This. There has been a steady rise in sell outs all over the country (more in the East than out west, but there too) for UM in the last year and half. Last winter they sold out the majority of the first few legs of the tour, and so far this year have sold out every show except for one. Most of them at venues that they haven't sold out (at least in a while)

[quote=FroDaddyJR24]I know I will never like phish as much as others because I missed their "epic " years. I enjoyed the one phish show I've been to but nothing about them makes me want to really get into their catalog or shows. Their lyrics are pretty lame, the music behind them is great but I really didn't feel they went into any real jams that were anything ordinary. Phish is a good time where as Umphrey's just an absolute rage fest. Here's how the bands stack up in the "jam" category

UM and moe. are the purest jammers on my opinion
Cheese gets out there pretty good
Phish really doesn't go far but can get crazy, songs are worst out of jam scene
Panic is probably the band that has the least actual improv but theory Type 1 style jamming with Some strait up rock and roll songs/music I would rank them ahead of the Phish as well
Furthur is a great rendition of dead tunes when they are on, but I have not personally seen them play a good show. Some of the best music ever written.

Umphrey's
moe.
Panic
Furthur/Dead
Cheese
Phish .....that's the order in which I would spend my money

Thats what I'm saying....huge fans of moe. and um, they just bring pure jamming rock and roll....gotta love some panic as well they just play good southern rock with a lil jamming.......phish is good too but some of their songs lyrics are just too abstract for ME, although the music is still great

Fuck that, I want to see a Phish sized light rig with Jefferson at the helm! And more room to fuckin dance. I like the sound of bigger venues better too.

I'd rather continue paying $25-35 for most tickets, stand or sit wherever I want, and enjoy the intimacy and character that those smaller venues have. There really isn't anything I can think of that I prefer about arena venues to the average theatre.

I have no doubt in my mind that UM could rock an arena should they ever get that big.

But i dont know why anyone would want that.

I think they would have had a legitimate shot while Phish was gone if they would have been on a real record label.

Im not sure is UM will surpass Phish, but as a pretty long time Phish fan (since 95') I have not been so "taken back" by a bands sound since Phish 1.0. I don't know what took me so long to catch on but Im hooked now. I love the covers they play. Will they ever surpass Phish? NO...