A musician with a country-wide following is set to make his much-anticipated return to Benton Harbor this weekend.
Brendan Bayliss, lead singer and guitarist for progressive jamband Umphrey’s McGee, is set to perform a solo show this Friday at The Livery.
While Umphrey’s McGee is typically known for its hard-rocking jams, Livery booking manager Brandon DeJaynes, who has seen Umphrey’s McGee more times than he cares to divulge, said this show will be a little different than a typical Umphrey’s show.
“Brendan likes to use the phrase ‘sappy acoustic music’ kind of tongue-in-cheek,” DeJaynes said. “Umphrey’s McGee is a pretty heavy, full-assault rock show, but this is just Brendan dialed back with the guitar – kind of a front porch feeling, if you will.”
DeJaynes said the last time Bayliss performed at The Livery, he brought out some friends.
“I don’t know what he has in store this time,” DeJaynes said. “I don’t ask, and he doesn’t divulge those kinds of details. I just trust that it’s going to be an amazing show. … He’s a man of charisma and can hold the stage by himself pretty well.”
Umphrey’s McGee is a band with heavy Michiana ties, as well as a huge Chicago following, and DeJaynes said he expects a good crowd of UMphreaks, as their fans are known.
“It’s going to be a family affair,” DeJaynes said. “I personally know friends from Chicago coming in, some from Indianapolis that I’ve met running around seeing the band so many times. Naturally, when I booked the show, I put the beacon out.”
On Saturday, a band with some Umphrey’s McGee ties – Ann Arbor’s Stormy Chromer – is taking The Livery stage for a performance of their own.
“They’ve played a couple of Umphreys McGee after parties on the east side of the state and done pretty well,” DeJaynes said, of Stormy Chromer. “They’ve been to The Livery several times and put on a hell of a show.”
DeJaynes said fans of Umphrey’s should definitely stick around for Stormy Chromer.
“They have that ‘full-assault’ rock show akin to what Umphrey’s brings, with a lot of fusion and funk improvisations,” DeJaynes said. “We definitely wanted to tap into the Umphrey’s vibe this weekend, and get folks to stick around for a double dip.”
Bayliss takes the stage at 8 p.m. on Friday, while Stormy Chromer is on at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at liverybrew.com
