While Umphrey’s McGee may be readying for their impending release, ZONKEY, the group is already working on the follow-up as Joel Cummins revealed on the Strangers From Twitter podcast that the Chicago sextet plans to enter the studio following their Halloween shows in St. Louis this weekend. 

“We actually started the process about three or four months ago,” Cummins said of the initial sessions that included the band pulling together various clips and songs that could be in play for the new album. Cummins noted that the band will consider new songs road-tested since the release of The London Session as well as “15-20 new ideas” that have come up recently. “Really anything is fair game,” he noted, citing possible selections from their back catalog as well as the Raw Stewage quarter at UMBowl. As for the sound, he said, “I don’t really have a word to describe how some of the songs we haven’t played live will come across. There are some things that are a little bit proggier, there are some things that are very hooky and have a lot of vocal potential.” 

Other topics covered included the band’s upcoming Halloween run, Cummins’ memories seeing Phish in the 90s including his first show at UIC Pavilion in Chicago on June 18, 1994, how Umphrey’s plans a tour and much more. Listen below.