It's come to my attention, that 2009 looks to be a good year for instrumentality in music. 3 stories have brought this idea to mind as I've surfed the blogosphere the past couple of days. Ass you may or may not have read, I have very a very strong opinion on the point of jamming in music (in short - pro, but it can tread a fine line of self indulgent as well). I also have my Jam Band based roots, tat I'm not ashmed of, but often ignore, due to my own exhaustion within the particular genre.
But these three coalescing stories have my ears perked. It feels strangely like a maturation of the view jam based music in the publics eyes (well, I guess in this case, the blog/music journo's eyes).
1.) Galactic has a praise worthy album, (but the praise isnt from the expected sources)
Those of us who have gotten a chance to see New Orlean's natives Galactic live, have known for a while that these guys are the best torch barers of all that is Funky. Unfortunately, they tend to get lumped into the "Jam Band" scene rather than being recognised as musicians that are pushing Funk forward and innovating it as well. Here's my venerable favorite non music blog Boing Boing's coverage of Galactic at The Outside Lands Festival.
2. Phish will be playing 3 shows at Hampton Arena in March.
Many thanks to Sonical for this one. As much as I drag my feat at a possible Phish reunion (too soon! too soon! he cries), I've read they would like to take their music in a different direction - which I'm hoping builds on the more music, improvisation side, less on the lyrics.
3). Medeski, Martin and Wood, still got it. And so should you.
MMW are also unfortunately lumped into the Jam Band scene. Click the red button. If this track is any indication of what to expect from their next offering, than consider me sold.
Are we approaching a new era for the funk? Oh please, say it's so.
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I remember I saw Martin, Medeski and Wood on Halloween in NY about 5 years ago. I was dressed as Chiquita Banana. I feel bad for any one who was doing acid...bc a room full of pot and people in costumes jamming to MMW can be both exhilerating AND totally frightening at the same time.
ahhh memories.
glad Jam bands are still jamming.
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MMW's new stuff sounds amazing. Brinks me back to Combustication....
this is a great post. this is MOG!!!
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Phish is Phish, but I never thought of those other people as Jam bands per se..either that, or the definition of Jam Band needs to be expanded...I was always drawn to MMW because of the funkiness of their jazz and to Galactic (less so) for their NolA roots and Hammond. The only band of the 3 I never got was Phish..
I think there's always been a wing of funk fans who were tied closely to the "good musician" (I dunno, Scofield,Dennis Chambers..starting with Miles' funk)crowd. I think that definitely morphed into the Jam band thing..Which is not a bad thing to be associated with since people don't buy records anymore and "jam band" fans like to go out to shows.
I truly think the funk has been absorbed nicely by the current crop of youngguns..perhaps because so many of the most excellent practitioners are great on stage.
No words is fine with me..I hope you are right.
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Me too. I saw Galactic about 2 years ago, and it made me realise what people miss when you don't go and see live music. There was a time that was the only way to see music - until disco made it popular to go and listen to the album you already had at home. Galactic are just really tight onstage. MMW too.
I never fault anyone for not liking Phish. It's just their incredible musicians, and capable of playing in many different styles. I mean they created their own sound, but most people wither like it or hate it. When I hear bands like Tortoise or Explosions In The Sky, I see similarities to what Phish was doing, but not saddled by the expectations of their fans. I'd like to see them stretch past what their known as, and experiment further. I mean they are pretty unconventional for a high grossing band with virtually no airplay.
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I don't dislike 'em..Honestly,I know very little about 'em. I had a bad experience one time though with a Phish-Head really hitting me hard for not liking tunes he played for me..calling me this and that, saying I don't know anything about real music,etc.etc..Weird right. I'm sure if I went to a show I'd dig 'em..Or maybe y'all can convince me.
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I don't mind bands like The Fuckin' Champs, Explosions in The Sky or Godspeed... but when it comes to bands that fall under the moniker of "Jam Band" I become a cold phish. (and yes, I am no fan of the Grateful Dead either)
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Cody:
What a laugh! What an idiot! Phish heads are what ruined the scene for me, the sort of blind adolation many exhibited towards the band. I mean, it was fun, but there's just SO much music out there, why limit yourself. I've had my fair share of horrible experiences with fans, and some great ones too.
I'm certainly no stranger to having a bands fans put me off them. I was very anti P-Funk for that very reason (until of course you pulled me back around). From my perspective, the problem with the Phish scene, is the accepted "we're all on the same page as far as the music goes" mentality, which reads something like this:
We know what their begining to play within the first couple notes.
We know the last time they played that obscure tune, and if not, we recognise it was a LONG time ago.
We have opinions about what the best version of this song was.
We don't reference a song by album, because we only listen to bootlegs, we haven't bought an album since Junta.
We get all the inside jokes and crowd participation games
Of course this isn't the first show I've seen them this tour!
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That is not totally shocking Dach!
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welcome back Dach!
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Cody, You're not surprised at my lack of devotion to jam bands?
Hey CBW, just stopping through. I love when I get the chance to talk down about jam bands. I like instrumental bands just not the hippy dippy kind.
I'm not really back just yet, I'm on a late vacation and just checking in on a borrowed computer, won't be back full time for another 10 days or so.
Until then I be lurkin', see ya!
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Cody, You're not surprised at my lack of devotion to jam bands?
Yup..not suprised a lick. You seem like a no nonsesnse individual, not tolerant of noodling. In fact, your lack of noodling tolerance is legendary in some parts.
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Wow! I've got a reputation. I'm a non-noodler. No noodling around me buck-o! I like that, I think I'll have a t-shirt made up.
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Cody B......when anyone tries to shove something down one's throat, it is certainly natural to try and cough/spit it out.
I would definately say the entry point to Phish is seeing them live.
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I know that for sure Justin..I'm forever doing it around here myself, much to the dismay of the collegial folk here at MOG.
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Cody B.....well...as you know, some tunes are easier to digest via force. Keep on bringin' it!
Embracing the Phish sound is definately a process. My wife was a hard core Deadhead back in the day and had friends often try to shove Phish down her throat. As a result. she rejected it. Then, I came into the picture. I played her the right tunes at the right times and pretty much kept my mouth shut. She started seeing shows with me and twelve years later, she loves her Phish (possible more than she loves me) :)
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contrabandwidth.....Over the years, I never paid attention to what "the scene" was doing. I had an extremely intimate relationship with the music and never let anything else get in my way. Whether I agreed or disagreed with how others acted in "the scene" , the one common denominator was the energy,passion, and love for the music itself. I must say that in the final few years, I did find myself thinking at times that there were many at the shows who were really only there to party and music was secondary. I believe the band started to feel this vibe as well as things started to go south.
Hopefully, this 4.5 year set break will get both the band and the crowds refocused on what it was all about from the start...the non-stop search for the unplayed groove.
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contrabandwidth......what Tortoise and Explosions in the Sky albums should I check out?
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I would recomend either "TNT" or "American Standards" (I think that's the title). Explosions in the Sky - "The Earth is not a cold dead place"
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I had the thought just the other day there may be a jam themed cycle coming round soon. I've been seeing a lot of peace bumber stickers and tee's. But I'd rather see more "fusion jams and funked-up jazz" myself. Love MMW and need to grab that new one!
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Without a doubt!
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excellent tie-together! i second jameson, this is MOG! new MMW, i'm heading over to the store for that. was just discussing going to see them again since it has been a couple years. the first time i heard galactic, i was amazed at how versitile and in sync the drummer seemed to be with his funk chops. he can spin any fill or beat change to fit the music.
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Stanton Moore (Galactics Drummer) is possibly one of the best drummers out there. He's just on it. Not overly showy, but confident. I think he's the strongest member of the band - but that's what you want with a funk band. He's very impressive in a modest way.
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Tyler, great post. i am getting to it a bit late but wanted to say all three are worth the wait. MMW, especially, for me.
"I have very a very strong opinion on the point of jamming in music (in short - pro, but it can tread a fine line of self indulgent as well)." - it's true jamming reaches far greater heights of self-indulgence, but i would think any act of making art is already self-indulgent by nature? also, jamming pop music, i don't know. only works if it's power pop, i guess...
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You might have a good point - jamming may not belong in Pop Music. It can be done, but must either be in the sake of brevity, or work thematically some how. Like for instance if an artist diverges into a medley of their tunes or has a really good solo. Jam based or (the term I prefer) Musicality Forward type music would require the listener to be a listener/feelers, so more involvement may be requirred by fans of these types of music.
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"It can be done, but must either be in the sake of brevity, or work thematically some how." - i like the idea.
so true, Tyler, great involvement by fans is a presumed requirement. i guess this is why jazz and the blues really work for me live, and lose some (a lot?) of its organic power when emanating from a CD/mp3. you got me thinking. it must be why i frequent many a good blues joint, the kind that really transports me with the jams, but listening to even my favorite jazz/blues studio recordings, while powerful on their own, still somehow feels, i don't know, detached.
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Oh...don't mind if I jump in quick.
"but i would think any act of making art is already self-indulgent by nature?"
ilay - we were born to create! i believe it's expected of us and the appetite of our creativity is someone elses that we feed.
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Helen - is it me or did you just make a serious comment? :} love ya!
(Tyler, sorry for the off-topic exchange.)