Jam Bands - General - Facepunch Forum

What's a Jam Band? Jam bands are musical groups whose albums and live performances relate to a fan culture that originated with the 1960s group Grateful Dead and continued in the 1990s with Phish and similar bands. The performances of these bands often feature extended musical improvisation ("jams") over rhythmic grooves and chord patterns and long sets of music that cross genre boundaries. Rather than having a tight and decided song structure like in rock songs, the songs are based on jamming or improvisation. Jam Band Culture Pretty much every jam band did drugs, and many of them did hallucinogens which often inspired their music. Many of their fans engaged in these activities as well, and some followed the bands as they toured the country by following their bus. In their early days the Grateful Dead offered free food, lodging and health care to their followers. In addition, many jam bands encouraged fans to tape their shows and thus a bootlegging culture emerged. Originally people traded tapes but that has since expanded and much of the trading is now done digitally. [U]The Bands[/U] [B]The Grateful Dead[/B] [IMG]http://radiobeta.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/the-grateful-dead.jpg[/IMG] The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, jazz, psychedelia, space rock and gospel—and for live performances of long musical improvisation. "Their music," writes Lenny Kaye, "touches on ground that most other groups don't even know exists." The Grateful Dead's musical influences varied widely; in concert recordings or on record albums one can hear psychedelic rock, blues, rock and roll, country-western, bluegrass, country-rock, and improvisational jazz. These various influences were distilled into a diverse and psychedelic whole that made the Grateful Dead "the pioneering Godfathers of the jam band world. The Dead disbanded in 1995 after the death of lead guitarist Jerry Garcia but have reunited a few times with Gov't Mule guitarist Warren Haynes. In addition, many of the members have started side projects such as Phil Lesh and Friends, Bobby and the Midnites, and The Other Ones. Uncle John's Band: [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EoQ3GkH4Zc[/MEDIA] So What/Sugar Magnolia: [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nosvgrfVLiE[/MEDIA] Eyes of the World: [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLDw_gj5e3g[/MEDIA] [B]Phish[/B] [IMG]http://www.themusicstories.com/Stories/phish/phish1990.jpg[/IMG] When the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Phish filled in their shoes and became THE jam band until they broke up in 2004. In 2009 after members of the band started jamming with themselves they reunited for a small tour, including some festivals. While having different influences than they Dead, and a different sound they all have a love for jamming. Guitarist Trey Anastasio was arrested in 2006 for drug possesion and is now clean. The Divided Sky: [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98VlXfuUK8Q[/MEDIA] Waste: [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em80ViNVlHM[/MEDIA] Wilson: [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRnueJP2k9A[/MEDIA] [B]moe.[/B] [IMG]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__3Z4F0YeJJM/Rpm2z1pIRZI/AAAAAAAAAFM/saF-IAxHGl0/s400/moe-Massie.JPG[/IMG] Started in '89, the band's first record, Fatboy (1992), established the band as a favorite of the 1990s jam band and improvisational rock scene that grew in popularity with bands such as Phish, the Dave Matthews Band, and Widespread Panic. Just as Grateful Dead followers were coined "Dead Heads", avid moe. fans embrace the term "moe.rons." moe. toured with the 1997 Furthur Festival, appeared at Woodstock '99, played Summerstage at the Rumsey Playfield in Central Park, opened for The Allman Brothers and The Who, performed at Radio City Music Hall on New Year's Eve 2006 and returned there for New Year's Eve 2007. Rebubula: [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHuhpduP-dY[/MEDIA] Mexico: [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsAM6bNTZPE[/MEDIA] [B]Soulive[/B] [IMG]http://onlinetalent.com/artist/jazz/images/soulive.jpg[/IMG] Soulive is a funk/jazz trio that originated in Buffalo, New York, and is known for its solos and catchy, upbeat songs. The band consists of Eric Krasno (guitar), Alan Evans (drums), and Neal Evans (Hammond B3 organ, bass keys, clavinet). Although they originated as a trio, the band worked extensively with different horn sections, which consisted of Sam Kininger (saxophone) from 2000-2003, and Rashawn Ross (trumpet) and Ryan Zoidis (saxophone) from 2003-2006. The band also worked with vocalist Toussaint Yeshua from 2006-2007. Soulive is currently touring in the original trio lineup of Eric Krasno, Alan Evans, and Neal Evans. While their newer material is getting closer to an R&B sound, they still stay true to their jazz roots. Liquid [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dklcEPO03Ug[/MEDIA] Steppin: [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdGe0BsbEt8[/MEDIA] El Ron: [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIMFnfwu-tE&feature=related[/MEDIA] [B]Bootlegs:[/B] One great thing about jam bands is most of them allow and even encourage taping and non-commercial trading of their shows. As such, a number of sites have popped up where you can download their shows legally and for free. Here are a few: [URL=http://www.archive.org/details/etree]The Live Music Archive[/URL] [URL=http://www.archive.org/details/GratefulDead]The Grateful Dead Music Archive[/URL] [URL]nugs.net[/URL] [URL]etree.org[/URL] Many of these band's commercial releases are worth getting too, and some of their best performances are only available commercially. That's it for now. I left out a lot of bands, but I didn't want the first post to be too long.

There has to be someone else on FP that likes jam bands.

I think Kyuss and QOTSA did/do some Impromptu stuff.

You are my new bestest friend on Facepunch. I thought I was alone for so long

i remember when i was really young thinking that the grateful dead logo was the ac/dc logo

I really want to see Phish at Bonnaroo but I doubt I'll be able to go this year. I saw the Dead with Warren Haynes a few weeks ago, which was awesome.

[QUOTE=DamagePoint;15018183]I really want to see Phish at Bonnaroo but I doubt I'll be able to go this year. I saw the Dead with Warren Haynes a few weeks ago, which was awesome.[/QUOTE] David Byrne will be at Bannaroo too! I do not know if you would call Talking Heads a jam band.

[QUOTE=psychokilled;15018463]David Byrne will be at Bannaroo too! I do not know if you would call Talking Heads a jam band.[/QUOTE] They aren't, but they're awesome anyway. There are so many incredible acts going there that I would love to go see, but how my summer is shaping up I don't think there is any way I can go.

Actually I will being going. Phish is playing two shows and Gov't Mule and moe are going to be there too. I'll probably get to see David Byrne as well!

Liquid Tension Experiment, definitely.

Buckethead when he is with any other musician.

wiiiiiiiillllllllllllllllsoooooooooooooon

The Grateful Dead just never gets old for me. Jam bands certainly Jam.

Sup Mars Volta. My friend told me that when he went to see Volta they were playing a jam and went straight into Cygnus...Vismund Cygnus with no warning of it. Said it was awesome.

Jam bands are great and all. But Phish sucks phish dicks.

[QUOTE=xxFoxxx;15427613]Jam bands are great and all. But Phish sucks phish dicks.[/QUOTE] :golfclap: I saw Phish play twice at Bonnaroo last weekend. They were some of the best concert's I've ever been to. During the second one they jammed with Bruce Springsteen for a bit and blew everyone away.

I've heard this band Pelican a few times, sounds kind of like what youre talking about

Going to see Phish on fridaaaayyyyy.

I fucking love phish, String cheese incident, Allman bros etc.!

Grateful Death are awesome! And i dunno, but would Taste belong here? Perhaps not. Albert Collins though.

Phish released a new studio album this week.

I went to Allman Brothers show last year. Bob Weir and RatDog opened for them, quite jamtastic. Honestly, though? Not really my thing. It was kind of, eh.. boring? I do love Earthless, though, if they count.