the term jamband comes about after the grateful dead and phish. the dead was very creative, had great songwriting, and were technically good. i love the dead. then comes phish who, being dead heads themselves, do learn alot from the deads approach, and come up with a very unique, creative, great songwriting, technically good music. so people lumped the two groups together as jambands, cus of course, they would jam out thier songs. my personal story is that i left phish tour in 98 and hopped on cheese tour, but left in 99. i left for the same reason i left phish tour. the music started to suck, probably cus the bands were doing too many drugs and getting laid too often. i think most jambands do suck, because they are trying to be jambands. phish was in no way trying to be the dead, they had thier own vision and path, and they followed it, and greatness followed them. cheese had a shot at it, but that fizzled. i do get to see some good jambands every once in a while, but most i do see really suck, cus all they are doing is trying, very unispiredly, to jam out very mediocre songs. they are trying to jam, but they have no feeling, no songwriter, and no vision of thier own.
quote: that's a very close-minded way to look at it. if you had really taken a listen to some jambands, then you'd find that their is some damn good songwriting in there. Umphrey's McGee, moe., The Allman Brother's Band and Frank Zappa are all good examples of jamband artists who have damn good songwriting. and yes, even Phish cranks out a well written song once in a while. For one, I hate phish, I don't care how many music students tell me how technically proficient they are, that means nothing to me if I don't like the end result, and I don;'t...but to eaches own, music can't be quantified. I'm not talking about the Grateful Dead, Zappa, or Allman Brothers either...I don't see them as jam bands because to me the term refers to modern imitators, not true experimentaltionalists from 30 years ago. I respect all 3 mentioned above, and had a good time seeing the Dead when they were around. I'll admit that I'm not a follower of the scene, but I have seen jambands, and been played jambands, and for the most part, EVEN IF THEY ARE "GOOD" MUSICIANS, their ramblings don't stick with me at all...... QUOTE: think most jambands do suck, because they are trying to be jambands. BINGO!!! Same is true with other genres as well, trying to fit into a certain category doesn't scream originality to me.
I cant stand widespread panic or string cheese. I think they both are very overrated in my humble opinion.
Ive seen them both in concert more than once, so I think I can give a valid opinion on this matter, thanx.
yes indeed Barlow had a lot up his sleeve - more than the Greatest Story ever told don't know why I didn't include him in that statement.
and that's why you don't like jambands. cause you've got a narrow definition of the term. jamband often refers to improvisational music that does not fit into a category as simple as rock, blues, jazz or classical (yeah there was classical improv, fugues were often improvised). i'm sure if you looked a bit deeper into it you'd find something you liked. there's not one genre in which there is no artist i like.
What you don't like Jambands, well your werid. NOOOPEE, just kidding man, its cool you don't like jambands, i don't really like certain types of music but i can find a song that im into and belive in, i respect you man, but just don't write off the music man, keep trying you will find a band that blows you away man.
i love jambands. I love all genres. but dont diss them just because their lyrics sometimes dont have meaning. Not every song tells a story or goes into deep detail with meaning. listen to the music man, the beat, rythym, and they can be pretty good. I like the SCI and phish, I LOVE THE GRATEFUL DEAD you just can not go wrong with them. I love the crowds. they are friendly people. laid back sometimes. the people i love to be around and be friends with. If you dont like that type of music then dont listen to it. i dont think some one who doesnt like that type of music should say that a band sucks or isnt good. I could say the same thing about rap music and eminem but i dont, bcuz its not my place to say it. all i have to say is i dont like rap. its not my style or taste in music. not saying it sucks though. not all jambands are bad. they do what they want and what they think sounds good. so let them.
Don't sweat it man, some people just can't listen to the long drawn out jams, it gets too boring, I personally love jams because I can space out to them, but i'm sure if you listen to songs by jam bands like "Wading In The Velvet Sea" By Phish and "Scarlett Begonias" By Grateful Dead, and songs that aren't just jamming and have real solid verses and choruss and such. Peace and Love, Dan
I'm not a fan of most new jam bands. I don't try to analyze it though...if I like something,I listen to it....if I don't like something,I don't listen to it. 'Nuff said lol.
DHS, if you read my post notice it doesnt say ALL jam bands lyrics arnt important. I think the grateful dead do have some great lyrics, so there
i think all jam bands sound a like in my opinion... i like some dead, not a lot though and phish, dont see what the big deal is with them.. but peoples preferences vary..i could care less what people listen too, but if they ask what i think, i wont hesitate to tell them it sucks... im into blues, now theres music with soul..and reggae and old punk ( i mean real punk )
