Written by Maomew Human
Photo created by Wappy Spray-fairy
Progjam band Umphrey’s McGee has stunned fans by announcing they will be joining superstars Katy Perry and Lenny Kravitz as the performing/backing band at next weekend’s halftime show. The performance, to be played before an audience of 65,000 on-hand and 100 million more at home (in the U.S. alone), will mark a number of firsts for the band: first time playing in a football stadium, first prime-time television appearance, first crossover with a major current pop figure.
The band seems most concerned about that last item. When we met the band in the locker room where they were practicing, guitarist Jake Cinninger told us “It’s been hard to learn her tunes and stay true to their basic pop structure without trying to expand on them improvisationally. When Joel starts laying on those keys at the beginning of Dark Horse, and Farag drops that beat on that pad, I just start weaving Wappy Sprayberry grooves into the track and want to snap into some insane solos. I look over and Brendan and give him that nod like ‘dual-guitar shred down?’ but he just shakes his head. You’re working with a limited time frame. Its a twelve minute slot, and the focus is really on Katy – we just try to work our groove in there without drastically altering the nature of the songs. Then there’s Lenny Kravitz…”
As to how they will be effected by the audience size, lead singer Brendan Bayliss tried to play it cool. “I’m not trying to say I, personally, am feeling nervous about this whatsoever…but it has started effecting other members of the band. It’s a high profile gig and we’re used to playing on our own terms. Farag, who hasn’t really been the same since he filled in for Myers last month, has lost so much hair he’s beginning to look like Joel.” After a moment of hesitation, as if realizing this for the first time, he went on to add: “I’m not so sure what either of them are so nervous about. I’m the one who has to sing backup and play acoustic to The One That Got Away on stage during stage-change. Just me up there with Katy alone for twenty seconds in front of the entire nation, Waful focusing the lights down on us, trying to harmonize with a modern music idol as shadowed stagehands quietly bring giant Styrofoam cupcakes onto the rig behind us…”
Each band member has their own unique way to deal with the stress. “I’m a serial tweeter when I’m nervous,” stated keyboardist Joel Cummins. “I just start revealing classified information without meaning to out of the blue. One moment I’m reading a National Geographic Travel Magazine while waiting for a flight, the next I look down and I’ve let a few fall tour dates slip!” He’s not too hard on himself about it. “I really think this is going to be a lot of fun! We’re about to become superstars in our own right, so while it seems weird now that these Umphrey’s McDoodles are on stage with Katy Perry, these types of things are gonna be a regular occurrence soon. I’m sorta hoping to go the Flaming Lips route and do something with Mily Cryus.”
“I really just do well at any show we play where there’s fireworks,” stated Kris Myers. “I asked them specifically to add superfluous fireworks to our Red Rocks 2013 performance because it makes me happy to perform amongst them. I create fireworks: either gentle fires of strength and precision that come with careful training, or furies of flame, reckless explosions of sound. It’s only fitting that I’m excited to play a show which will have so many pyrotechnics.” He smirked, and finished, “also, i get to play Firework while there’s fireworks…I’m feeling kinda giddy.”
The band seemed resoundingly uncertain what to do about Lenny Kravitz, but were confident they would be able to roll with the punches. “The plan right now is to dive into Are You Gonna Go My Way, but Jake really is pulling for Lenny’s version of American Woman, but there’s licensing issues and all sorts of shit that comes with that,” stated Joel. Regardless, he believes that Umphrey’s McGee will find their way to American’s hearts. “Overall, I know that all the preparation, the anxiety, will be will worth it. We’ve got a good set lined-up, and will be backing an excellent performing at a modern day quintessential American moment. In ten years, when you’re hearing Katy Perry mimic Jennifer Harswick on Bullhead City, we’ll all look back at this superbowl as the start of something.”
The Superbowl Halftime show with Katy Perry, Umphrey’s McGee and Lenny Kravitz, will be broadcast live from the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, this Sunday.
Setlist: Le Blitz > Teenage Dream, Dark Horse > Night Nurse > Are You Gonna Go My Way*, The One That Got Away**, This is How We Do > Bad Friday Jam > Firework
* with Lenny Kravitz
** unfinished, with Bayliss on acoustic, rest of band offstage for costume/set change