Ryan Stasik
Encyclopedia
Ryan Fabec Stasik is the bassist
for progressive rock
group Umphrey's McGee
. Stasik originally hails from the Pittsburgh
area, though he grew up in Portage, MI and is now based out of Chicago, IL. He is a founding member of Umphrey's McGee
, having played in the group Tashi Station with guitarist Brendan Bayliss
while both were students at University of Notre Dame
. Ryan plays a five-string Lakland
bass. He is also an accomplished keyboardist, doubling up with Joel Cummins
in concert on the track "In Violation of Yes" while guitarist Jake Cinninger
takes over the bass. His nickname is "Pony." Stasik is known for his large hat collection, and rarely wears the same hairstyle and hat to consecutive performances.
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
for progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
group Umphrey's McGee
Umphrey's McGee
Umphrey's McGee is an American progressive rock jam band based in Chicago whose music is often referred to as "progressive improvisation", or "improg" ....
. Stasik originally hails from the Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
area, though he grew up in Portage, MI and is now based out of Chicago, IL. He is a founding member of Umphrey's McGee
Umphrey's McGee
Umphrey's McGee is an American progressive rock jam band based in Chicago whose music is often referred to as "progressive improvisation", or "improg" ....
, having played in the group Tashi Station with guitarist Brendan Bayliss
Brendan Bayliss
Brendan Bayliss is an American musician, the founder, a lead guitarist alongside fellow guitarist and band member Jake Cinninger, and primary vocalist for progressive rock band Umphrey's McGee. He formed the band in 1997 and took its moniker from the name of a distant relative he met at a wedding...
while both were students at University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
. Ryan plays a five-string Lakland
Lakland
Lakland Guitars is a Chicago, Illinois-based manufacturer of electric bass guitars. The company's first bass combined elements of the Fender Jazz Bass and the Music Man StingRay. The company's current line-up includes basses inspired by classics like the Fender Precision Bass and Jazz Bass as...
bass. He is also an accomplished keyboardist, doubling up with Joel Cummins
Joel Cummins
Joel Nathan Cummins is an American musician, and founding member/keyboardist for progressive rock band Umphrey's McGee....
in concert on the track "In Violation of Yes" while guitarist Jake Cinninger
Jake Cinninger
Jake Cinninger, born Jacob Alan Cinninger, December 16, 1975 in Niles, Michigan, is an American musician. He has risen to fame as one of two lead guitarists, in the Chicago-based jam band Umphrey's McGee.-History:...
takes over the bass. His nickname is "Pony." Stasik is known for his large hat collection, and rarely wears the same hairstyle and hat to consecutive performances.