It’s Hip to Hate Jam Bands

21Jul/0530

It’s Hip to Hate Jam Bands

The word on the street is it's hip to hate jam bands.

Pink Floyd
Dave Matthews
Built to Spill
Phish
Grateful Dead
etc.

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Evan
July 21st, 2005 - 06:35

Evan says: Pink Floyd fucking rocks.
Dave
July 21st, 2005 - 06:39

Pink Floyd, Dave Matthews in the same grouping? Blasphemy.
JJ
July 21st, 2005 - 07:19

Okay, maybe Pink Floyd “rocks.” But they jaaaaam, maaaaaan. Did you catch their Live8 performance? It was a great big jam session.
Ev
July 21st, 2005 - 08:28

Fucking JJ, you music nazi.

You leave Floyd alone.
Maine
July 21st, 2005 - 08:51

With that definition of “jam band,” you’d have to include Sonic Youth. They can play a five song set for 3 hours.

I always thought jam bands were groups of guys who played one riff or scale forever, while one of them dicked off a guitar solo that started after the second verse ended and continued for a good ten minutes.

Can we get a clear definition here?
JJ
July 21st, 2005 - 09:03

Here’s my thought:
You like an album or a particular song on that album – but when you see the band play live, that 4 minute song lasts 12 minutes.

That’s what happened when I saw Built to Spill a couple of months ago. Songs I recognized from the albums turned into epic jam sessions. Basically, the guitarist jerked off on stage for an hour.

Similarly, Pink Floyd played their classics at Live 8. I watched the replay on VH1. That’s fantastic – they played the songs their fans know and love. However, a couple of the songs dragged on and on and on. I was not stoned. I did not enjoy it.
cousineddie
July 21st, 2005 - 09:05

I hate every one of those bands you listed. When a band plays live, I prefer their songs to sound like I know them. I don’t care about their special guitar prowess.
JJ
July 21st, 2005 - 09:09

Thank you, Eddie!
Ev
July 21st, 2005 - 09:12

You will rue this day, JJ.

RUE, I SAY.

Actually, I’m in agreement with the idea that a live show goes on way too fucking long.

But then look at the Violent Femmes. Shit, they play songs from their album and only the LYRICS are the same and STILL they fucking rock.
cousineddie
July 21st, 2005 - 09:39

Yeah, but the Violent Femmes do neat things with didgereedoos (ok, I know I completely butchered that word) and stuff.
turboslut
July 21st, 2005 - 10:25

Well, to be honest, I hate them all, sorry
J.mo
July 21st, 2005 - 11:00

Since we’ve discussed this several times, I concur. Jam bands suck. I don’t mind lengthy songs, if they are originally long. But making a 3 minute song into a 10 minute jam is lame. Especially when you pay money to see the band live. Dude, if you’re rocking out in your living room/practice space or at a 3-day outdoor summer festival with lots of drugs, go on, jam on. Otherwise, stick to the original. Sometimes shorter is better.
Desult
July 21st, 2005 - 11:19

I hate jam bands, but I love Dave Matthews. Althought I can thank his ass for 3 and 1/2 hours of traffic to watch maybe an hour of a performance in VA, just to sit in a parking lot for 2 more fricken hours. Thanks Dave, 50 dollars for that shite.
C Ro
July 21st, 2005 - 11:23

AMEN, JJ!

I have ranted about effing Jam Bands forever. I am this close to getting into full rant mode, but you said exactly what I would.

Jerking off on the stage indeed. Songs should NOT be over 5 minutes long. Ever.

God, I hate them.
J.mo
July 21st, 2005 - 13:33

JJ, we really should give credit to J.lew for pointing out the idea of being hip to hate jam bands in the first place. Hopefully, she will post her thoughts on this since it was her observation in the first place.
JJ
July 21st, 2005 - 14:05

Good call.

Credit where credit is due:
This observation of a new hip hatred for jam bands came from my dear friend J.Lew.
Maine
July 21st, 2005 - 14:37

Is it hip? Or is it just normal for the non-stoned public?

Unless you’re “altered” in some way, you’re gonna have a hard time digging on those 17 minute monsters. I think a song can go to 8 minutes, personally. After that, I needed to be a little bit higher to stay on board.
Shnicky
July 21st, 2005 - 14:56

The sentiment that jam bands are much better when a) chemically altered b) outside on a sunny day at a weekend festival is absolutely true. Why do you think jam bands play those venues, people?

I do like lyrics, and I do like songs I can recognize.

That said:
a) I can listen to the Allman Bros. play “Blue Sky” or “Jessica” for 20 minutes any time.
b) Often, jam bands are able to actually jam (as opposed to a single guitarist jacking off) because they are talented musicians. The rest of the pop bands, and you suckers, are just jealous.
c) Case in point: anything involving Robert Randolph. (He was touring with Dave Matthews, Desult.) Robert Randolph makes incredible music, and who cares if it is tied to a song?
j.mo
July 21st, 2005 - 14:59

Of course you would say that, shnicky, you hippie.
Maine
July 21st, 2005 - 15:40

I somewhat disagree. Any musician (severe wrist pain notwithstanding) can play a song for 20 minutes. And while some “jam bands” do so in a talented manner, it doesn’t require talent to do it. Sometimes it’s just pretensiousness.

I think part of being a great performance musician is also in knowing when enough is enough. And I think that if your audience has to be high to appreciate what you’re doing onstage, then there’s a good chance you’re doing something that sober people find really, really annoying.

What’s wrong with playing music that people can like? Are you on stage to prove your genius, or are you on stage because a crowd is paying to be entertained?
Lenny
July 21st, 2005 - 17:24

Now can someone give a definition of “jam band”? English is not my first language, you know. I assume its not JUST ANY band that jams out on stage or has lengthy songs. Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath aint jam bands in my book. Nor is Fela Ransome Kuti and Egypt 70. Yet all these have very lengthy songs. Your choice of Pink Floyd puzzles the Lenny also. But if we are talking about DMB, String Cheese Incident, Moe, Phish, and the Grateful Dead however, I do share a certain sentiment that JJ exhibits. In other words, cut your hair, damn hippies, and your hemp necklace along with it.
JJ
July 21st, 2005 - 19:34

I included Pink Floyd based solely on their Live8 performance. I was completely bored out of my skull. And the thing is, I actually really love a few of their classic songs. But they dragged them out with uninteresting guitar runs and flying pigs, etc.

I also saw the replay of The Who from Live8. They too played their classics. But they rocked out, then moved on to the next song. Plus, The Who kicks Pink Floyd’s ass any day.
trav
July 21st, 2005 - 20:24

man, such heated debate over music… and JJ opening yet another can of worms just now…

forget jam bands… forget all mainstream bands… corporate rock suck and it always will… give me a bar band from austin any day of the week… the don’t jam… they rock…
CCrider
July 23rd, 2005 - 20:54

If we are talking Phish, String Cheese, and Panic style jam bands , ya gotta throw in the Jam Band Festivals. I think these are a dirt hippies….”Special Place”. Dirt twirlers unite! And whats up with the fest? Love Fest, Flower Fest, Jam Fest, Schwag Fest, Grilled Cheese for $2 Fest….. Fest Fest and damn fest…enough already! Oh and I agree with JJ…The Who kicks ass.
Michael
July 25th, 2005 - 16:00

I can’t believe Pink Floyd was lumped into that list. I nearly cried when I saw them perform together again. I have to say they could have played forever the last time I saw them and I wouldn’t have had any quarles with that.

Dave Matthews… the only jam there is the jam that falls from his bus over a bridge onto a tour boat of unsuspecting tourists…
JJ
July 25th, 2005 - 16:16

I knew you’d react to that, Michael. My brother told me you’re a big Floyd fan.

By the way – Good dig on the Dave Matthews incident. Awesome!
Michael
July 26th, 2005 - 21:09

Yes… yes… Feces for all… and don’t forget the peanuts…
ant
September 29th, 2006 - 12:05

Jam bands do suck, But I wouldnt go as far as saying any song over 5 minutes is way to long. Iron Maiden. Most of those songs are way above 5 minutes. And they don’t jam out, Iron Maiden is one of the most original bands ever, so.. I dont mind listening to them for hours on end.
JJ
September 29th, 2006 - 14:01

Ant:
Yeah, you’re right. I think the problem is when a band jams out live on a song that’s much shorter on the album. Like if Iron Maiden turned an 8 minute song into a 20 minute epic live. I’d be bored out of my ass, even if Eddie was there to entertain everyone.
Tomyorke
August 30th, 2010 - 20:34

If you’ve heard one jam band you’ve heard them all. The reason jam bands exist is because there are thousands of people out there with physical musical talent, but have no f-ing clue how to write a good song. So they start out with about 30 secs of a familiar cover, go into a 20 min jam, then come back to that familiar melody. The crowd goes wild…. Because they’re all on molly and whatever other trust fund drug they can find in the lot. Anyone with a few music lessons can jam with a band, just stay in the right key and your good. I’m really sick of hearing “theres an awesome jam band playing downtown tonight”. Theres no such thing. So hopefully one day all you hippie kids with jam bands will wake up one morning with a bit more class and start jazz bands or something
P.S. Never trust a widespread panic fan, phish fans are much more benign.