The Georgia Theatre can’t seem like much for a band like Umphrey’s McGee, who has performed at festivals like Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and All Good.

However, drummer Kris Myers said that the band has visited the Theatre several times in the past and the members respect it.

“So many incredible bands have come through the Georgia Theatre. It’s always a pleasure for us to play there,” he said. “Athens has such a fun college scene. It reminds us of our college years.”

Originally formed in 1997 on the Notre Dame campus, Umphrey’s McGee has attracted quite a fan base.

The band was deemed by Rolling Stone magazine to “have become odds-on favorites in the next-Phish sweepstakes,” and named “rock’s undisputed lord of sonic shape-shifting” by the Washington Post.

Umphrey’s McGee, composed of Brendan Bayliss, Jake Cinninger, Joel Cummins, Andy Farag, Kris Myers and Ryan Stasik, will be performing on the main stage at the 10,000 Lakes Festival in Minnesota July 18-21, but will not be partaking in Bonnaroo 2007.

“I think all of us are pretty upset that we’re not going to be able to play at Bonnaroo this year, especially since The Police and Tool are headlining,” Myers said. “I consider The Police to be one of my personal influences.”

Myers said that the band’s musical inspirations range from Frank Zappa to Led Zeppelin and Radiohead.

“The Bottom Half,” the band’s eighth album, is coming out April 3.

“I would say it’s eclectic . no, pop-savvy . I don’t know, I guess it’s just a good one,” Myers said.

Fans can expect to hear a few jams from the new album at tonight’s show.

“We usually post the set list online before our shows, but we’ve decided to be suspenseful for once and make the list when we get there,” Myers said.

Myers said he was confident the fans would not be opposed to this change.

“We are very lucky to have such devoted fans who are so into what we do,” he said. “It makes our job all the more exciting.”