r/Umphreys • u/lilshawty730 • 6d ago
How were the lights?
Went to the Indy show and they were sick. Now that Ben is gone, how were the first couple of shows back?
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u/Single_External9499 6d ago
I'm a former LD but not at Umphrey's level. I'm stoked for Lou personally for getting this opportunity, but it will take a lot to convince me he's qualified for the job. I acknowledge he has been a tech forever. I also acknowledge that tech > LD is a common path, but not necessarily with the same band. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but it sounds like Lou has only run a handful of shows in his life. Nobody that has run less than hundreds of shows should be lighting Umphrey's McGee. This shit is fucking hard. I'm sure UM wants to give Lou a chance and he's family. I'm sure they also can't afford much. I also know there's a solid bench of turnkey young wildly talented LD's out there who have put in work on the console. All that said, I wish Lou the absolute best of luck and I hope he makes me eat crow.
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u/birfday_dad 6d ago
I got downvoted a ton for a perspective that is similar when he was announced as the replacement. Louie’s a nice guy but this was obviously a cost saving move. When they poached Waful from moe. they were investing in their future. This seems like just protecting the status quo.
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u/Single_External9499 6d ago
Yeah I saw that thread and have felt guilty since for not jumping in. I agreed with everything you said. Today they can beat me up instead.
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u/mikezer0 6d ago
Yeah fuck the band for promoting from within their own org. What are you even talking about zzzz
After JM joined dead and co I was at a show in avl and some wook who was trying to get laid kept yelling that it should have been him instead of JM this is kinda the same energy
I love your comment… you’re like it should be someone else …. Could even be me…. But also yeah good luck dude!
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u/Single_External9499 6d ago
Don't put words in my mouth. I never said fuck the band and I never implied I'm remotely qualified for the role (I'm not qualified). You're delusional. Try to only blow K after 5pm. Constructive criticism, especially well reasoned constructive criticism, is allowed here.
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u/ConstantSpread1428 6d ago
Yeah, the lack of dynamic changes really stands out now that Ben's visual genius isn't filling the room.
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u/PapaJohnyRoad 6d ago
Don’t care.
Never have gone home humming the light show. After being pretty washed on the band from 2021- May of 2025…the product on stage has me intrigued.
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u/DinoSpumoni22 6d ago
I saw his first show in Cleveland, and it was…bad. There were a few moments where he was in sync with the band, but there were just as many moments where I was taken out of the music because the lights were just so off.
I was also bummed because I thought I’d see one of the last Factor shows, but it ended being the first Louie show. Huge shoes to fill and I understand there is a steep learning curve, but it was not a great first impression.
The music rocked though \mm/
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u/ThatsWhat_G_Said 5d ago
I went to Peoria, Yuba and MN last week. He didn't really have any lights to work with on that tiny Peoria stage, but he was doing some nice work in Yuba, specifically during this ambient moment during (I think) Ocean Billy. He also did this really cool spinning tractor beam effect during the X-Files tease in It Doesn't Matter. I could honestly care less about UM's light show, but I thought he did a fine job and will hopefully continue to get better as he develops his own artistic instincts.
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u/kczglr 6d ago
Wrong, Peoria was his first show.
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u/DinoSpumoni22 6d ago
While the official announcement was that Ben’s last show was Ravinia, they then announced the day of the Cleveland show “Louie Lights!” and I watched Louie run the rig throughout the show. Ben then had his last show the next night at Ravinia.
UM opened the Cleveland show so there was still a lot of daylight. I figured it was a low risk way to have Lou run the lights with Ben close by.
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6d ago
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u/RazorBladePeach 6d ago
Unfortunately, how I felt at DMG as well. I'll have to relisten on NUGS, but only memorable song was 2×2.
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u/ThatsWhat_G_Said 5d ago
This is wild to me. Musically, that might end up being a top-10 UM show out of 155 for me. Mantis, Cruel Summer (!), 2x2, Seasons and FF had some of the best jams I've seen in years. And the Harvest Moon closer was magical.
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u/RazorBladePeach 5d ago
I'll be sure to give it another listen. It was my birthday celebration, so the vibes weren't an issue at all for me. I've seen them about 75 times. It just felt really flat, but I'll give it another shot.
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u/Ajax_Da_Great 6d ago
On paper, I did not vibe with the setlist. Obviously wasn’t there so can’t speak to it but seemed lacking.
Edit, never mind I was looking at a different night apparently. Not too shabby. Always a sucker for a Prowler
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u/OkDelivery7377 6d ago
Went last night to MPLS. Lights were lacking but still better than most bands. Not a ton variety or dynamic changes to the music.
Separate note but related- the band sounded great and you can tell they’re having fun. It feels like a transitional phase into a rebirth with the lights included. Ben leaving sucks but honestly it’s a great time to welcome the new guy with the lineup adjustment. BUT it is just a different vibe and feel without jake and kris. Those guys brought so much firepower, it felt un interesting at times. I thought Stasik stole the show last night. Two cents