I have to admit, I was a little perturbed when I read the comments by Mr. Schools in the October issue. Apparently he feels disrespected by the Jambands thing. While I agree that "When you pigeonhole something, you limit its ability to grow and change", I don't see the connection here. Who is pigeonholing anyone? I think the label "jamband" is just about as broad as you can get. Let's see, if you aren't a jamband, what does that make you? A non-jamming band? Would you like the jam with that band? If you don't want the jam, you must just "want" the band. (Any NKOTB fans out there?).

Look at the diversity of music included in the jamband scene. Everything you could ever want and more. It is incredible and it is very much alive.

As far as his Schools' other comments: "If someone called Neil Young a contemporary folk artist, that's bullshit. Anyone who knows Neil Young knows that. People gave him the slack to do his electronic music. They might hate it. In fact, his record company sued him for not making the kind of music he was known for." I think every music fan alive today knows this Dave. Who is calling Neil Young, one of the greatest guitarists and songwriters today, a contemporary folk artist? Now that might be pigeonholing, not to mention completely ignorant. Maybe that was the sentiment by record company execs., but what the hell do they know about music?

I can't say I know the exact purpose or reason for his comments. He seems to feel like we are labeling Widespread Panic, hindering their ability to grow as a band. Maybe attracting the wrong crowd through this website. Those freaky internet savvy jamband loving punks. Maybe there are enough spread heads in the world. I don't know. It sounds to me like disrespect for what Dean, Andy, Benjy, David, Sarah, and all of the fans are doing. Jambands is about a strong love of music. A desire to not only go listen to a live concert but to become a part of it. There is no worship of musicians, because we are all musicians. We play the music together. We are one. Dean said it best (and quite eloquently I might add) in his editorial in the October issue

Jambands.com is one of the greatest thing to ever happen to the music scene. Communication is a huge barrier and the internet has forever broken it! It is wonderful for a true music fan to be able to come here and read about recommended music and then to see where the bands are playing and when! Live music is a beautiful thing and I am proud to be living in this day. We welcome the new millennium and the new direction of music.

Peace and Love
Scott Decker

PS: I am in no way trying to spark controversy with all of the widespread fans. I know how these things sometimes erupt. I don't doubt the abilities of Mr. Schools and his "retro" style. I am sure he is a great bass player and has a wide range of "retro" abilities. In fact, his retroness is so incredible, I can think of no other way to describe it except, well, "retro". (Now doesn't that sound like a label?)

Of course we printed this letter because Scott said nice things about my editorial and the site :) Seriously though we received a number of letters about the Dave Schools interview. I simply wish to reiterate what I said last month. I can understand where Dave is coming from, and I agree that it can be frustrating to be pigeonholed- but again our mission at the site is to define the term "jamband" as broadly as possible. Just look at our last few new grooves of the month: the New Deal, Soulive, Sunfur, Lake Trout, the Big Wu and Smokin' Grass. They offer a diverse range of sounds, all of which I feel are encompassed by the term "jamband." Of course I understand Scott's frustration as well- one could read Dave's comments to suggest that he is turning his back on many of the people who have supported him over the years. However, I do not believe that was his intent, I just feel he was referring to the more traditional definition of the term- the one we are challenging here at the site.