Have you ever been at a concert and the artist failed to sign your favorite song? Sucks but that might be a day of the past. Rock band Umphrey’s Mcgee is playing the 1st digital interactive concert. Hit the jump to check it out.
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Music acts nationwide are getting more creative with technology during live performances when they roll into town for concerts. Case in point: Rock jam band Umphrey’s Mcgee, which is gearing up for a digitally interactive concert event next week that allows audience members to engage with the band in real time via text messages.
Fans will be able to directly text the band song requests during the show, as well as answer questions posed by the group and even recommend when it’s time to switch up the instruments.
Called the UMBowl — “UM†for the band names’ initials — it’s modeled off of the Super Bowl with the inclusion of four quarters. But each quarter has its own interactive theme. Held in the band’s hometown of Chicago, the third-annual event will take place on Friday, April 27 at the Park West concert venue.
“We wanted to create an event that is collaborative, interactive and unlike any other concert people have been to before,†Umphrey’s McGee keyboardist Joel Cummins told Mashable. “People are always using their phones, so we wanted to include that as a part of the concert experience to facilitate voting for songs and interaction while we are playing.â€
A screen on stage will display texts from fans, so Umphrey’s McGee can reference them to the audience or adjust the set list accordingly.
The first quarter is dubbed the “All Request Quarter,†where fans choose the set list and dictate instrument switches and solos. The band will also ask questions and fans can text in their responses.
The second quarter is devoted to different themes, scenes and concepts that fans can request through texts. Quarter number three — which comes after a brief intermission — is the “Choose Your Own Adventure†round, where the band will poll fans on what they should do next and the final act is dedicated to improvisational songs that can be swayed by text requests, such as “let’s hear more drums.â€
There is a 15 to 20 minute intermission between each quarter.
The band prides itself as staying tech-savvy on and off the stage.
“We are also very active on social media sites, especially Twitter,†Cummins said. “About 20 years ago, musicians were up on a pedestal and in a fortress somewhere else, but now artists can interact with fans on a personal level anytime, anywhere. We love that. Technology can help create a more intimate experience and also make for more dedicated fans.â€
Umphrey’s McGee also hopes to stream its live shows online in the future.
“You are only reaching a small portion of the population when doing a concert,†Cummins said. “When a concert is online and you’re going into people’s homes, you increase your audience tenfold.â€
Although Umphrey’s McGee has been touring to promote their latest album “Death By Stereo†— and will be also appear at upcoming festivals including Bonnaroo in Tennessee and the Catalpa Music Festival in New York City alongside Black Keys and Snoop Dogg — the band will be holding a five-day summer music camp in the Catskill Mountains to instruct and jam with 150 fans.
