Featured
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Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival 2012 Lineup
TRUMANSBURG, NY – The Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance has announced their 2012 lineup. The festival is entering it’s 22nd year of supporting arts, education & the fight against AIDS. This unique world music festival in upstate NY continues to be a staple in world, Americana, reggae, & roots music. This years lineup features American country music and Grammy Award Winning singer George Jones, GrassRoots hosts Donna the Buffalo, The Campbell Brothers, & Preston Frank & his Zydeco Family Band. We’re excited to Rebirth Brass Band from New Orleans who won a Grammy in 2012 for best Regional Roots Album. Other world music bands featured at this years festival include Khaira…
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Summer Camp Music Festival – 2012 Preview
(Words by Jay Kopelman, Images by Jake Plimack, Brian Spady, and Jason Kaczorowski) Across the country music lovers of all ages mark the start of their thrilling summer months with the annual Summer Camp Music Festival (May 25-27). Summer Camp has called Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, Illinois home for the last twelve years and it has not stopped growing. This festival only started with 1000 and has blossomed into a massive gathering of more than 15,000 attendees with more than 100 bands. Every year “Scamp”, as it casually called, brings a diverse group of outstanding artists and fans into a unique expansive outdoor setting to discover new groovin’ sounds and form lasting friendships. From…
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Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad | Buffalo, NY | 4.27.2012
(Photos by Matthew Buckley) BUFFALO, NY – Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad threw down last Friday night in Buffalo. The band is currently on tour in support of their latest release “In These Times” on Controlled Substance Sound Labs. Buffalo jam band “Slip Madigan” opened the night with an incredible jam filled set that set the tone for GPGDS psychedelic improvisational reggae. The night featured one long set with many songs off the new album. The crowd was also treated to a new yet to be titled song. This was the bands first time playing The Tralf in Buffalo after outgrowing the famed Nietzshe’s night club in the Allentown district in Buffalo. The band is currently in the…
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Gallery: Kung Fu-The Bowl Sessions #2
Photos by Shane Weber BROOKLYN, NY - On April 16th, Shane Weber took a trip to Brooklyn Bowl for installment number 2 of Kung Fu’s now famous ’The Bowl Sessions’. He came back with one hell of a gallery, especially for his first time out. Opening the night, and warming up the crowd were north-east favorites Sonic Spark and Biodiesel. Joining Kung FU were Jeff Llolyd of The Heavy Pets, Dopapod’s Neal Evans, and the one and only Victor Bailey of Weather Report. Both The Heavy Pets and Dopapod have been touring like mad up and down the east coast, and are familiar and surely welcome faces to the Brooklyn Bowl crowd. Though Installment #3 has passed, the final Bowl…
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Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad “In These Times”
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad‘s new album In These Times is out now on Controlled Substance Sound Labs. The Rochester, NY-based group is currently on tour in support of the release. After the 2006 release of their debut album, Slow Down, GPGDS hit the road and never looked back. On April 10th they released their first electric studio album in six years, In These Times. This is the quintet’s second release on the California-based label Controlled Substance Sound Labs. In These Times consists of 12 tracks that showcase Giant Panda’s psychedelic reggae sound. Bassist James Searl, guitarist Dylan Savage, and guitarist Dan Keller trade off songwriting and lead vocal duties, with backup vocals provided by…
FESTIVAL NEWS
BandsThatJam.com Continues to Grow Under New Creative Direction
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 For Immediate Release Bands That Jam Official Press Release BandsThatJam.com Continues to Grow Under New Creative Direction Docufest: Music | Ambiance | Production to Partner with New Site BandsThatJam.com, an internet source for the growing Jam Band industry, was recently acquired by a group of investors dedicated to expanding the website in its ongoing coverage. This initiative will be led by Benjamin Slayter, a long-time contributor and founder of Slayter Creative, and his wife, Erin Slayter, who founded The Sweaty Mouse in 1999. While covering this international market with show and CD reviews and industry news BandsThatJam.com will assume a large role in the community with open discussions, podcasts, and interactive…
Phish Super Ball IX Map
WATKINS GLEN, NY – Phish has released the official map for Super Ball IX. Enjoy!
Picture Show: Edward Sharpe & Magnetic Zeros
Thursday At The Square Buffalo, NY 6.2.11 Download a soundboard recording of this show on bt.etree.org Setlist: 1.Banter 2.40 Day Dream 3.Janglin 4.Up From Below 5.Fire & Water 6.Awake My Body 7.Try 8.Carries On 9.Truth 10.Jades New Song?? 11.Come In Please 12.Black Water 13.Jade 14.Home 15.Om Nashi Me Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros on JamBase.
Photos | Equinunk Express Festival | 2011
Sharing in the Groove with Phish at Bethel Woods This past Memorial Day weekend, the folks that host the Equifunk Festival each August opened their gates to the Bethel Woods Phish crowd. Equifunk Express was an all-inclusive and very intimate  tent and cabin camping festival held in Equinunk PA, just 25 miles from Bethel. The lineup was absolutelely stellar, and even served as its own entity as a festival for those not inclined to seeing Phish. The Event was Sold Out, but they are hosting Equifunk in August with The New Deal headlining 2 nights. Lineup: Friday- The Big Dirty (afternoon) Kung Fu (latenight) Saturday- Zongo Junction (afternoon) Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad (afternoon) Marco Denevento (latenight) Sunday- Wolf! (afternoon) Bustle in your…
Interviews
Interview: Tommy Stinson
Tommy Stinson is a rock legend. He was a member of famed Minnesota-based rock group the Replacements. Since 1998, he has been the bassist for Guns N’ Roses and Soul Asylum. His latest release is the solo album “One Man Mutiny.” For more info on Tommy Stinson, check out http://tommystinson.com/Â or follow him on twitter: @tommy_stinson. McClain Johnson: As a solo artist, how does your songwriting process work? Tommy Stinson: You know, I don’t really have one particularly. When I’ve got free time and my head is freed up from touring and all that stuff, it just sort of comes to me. It can come to me in any way, whether it is guitar, bass, drums,…
Interview: Keller Williams
Keller’s musical career is on fire. His recent Kdubalicious album titled simply, “Bass” kicked off last December, and as we write this he’s doing his best to keep the Travelin’ McCourys from fishing off the boat during Jam Cruise. Â I’ve seen Keller play with everyone from The String Cheese Incident to the Rhythm Devils, and caught up with him recently at his show in Ann Arbor, Michigan at the Blind Pig. Â Based on the track he shared with us (scroll all the way down), I can’t wait to see him with the Travelin’ McCourys next summer. Bands That Jam: Â Welcome to Michigan Keller. Â Thanks for sitting down to talk with Bands That Jam. Â What were…
Interview: Mason Jennings
BTJ Photographer Chris Monaghan sat down recently with singer/songwriter Mason Jennings to talk about his current cross country tour, his beginnings as a musician and his songwriting style. You can stream Jennings’ latest Minnesota and see his remaining dates on his website. BandsThatJam:    How old were you when you started playing guitar, and when did you know you wanted to be a musician? Mason Jennings: I would always write these songs when I was pretty little, even when I was 8 or 9 I would write these full songs and sing them in to a tape recorder, so I was always really writing. But I really wanted to play drums. I started on drums…
Interview: Bob Weir & Searching for Freedom
Searching For Freedom With Bob Weir Bob Weir is the co-founder of the Grateful Dead. His other bands include Furthur and RatDog. His latest project is TRI Studios (http://www.tristudios.com/), which broadcasts high quality concerts live online. He recently called in to discuss the impact of technology on his songwriting, the creation of TRI Studios and the free-flowing nature of the Dead’s setlist creation. McClain Johnson: How did the concept for TRI studios come together? How did it get started? Bob Weir: It was a long, involved process. I picked up a recording console, an API recording console. In my opinion, it was the best console I could get. We started building a studio around it. Along the way, an old…
Interview: Mike Doughty
Mike Doughty is one of the best, most creative singer-songwriters out today. He has a skill for writing memorable hooks, and writes intriguing, oddball, poetic lyrics. His latest album, Yes and Also Yes, will be released August 30th on his own label, Snack Bar. Mike recently wrote in to discuss his love of pop songs, how he creates beats and the challenges of being an independent artist. For more info on Mike Doughty, check out http://www.mikedoughty.com McClain Johnson: What inspired “Into the Un?” Mike Doughty: Actually, weirdly, I was asked to write something for the next Twilight soundtrack–though they rejected the song. It’s a kind of psychedelic goth fantasia–I hung out with a lot of…
Interview: Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Hornsby is a piano player/singer-songwriter who works in many different styles and with a wide range of other artists. His latest release is the live album, Bride of the Noisemakers. He recently discussed playing with the Grateful Dead, how he is always looking to expand his sound and his passion for modern classical music. McClain Johnson: How old were you when you first started playing piano? Bruce Hornsby: I started really late. I started at age 17, junior year in high school, for a couple of inspirational reasons. My older brother, Bobby Hornsby, was the original musician in our band. He was the guy who had bands in junior high school and late elementary…
Interview: Victor Wooten, Bassist
Victor Wooten (twitter: @victorwooten) is one of the world’s most talented bass players. He is well known as a member of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones as well as a solo artist. He discussed the biggest obstacles he’s had in his career, how he met Bela and how his family got him into music.
Interview: Horace Moore WSP Archivist
Horace Moore is the archivist for Widespread Panic. He heads up the band’s archival multitrack releases, Porch Songs releases and podcasts. McClain Johnson: When did you first become interested in tape trading? Horace Moore: It was kind of interesting, because I grew up in southeast Georgia. All I had growing up was the radio and 8-tracks and just one record store. It was kind of Top 40 oriented. I can remember back in grade school, high school, just getting worn out on the same version of a song. So when I got introduced to the Grateful Dead, once I got to college, that was one thing that I really picked up on immediately. This is…
Interview: Tara Nevins
Tara Nevins is an amazing fiddle player and a passionate songwriter. She is also a member of Donna the Buffalo. Her latest release is her solo album, Wood and Stone. Tara called in to discuss her love of old-time music, how Donna the Buffalo came together and working with Larry Campbell. McClain Johnson: How old were you when you first started playing fiddle? Tara Nevins: Fifth Grade. McClain Johnson: Do you remember the first song you learned how to play? Tara Nevins: Heck no. I started out playing classical music in school. Then I discovered fiddle later on. I went to college for classical studies too. I discovered old-time music, traditional fiddle music. When I…
Interview: Larry Keel – Guitar Legend
ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY, VA – Larry Keel is a bluegrass guitar master. He has collaborated with a wide range of artists (including Keller Williams). He also fronts his own band, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge. Larry recently called in to discuss the first song he learned how to play, his songwriting process and how he is pushing bluegrass in new directions. Stream “Country Blues” while you read: [Audio clip: view full post to listen] **************************************** McClain Johnson: What first got you interested in playing? Larry Keel: My dad and my brother used to do a lot of jamming around the house. My dad was a banjo player, my brother was also. He was a guitar player….
Interview: JJ Grey
JJ Grey is a soulful vocalist who creates songs that simmer with backwoods funk and come from his heart. JJ Grey and Mofro have developed a passionate fanbase worldwide. The Floria-based band’s latest release is the excellent “Georgia Warhorse.” They are playing at this year’s Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama. JJ recently called to discuss how writing songs has helped him learn about life, working on his harmonica skills while delivering flowers, and the evolution of his live show. ********************** McClain Johnson: How does your songwriting process work? JJ Grey: You know, it’s so loose, I can’t even really call it a process man. It just happens. Walking along, riding along, and maybe…
DOWNLOADS
John Brown’s Body | Buffalo, NY | 4.23.2011
Stream “Push Some Air” from this show. [Audio clip: view full post to listen] BUFFALO, NY – Last weekend John Brown’s Body returned to Buffalo for the first time in many years. The band is finishing up a nationwide spring tour and was in fine form for the nights show. We’re looking forward to seeing their fan base grow in the area and hoping they make Buffalo a regular stop on their upcoming tours. See the review below posted by Jeff Miers of the Buffalo News. “It started for me last Saturday, when I took in John Brown’s Body’s set in the Tralf Music Hall. The attendance was surprisingly sparse — a mere few hundred folks…
Umphrey’s McGee | Fillmore Detroit | 2.5.11
Umphrey’s McGee Brings Real Rock Back to the Motor City DETROIT, MI – Expectations were high for the return of UM to Detroit, and a sold-out crowd at the Fillmore found their dancing shoes were a necessity for the non-stop onslaught that faced them. The venue filled slowly due to a late-winter snow storm that left many motorists stranded on local roads. Chicago-based Orchard Lounge (downtempo DJ) opened the show and was a great improvement over basic house music, but their position stage right next to Myers’ drum kit left them fairly hidden. Enjoyable beats, but the party didn’t start until six grown men came on stage, hands above their heads, horns held high, and…
Introducing: Thunder Body – More Roots Reggae from Upstate NY | Free Download
ROCHESTER, NY – After leaving Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad in 2010 we knew it was only a matter of time before Matt & Rachel would form a new band. Well that time is here. Introducing Thunder Body a brand spankin’ new original roots reggae band with  Matthew O’Brian (GPGDS founder, lead singer), Rachel Orke (GPGDS), Dennis Mariano, Jeremiah Pacheco, and Brian Blatt. The first thing you’ll notice about this is band is that while O’Brian played guitar & vocals in GPGDS he now plays drums & vocals in Thunderbody. We’re glad to see there was enough talent in GPGDS to sustain two bands. The current members of GPGDS have been doing well as a…
Review: Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad | Buffalo, NY | 12.11.2010
WILLIAMSVILLE, NY – This past weekend G.P.G.D.S. played their last show of 2010 at  Club Infinity in the suburbs of Buffalo to a packed house of over 300 fans. The club is under new ownership & proving they are serious about getting good talent with the booking of G.P.G.D.S. Fans braved  sub freezing temperatures & blowing snow to warm their souls with one of the best live original roots reggae bands currently on tour. (click play buttons in this article to hear songs from the show) [Audio clip: view full post to listen] G.P.G.D.S. played a non stop 2 hour set that was one of the best we had heard in 2010. The bands sound consists…
