Umphrey’s McGee plays Ford Amphitheater on Friday

Umphrey’s McGee brings its eclectic improv, with its innovative fusion of genres, moods and tempos, to Ford Amphitheater on Friday. If you’ve seen the band in Vail before, bassist Ryan Stasik guarantees it’ll be a whole different show, with new songs and a new production.

“They’re going to get a taste of everything from the late ’90s to the early 2000s, but we want to keep it a surprise and keep fans on their toes,” he said. “We like to change it up and try not to repeat songs we played last time in Vail.”

The musicians know Colorado is one of those states with veteran fans who can see just about any band and genre they want to in some of the most beautiful venues in the nation.

“It’s a great fan base with experienced and veteran fans, and they expect us to push the limits of risk and reward,” he said.

The band is all too familiar with risking it all, laying it all out on stage in order to take audiences on an emotional journey through all kinds of sonic tones and textures, from ambient, spacey jams to indie and progressive rock to reggae, pop and blues. The variety keeps every show fresh, and, as Stasik aptly points out, “gives you an opportunity to pee” when one tune isn’t quite your style.

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What began in 1995 at Notre Dame when Stasik, guitarist Brendan Bayliss, keyboardist Joel Cummins and drummer Mike Mirro “dressed like idiots and were in search of beer money so we thought about starting a band even though Joel was the only student studying music,” as Stasik described, has turned into a nearly three-decade phenomenon.

Though they always tried to write original music true to the Umphrey’s McGee sound, Stasik describes those early days as complicating the music “just to make it complicated … and prove something.” Since then, they’ve grown and gotten better at writing some complicated music while also crafting shorter songs.

“I hope it has aged like a fine wine — it just gets a little older and more mature,” Stasik said. “I think every record does that.”

In July 2022, the band released “Asking for a Friend,” with 14 tracks revolving around crisis and doubt heavily influenced by the pandemic. “I Don’t Know What I Want,” a power-chord pop with a ska-type jump, opens the band’s most emotionally direct album to date. Throughout, shorter songs and simpler ideas characterize the record. And, although the band is still entrenched in the jam-band scene, this latest album removes the emphasis from improvisation to a tighter, more concise focus on the essence of what the songs are about.

“I don’t think we have anything to prove anymore,” guitarist Jake Cinniger said. “It’s just about revealing yourself and being the best songwriter possible.”

Cummins points out that though this album doesn’t sound like any previous one they’ve released, they still keep their feet planted in their old material.

“Every night is a different career-spanning set,” he said. “But this new music feels like a shot in the arm. People who thought they knew what we were about will be surprised with what they find.”

In addition to the band’s eclectic range, Stasik credits the band’s success and longevity to open and honest communication between the bandmates, as well as trust within the member’s families while Umphrey’s McGee tours.

“That’s been the focal point. It’s kept everyone, for the most part, going and has allowed us to pursue our dream. It’s easy to get burned out, not just physically, but mentally and spiritually,” he said. “(But) we surrender to improv, and our fans have allowed us to do that.”

In line with always changing things up, the band is placing more emphasis on the production side, including switching some of their positions on stage. In the past, drummer Kris Myers and percussionist Andy Farag hung out in back, with the four other members in front, including Stasik playing his bass front and center. Now, keyboardist Cummins has moved back with Myers and Farag, all of whom are set on risers, while Bayliss takes center stage, with Stasik on the left. The seemingly simple change has not only provided more symmetry, but also affected the member’s interactions, since, for instance, Stasik is now more keyed into Myers’ body language.

“Any kind of change is important,” Stasik said. “It’s a little more interesting to see what we’re doing.”