Kris Myers
| Kris Myers | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Kristofer Allen Myers |
| Born | 5 April 1977 |
| Origin | Palatine, Illinois, United States |
| Genres | Progressive rock, jam band, jazz |
| Occupations |
Musician Songwriter |
| Instruments |
drums vocals |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Associated acts | Umphrey's McGee, Digital Tape Machine, Kick the Cat, Drop Q, Goodnight Nurse, Brain Damaged Eggmen, OHMphrey, Kris Myers Jazz Trio, Audio Depth Device, Dexterous Roy, Huey Lewis & the rUMors |
Kris Myers (born April 5, 1977) is an American musician. He is the drummer for Chicago-based progressive rock band Umphrey's McGee.
Myers began drumming when he was eight, after an uncle bought him a drum kit. He attended William Fremd High School in Palatine, IL from 1991-1995 where he was actively involved in the music department and forming local rock bands with fellow students. While participating in team sports throughout his time at Fremd, Myers co-started local ska/punk band Skalawags with fellow music students and friends. After a stint of success in ’94-’95, the band members declined an offer to tour Japan, opting instead to pursue college degrees.
He attended Elmhurst College as a music major from 1995 – 1999, joining the Elmhurst College Jazz Band under director Doug Beach. The jazz band was self-sufficient; spending most weekends on paying gigs to help fund trips to jazz festivals both in the U.S. and internationally (Umbria Jazz Festival in Perusia & Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland).
In 2001, Myers attended DePaul University where he earned a master’s degree in jazz drumming and was a member of the Robert Parton Orchestra. During this time he was regularly hired for studio sessions and was a member of Chicago local jazz fusion group Kick the Cat.
After submitting his demo material and a subsequent audition, Myers began playing drums for Umphrey’s McGee in 2003, replacing the departing drummer Mike Mirro. With Myers at the helm, Umphrey’s has released eight albums (both studio and live) and is on extensive tour, playing over 100 nights a year. They have played the some of the largest music festivals including Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Fuji Rock Festival (Japan), to name a few.
He has shared the stage with a variety of artists over the years: Buddy Guy, Dave Matthews, Huey Lewis, Mavis Staples, Koko Taylor, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Mike Gordon, Warren Haynes, Ivan Neville, Les Claypool, Stephen Perkins, Mike Keneally, Jimmy Herring, Bill Kreutzman, Adrian Belew, Joshua Redman, Taj Mahal, Bela Fleck, Victor Wooten, Jeff Coffin, Jen Hartswick, Keller Williams, Stanley Jordan, Chris Poland, Rob Pagliari, Jeff Austin, Buckethead, Cody Dickinson, Luther Dickenson, Mark Kolby, Jon McLean, Rob Cornelius, Paris Delayne, Jeremy Piven (actor).
Kris is an endorser of Pearl drums, Zildjian cymbals, Evans drumheads and Vic Firth drumsticks. In 2012, he received his own line of signature drum sticks from Vic Firth: http://www.vicfirth.com/product/buynow/product.php?button=55A
In 2011, Kris Myers was given the title of best Jam Band drummer by DRUM Magazine, beating out jamband stalwarts such as Butch Trucks of the Allman Brothers and Jon Fishman of Phish.
Since 2003, Myers has been a member in several bands with fellow Umphrey’s band mates, and an array of new and old musical artists and friends:
Drop Q (2006 – present): Transfusion jazz/drum and bass trio with former members of Kick the Cat
Kris Myers Jazz Trio (2006 – present): Modern jazz
Brain Damaged Eggmen (2006 – present): Pink Floyd/Beatles cover band with Umphrey’s band mates and Marc Brownstien and Aron Magner from Disco Biscuits
North Indiana Allstars (2007 – present): Jazz/rock fusion with Stephen Perkins from Jane’s Addiction and Umphrey’s band mates
| (2003–present) |
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|---|
Goodnight Nurse (2007 – present): Music licensing project for T.V., film, and record label
Digital Tape Machine (2009 – present): Electronic dance music for live setting and T.V/film
OHMphrey (2010 – present): Hard rock/fusion with Chris Poland of Megadeth and Umphrey’s band mates
Dextrous Roy (2010 – present): Electronic(House, Drum 'n' Bass, Hip Hop) duo; drums and DJ
Huey Lewis & the rUMors (2012 – present): Teamed up with 80’s pop legend Huey Lewis and fellow Umphrey’s band mates for covers and originals from both Umphrey’s McGee and Huey Lewis & the News
Umphrey's McGee music releases:
Discography
- Greatest Hits Vol. III (1998) (Bayliss/Cummins/Stasik/Mirro)
- Songs for Older Women (1999, recorded live in 1998) (Bayliss/Cummins/Stasik/Mirro/Farag)
- One Fat Sucka (2000, recorded live) (Bayliss/Cinninger/Cummins/Stasik/Mirro/Farag)
- Local Band Does OK (2002) (Bayliss/Cinninger/Cummins/Stasik/Mirro/Farag)
- Local Band Does OKlahoma (2003, recorded live) (Bayliss/Cinninger/Cummins/Stasik/Myers/Farag)
- Anchor Drops (2004) (Bayliss/Cinninger/Cummins/Stasik/Myers/Farag)
- Safety In Numbers (2006) (Bayliss/Cinninger/Cummins/Stasik/Myers/Farag)
- The Bottom Half (2007) (Bayliss/Cinninger/Cummins/Stasik/Myers/Farag)
- Live at the Murat (2007, recorded live) (Bayliss/Cinninger/Cummins/Stasik/Myers/Farag)
- Jimmy Stewart 2007 (2008, recorded live) (Bayliss/Cinninger/Cummins/Stasik/Myers/Farag)
- Mantis (2009) (Bayliss/Cinninger/Cummins/Stasik/Myers/Farag)
- Death By Stereo (2011) (Bayliss/Cinninger/Cummins/Stasik/Myers/Farag)
DVD releases
- Live from the Lake Coast (2002)
- Wrapped Around Chicago - New Year's Eve at The Riviera (2005)
- Soundstage: Umphrey's McGee - Live (2009)
- Live at Summer Camp 2011 (2011)
- Live from The Pageant: NYE Weekend 2011 (2012)
- Live at Red Rocks (2012)