Why I Love Jambands

My passion for the jamband scene began at Wakarusa 2005. The eclectic mix of music won me over. A dance rock band would play right after a bluegrass band. Regardless of genre, all the talent at the festival deserved to be there. The skill and creativity of the musicians and their interplay with one another helped me to see how impressive jamming is in a live setting. The improvisational abilities of the players, and the fact that setlists change every night added an element of surprise and risk that made we want to become more involved in the scene.
The headliners for my crash course on the jamband scene were the String Cheese Incident. The fusion of bluegrass, dance, and rock had 10,000 people grooving. The peaks and valleys of the set sent the crowd into a euphoric state. From that first day at Waka, I learned of so many bands (North Mississippi Allstars, Umphrey’s McGee, The Hackensaw Boys…), that I see every time they come through my neck of the woods. This initial interest has also caused me to keep listening for new bands coming onto the scene.
My appreciation for jamming has increased even more since coming to New Orleans. Almost every band down here jams. NOLA people like their jams nice and funky! People down here love to get rowdy, but they also enjoy listening to the subtle nuances great musicians can create (For the record, the best jam I've ever seen was the Allman Brothers Band doing a face-melting version of "Jessica" at Jazz Fest 2007). However, my love for the scene wouldn’t have been sparked if it weren’t for that first day at Wakarusa.
The happiness and freedom that one feels during an intense jam is like few other emotions. When a band is onstage improvising and they come back around to the main melody of a song, the feeling created is one of pure joy for both the band and the audience. Even with so many different styles of music, the unity between band and fans is what makes being a part of the scene so enjoyable. From these beginnings, I can now proudly say that I will be jamming out for the rest of my life. Come groove with me!

Umphrey's McGee jams out on "In The Kitchen"

Underrated Nights Out in New Orleans: Papa Grows Funk @ the Maple Leaf

http://www.myspace.com/papagrowsfunk

Underrated Nights Out in New Orleans: Bayou International

http://www.myspace.com/bayouinternational

Best Shows of 2008.

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Plant and Krauss

The Robert Plant-Alison Krauss set at this year's Jazz Fest was one of the best performances I have ever seen. These two greats from different styles of music came together to perform songs that were filled with beauty and emotion.

Plant and Krauss' voices blended effortlessly throughout the hour and 30 minute set. It's reassuring to see that Plant still has his trademark wail after all these years.

A galloping take on Led Zep's "Black Dog," "Please Read the Letter," "Through the Morning, Through the Night" (both from the their album "Raising Sand", were highlights from the set.

However, the pinnacle came when Krauss sang ana cappella version of the gospel standard "Down to the River to Pray." Backed by the vocal harmony of Plant and the other band members, Krauss' voice soared. The song was one of the most beautiful moments I have ever witnessed at a concert. I'm not one to normally start tearing up at shows.

The only misstep was including the Zeppelin song "When the Levee Breaks" in the setlist. Seemed at bit rude considering the show was in New Orleans. However, the show was still one of the most powerful and moving gigs I have ever witnessed.

Mike Doughty

Mike Doughty just put out a new record, "Golden Delicious." It is not as good as his past solo work (many songs are a bit too middle of the road). It does have some songs that show off his skill as a songwriter. My favorite track off of the album is "I Wrote A Song About Your Car."

Tristan Prettyman

Wednesday, I am interviewing one of my favorite singer-songwriters, Tristan Prettyman. If you have any questions you'd like me to ask, let me know.

Drive-By Truckers

The Drive-By Truckers cannot write a bad song. They are one of the most underrated bands in America today. Their new album, "Brighter Than Creation's Dark" is an early contender for my favorite album of 2008.
Here's a live version of "A Ghost to Most"

Ashton Shepherd

Because the best kind of country music is ass kicking country!
Ashton Shepherd is an up-and-coming singer who has recently released her debut album, "Sounds So Good." She has a great spark and fire in her voice, which reminds me of Miranda Lambert.
Here's a link to her video for her first single, "Takin' Off This Pain.":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JLIqtNrV0o

Popmatters.com Funk Piece

Here's a great essay from Popmatters.com talking about funk in the 70s and it's cultural importance: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/features/article/54677/funks-death-trip/

Jazz Fest

It's going to be an odd first Friday at Jazz Fest this year....

Best gig(s) of 2008..so far

The best show I have attended this year was Wilco's two night invasion of Tipitina's in March. Wilco proved why they are the best American rock band today by being able to go from folkie pop to psychedelic noise freakouts back-to-back. Both nights had many highlights, but "Impossible Germany from the first night was my personal favorite. It was glorious!

Upcoming Interviews

I will be interviewing two singer-songwriters in the coming months. The first will be with Tristan Prettyman. I will be doing the interview before her April 24th gig at the HOB in New Orleans.


I will then be interviewing up-and-comer Colbie Caillat on May 5th at the HOB. Caillat put out my favorite album of 2007, "Coco."