I was at Dallas show on 4/26. Just being honest - and it pains me to say about this band that I love and have followed all over the place for a decade…but it was the most underwhelming UM show I’ve experienced. Setlist didn’t stoke me at all. Maybe they were pacing themselves for a four night run, or jet lagged on the heels of Morocco travel. Admittedly - I lean to the more ‘rawk’ side and I live for the times when the band is cooking hot and Jake takes it all to new levels. Had a bit of that in “Remind Me”, since that’s built into the song. But the rest of the jams were very tame, slowish tempos, and just overly laid back, IMO. Hope it was a one off…but my recent experiences over the last couple of years, I must say, is that the band doesn’t feel like it’s interested in firing hot like it was in the 2014-2018 timeframe. It was also the smallest venue and crowd size for Dallas in the last 5-6 years, and I’m wondering if it’s all related. My opinion - they need to revisit the current formula, and bring the rock quire a bit more than they have in the last few gigs Ive seen. The face melting rock/jams seems to be when the crowd responds the most/loudest…and I think that’s what sets them apart from other bands in their peer group. I know they can’t do that for every song, obviously. But man, please boys, bring it a bit more. One thing I will say - Kris Myers was on fire last night, and was giving 110% all night…that guy is a monster. The rest of the band honestly wasn’t matching his intensity. Just sharing my opinion, and I don’t mean to be disrespectful. I love UM and will always support em.
I and many others here agree with you. I haven’t attended a show that I’ve really relistened to over and over in years.
They don’t play as many shows as they used to. That makes them less relevant and the momentum falls. Their social media is inconsistent and doesn’t do a good job promoting. Playing less shows also means they play together less and another consequence is they aren’t jamming as cohesively as they once did.
I’d be pretty happy at a show if they didn’t bring the hard rock.
I’ve noticed that they’ll have peaks and valleys that are really close together lately. Sounds hot>tired and boring>break>UM Bowl and Morocco>tired and boring and people doing meth in the crowd.
Late stage UM ain’t great. But like you said Kris is killing it every night.
I’d say they just need to improvise more but then we got that soundtrack set at UMbowl a few weeks ago and that was mostly a snoozefest. So idk.
i wonder how much of this is “objective” UM changing and how much of this could be burnout. or burnout-lite. and of course you mentioned potential extenuating circumstances
i’ve gotten tired of some of their “bring the rock” tendencies - or at least how i think of that, but it was also never my ideal. of course, i’ve been seeing them for like 20 years.
i think i would’ve been pretty interested in the show you saw based on the setlist and your description but that’s a bummer to feel so disappointed.
I wish they’d just play more improv in normal shows and not force you to buy a ticket to a gimmick set/show.
@BreckS you’re not alone. That said, it’s funny you brought up ‘14-‘18. Many of us would call those years mostly forgettable. Point being - we all have honeymoon years and everyone holds those years close.
As the years have gone on, many of us have gotten over the fact the band isn’t what we want and appreciate them for what they are. I don’t listen to much these days but every show I see I have a ton of fun.
Obvious troll job
Hands down their worst years from a musical perspective
Not if you were a card carrying V4Jer
I’d say my honeymoon years were ‘12-‘14. They’ve been ok since and I thought they did a great show in Missoula in ‘23. Seattle ‘24 wasn’t too bad but they haven’t exactly bowled me over since
My favorite shows were summer of 2010 and fall of 2011
Slightly before me discovering UM. I would’ve loved to have discovered them at that time!
I was not aware that they had cards. I need to reassess where my allegiance lies apparently. I’m not on FB, but maybe this will be the reason for me to take that plunge as well. I could really prove a lot more, with regard to my UM-clout, if I were carrying a VFJ card… 
I felt this a bit at the Milwaukee show. It’s still very joyful seeing this band for the hundred and Nth time. They still play so well together and are fully capable of “getting there” but it seems only when they feel like turning it on.
Frankly I’m just glad we’ve yet to see truly train wreck years of dysfunction and slop like so many of their peers have.
You’re a true and tried Borterian. It’s better and secret society type shit.
Me when people realize their favorite band phones it in most nights
I feel like since I’ve been really following these guys, every spring this sentiment always pops up after a string of weak shows.
Exactly. They will play a full tour of D graded shows and then will toss in a couple C’s and people convince themseleves it means they are back
Edit: we all do it though. We all desperately want to think we are seeing something special or intimate, not just in music
Reality is humans are largely mediocre creatures with deep flaws who usually are incapable of maintaining consistent success and creativey over a long period of time