go. They're still pleasuring your eardrums, they're still improvising, and they're still capable of blowing your mind.
There's a reason Umphrey's McGee is my favorite live performance I've ever seen in my life. They know who they are. More importantly, they know how to keep the music going. Some of the most monumental bands in music history have changed numerous members and come out the other side stronger. Umphrey's is going through that process right now, and if Saturday night at DMG was any indication, there's nothing to worry about. They've still got plenty of juice in the tank.
So I'm saying it right now: go see Umphrey's McGee. They are definitely not done doing what they do. And I can promise you this: they will still make you smile. You’ll still hear songs you love and quite possibly some new ones. Don’t give up on the band we know and love. They deserve better from us. I hope you can see what I mean sometime soon.
