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Opening Riff (Join us)This is an interesting, exhilarating moment. I've been a rabid live music fan for quite some time now. I suppose the first jam band I saw perform live was Max Creek at the original Lupo's in Providence, circa 1982 (and what do you know, they're still at it, with a new disc and many new fans, now tearing it up at the new Lupo's- it's strange, sometimes I feel as though everyone else at these shows stays the same age while I'm the only one getting any older- well okay, me and the band). At any rate, more than any time I can recall, there is now a swell of groups committed to the art of improvisation. We intend to spread the good word with jambands.com.
The web zine you are now browsing is the product of more than fifty persons who devoted their time to the site simply due to their love of the music. Each month I'll probably single out someone who really digs deep for the cause- this time it is Jeff Waful. Jeff, former WERS Space Jam host, and live music madman, learned this week of an illness to a family member. Nonetheless, this Jam Band trooper hauled his ass into a copy shop (and a rather lame one at that by Jeff's account) in order to make sure that the section he edits (CD Reviews) made it in on time. Since I'm hyping Jeff, I might as well tell you that his column, Waful House, which focuses this month on glowsticks, is one of Andy's favorite pieces.
At any rate, what I very much wish to do is publicly thank everyone involved in the site. They've really produced a jam-packed debut issue. Of course the amazing thing is we all have to do it again in 30 days. So please, join us. Float an idea or an article to an editor. Tell us about that band or that show that really moved you (or failed to move you, and why). We promise to do the same. Oh yes, and feel free to send me nasty email about my crappy cartoon, Mikey.
Later days and peace,
Dean - budnick@fas.harvard.edu
"Music is a force in our universe" -Martin FieroI'm constantly amazed by the live musical experience. It seems that whenever I go out to see a band that I have or haven't seen before, I'm consistently overwhelmed with the endless possibilities that emerge. Beyond the music, there is the scene of the show. Be it a large outdoor amphitheater with 20,000 in attendance, or a small club of 20, the energy that exists always presents itself to me in incredible ways.
Going out to see live music is something so very special that exists in our world. Leaving your home and entering another world where a group of people put on a show that's soul purpose is entertainment. We emerge ourselves in their environment for a little bit of time, and often gain much perspective of our own. Unlike any competitive activity, music is a cooperation between individuals who are contributing to a common goal. When everything clicks together and works so perfectly, we can't help but feel that if only for a brief moment, we've experienced a moment of greatness in our universe.
Last week I went to a small blues club in Chicago to see a regular act called Big Time Sarah and the BTS Express. Sarah is an old school blues performer who has been around the Chicago scene for years and constantly makes references to her heritage during her act. On this particular night, Sarah's old friend Deon had come to watch her play. Upon appearing at the front of the audience, Sarah immediately burst into a song and dance of the old years in south Chicago with Deon and put out a cry for Deon to join her onstage. At first, he refused, but after a set break of constant urging by Sarah (she's quite influential), he agreed and came up on stage for the beginning of her final set. He picked up the guitar and began tuning it to get the sound he wanted. At this point I turned to one of my friends and said, "This guy is gonna tear it up!" Sure enough, he did. His guitar work transported the audience through a journey that none of us had expected to take that night. Even classic blues tunes such as "Sweet Home Chicago" soared through the bar. There was an uproar of constant dancing and cheering from the close to 100 in attendance. The place went nuts and everyone left with a smile on their faces.
Why was that night so special? Perhaps it was the unplanned aspect of Deon's performance. Or perhaps it was the fact that we never planned to even go out to see blues that night. We simply flowed with the night and ended up sitting not more than five feet away from an incredible musicians as he did what comes so naturally to him. Whatever the events were that put us where we needed to be, we all were struck by the awesome nature of Deon's impromptu performance. The energy in the bar that night filled us up, and in the improvisational tradition of live music, Deon was the man.
So as you read through the papers at the club listings for the weekend, just remember that with any live musical experience, anything is possible. At any given moment, on any given night, a band that no one has ever heard of can reach a musical level that is beyond anything that anyone has ever heard before. Something new, something different, something that reaches out to us in a way that we've never felt before, and leaves us humming a tune that gets us through our days between the shows.
As for JamBands.Com, this being our PREMIER issue, we couldn't be more thrilled to get something off the ground that we feel is so long overdue. The music which exists in our universe is too powerful to ignore. The improvisational jams which will forever hold special places in our hearts are bursting to tell their stories. So, tell your story! At the end of each section is the editor who will gladly accept your articles, interviews, stories, poems, etc. If you can think of a new section, then send it over! This web site is a community forum, made up by YOU, and needs your help to exist.
"What an incredible first show for you!" -Jon Bruss, after Phish ended 6/19/95 set I with Antelope.
Peace,
Andy Gadiel andy@gadiel.com
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