One of the major draws of Umphrey's McGee is their ability to play on their toes in a live setting. The extended improv sections of songs provide opportunities for the band members to showcase not only their instrumental prowess, but their mastery of so many music forms, like prog-rock, jazz, pop, metal, reggae, funk...even country. Oftentimes these turn into what Umphrey's McGee calls a "Jimmy Stewart."

So what exactly is a "Jimmy Stewart?" I don't know why they named them after the famous actor, but it's a unique way that Umphrey's McGee creates music on the spot in a live setting. Typically they use the instrumental interlude of a song as a launching point, and a band member will signal the rest of the band with an unspoken visual cue to signal what to do next. For example, a smile might indicate a major key while a sad face could direct the band to a minor key.

In many cases, these Jimmy Stewarts wind up spawning new, fully formed compositions, such as "Intentions Clear," "In The Kitchen," and "Bridgeless."

Here are some explanations of what is a "Jimmy Stewart" by band members themselves:

"...a bit of music sounds meant to sound like written music...supposed to be 'in the moment'"

"(We) make it sound not like a jam but a body of music"

"One person can be the shepherd and the rest have to be sheep"

"An exercise in writing with the band on stage in front of a crowd"

This is what, in essence, sets apart Umphrey's from the major jam bands who've come before them; those cues keep the players on the same page even as they're freely improvising, a clear distinction from the aimless hippie jams of old.

Umphrey's live performances are savored by fans everywhere, and to accommodate their loyal minions, the band have regularly released podcasts of their live performances. Up to two 75-minutes sets a month for 20,000 subscribers, in fact.