Space Jam

"Hey man, it's gonna be a great show. Just let yourself go and get lost in the music. Take an amazing journey! Woo hoo!" \nOkay, that might be a little exaggerated, but I've heard something along those lines more than once among a crowd at a jam band concert. Yes, hippies live for such events. But they're not the issue, often being disproportionately mixed together with jam band music. There's more to the recipe. \nEver since the Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers Band became jam band pioneers in the late 1960s, live performances have stood as the cornerstone of the movement. Record sales were marginal compared to the amount of ticket sales. Although album releases were frequent, instead of waiting a year or two for another vinyl, fans salivated at the word of a concert at a nearby venue. \nToday, jam bands are still regarded as relentless road warriors, not just in the summer, but year-round. Even after devastating events like Jerry Garcia's death in 1995 and Phish's demise in 2004, the jam scene continues to flourish. Common preconceptions still exist, however, for better or worse. \nIt is argued (and often true) that drugs permeate the jam band scene, especially hallucinogens. Artists who admit to usage see drugs as an integral part of their career, citing an influx of creativity and an ability to play more cohesively as a band. Fans who use them at shows attest they make the experience all the better. But I don't think it's an overstatement to say most well-known musicians or artists use drugs, unless they're on American Idol or older than 50. In the face of more hardcore drugs like cocaine or heroine, you can look at the jam band approach and distinguish it as the lesser of the two evils, so to say. At any rate, without trying to sound like a D.A.R.E. officer, for a number of reasons I think it's unfortunate some fans shy away from shows out of fear of the jam band environment. \nTicket prices fluctuate harmlessly anywhere from $25 to $40 a pop, depending on the popularity of the band and venue. And because shows typically are held in small to medium-sized venues, you can usually find a decent seat in the house. Compare that with a couple nosebleed tickets for $50 each at a lame Bon Jovi show, and it should be an economic no-brainer. \nBesides saving a little money, jam band concerts last longer than any other type of concert. The goal of improvisational music is to attain a sense of comfort in a live setting that differs from the standard 20 song, 90 minute show of, for instance, Coldplay. \nArguably the most popular jam band today after Phish abdicated, Widespread Panic, on the other hand, usually plays for at least two hours and changes its set list nightly. I've seen them twice and only "Bear's Gone Fishin'" and "Thought Sausage" surfaced at both shows. After all, like my mama always said, variety is the spice of life. Rotating set lists represents pure musical diversity. \nWithin these set lists, bands segue between songs and create medleys, basically playing through one jam into the start of a new song. I pretty much exploded when I saw Robert Randolph and the Family Band lead from Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" into Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze."\nMusic festivals represent another pressing issue in the jam scene. Everyone knows about Woodstock, and most people have probably gotten wind of the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, now in its fifth year, held in Tennessee each June. But new festivals keep springing up around the country, including the 10,000 Lakes Festival in Minnesota and the Langerado Music Festival in Florida. These festivals work not only as promotional events but also as three days where fans camp out and wait in endless Johnny-on-the-spot lines. For these and other hazy reasons, they often can't find their cars after the weekend. \nJam band musicians aren't just a bunch of jokers, either. Many of them partake in benefit concerts and other charitable activities. A portion of profits from livephish.com go toward music education for children, having accumulated $415,000 since 2004. And in January moe. staged an autism benefit concert in New York. If all jam bands put their heads together, they might be able to rival Bono's worldly efforts. \nSo while you may not be able to get over the stench of marijuana smoke or the sight of greasy dreadlocks, consider the heavier wallet, the longer shows, the insane lighting effects, the constant touring and the overall musical ingenuity. Take it or leave it, but the jam scene will always be there -- one big peaceful community.