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The Allman Brothers
If there were ever a time to see the granddaddy of all jam bands, it should be this summer. This year, the legendary Georgia blues-rock band is marking its 40th anniversary and recently played a wildly successful run of shows at New York’s Beacon Theatre marking the occasion. Those gigs featured the band along with a slew of guest stars that constituted a “who’s who” of rock ’n’ roll, such as Levon Helm, Johnny Winter, Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock, Trey Anastasio, Susan Tedeschi, Bob Weir and Phil Lesh. The shows were so hot that the band’s fan club packaged them as a deluxe box set. The band will only play two dates in June (at Florida’s WANEE Festival) and none in July, since guitarists Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks and doing solo gigs then. But expect some explosive gigs when their summer tour kicks off in earnest in late August with a bunch of East Coast dates.
Umphrey’s McGee
Sometimes it pays to take a risk. In early 2009, the Chicago sextet dropped its most ambitious album to date, “Mantis,” which challenged its audience with progressive arrangements and outré songwriting. The result? A slew of positive reviews (including a Critic’s Choice pick in the New York Times) and thumbs up from the band’s fan base, who made “Mantis” the group’s highest charting album ever. The songs from “Mantis” will make their live debuts on this tour, frontman Brendan Bayliss told me earlier in the year: “We never played any of this stuff live, and we’ve never done that before. But I feel like it’s all gonna be good live. It’s gonna open up. I could be totally wrong, but we’ll find out.” Come July, Umphrey’s trucks through the East Coast and the Midwest, with stops at the High Sierra Music Festival, the All Good Music Festival and the 10,000 Lakes Festival.
Ratdog
Every jam band fanatic knows now the former members of the Grateful Dead staged a wildly successful spring tour as the Dead. But now that the four surviving original members have gone their own ways, only tireless singer and rhythm guitarist Bob Weir will gig regularly this summer. Weir will play with his longtime band Ratdog, which will hit the East Coast in July and the West Coast in August and September. When I caught Ratdog in 2005 — a day before the 10th anniversary of Jerry Garcia’s death — the band played a moving set of originals, country covers and surprise Grateful Dead songs that had the capacity crowd in a frenzy. Excitement should be high again, thanks to the attention generated by the Dead tour, and the fact that Ratdog is a genuinely great live band.
Dave Matthews Band
It’s almost taken for granted these days how this band’s onstage forays into jazzy jamdom were once considered verboten for a commercial act. Credit Matthews and company for being able to blend both the pop and progressive sides of music and rolling it all into a pretty impressive career. That career received a near-fatal blow last year when saxophonist LeRoi Moore died after an ATV accident. But the band pushed ahead, finishing a new album, “Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King,” and recruiting new hornman Jeff Coffin. The first gig of their current tour got an ecstatic review in Entertainment Weekly, so the band seems to be rejuvenated, not dissipated. They’re also known for hosting a terrific array of opening acts, and this year they’ll be accompanied by Jason Mraz, Switchfoot, the Yonder Mountain String Band and G. Love and Special Sauce among others.
Keller Williams/Dark Star Orchestra
Keller Williams makes so-so records because his virtuoso guitar playing is far superior to his songwriting. But live, it’s amazing to watch him crank out complicated riffs with ease, then loop various sounds to create his one-man-band sound. And since live jam music is more about conjuring a good groove than crafting a great chorus, his songs actually work better when you’re dancing (or swaying) in a concert hall rather than sitting home listening. The Dark Star Orchestra recreates entire Grateful Dead shows on stage and is the kind of act that wows Deadheads and bewilders (or annoys) non-believers. So when these two artists play a series of shows together in July and August, expect the pairing to go down in jam band history. Williams’ showmanship and the Orchestra’s obsessive attention to musical history should make for a concert experience totally unlike anything else you’ll experience — this summer or any other.
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{"commentId":7397386,"authorDomain":"amwst47"}
This writer either hates Phish or has no clue about "jambands." Fine don't mention them in your article, but to leave them off the list of your survey seems nearly deliberate. Not that I love them so much anymore, they got "old" long ago like most of the listed bands incarnations, but really? really?
{"commentId":7397386,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"amwst47"}
#1 - Mon Jun 1, 2009 3:37 PM EDT{"commentId":7405643,"authorDomain":"solley-b"}
FIRST off, DMB is not a jam band whatsoever. They are the only band that can play a 20 minute song and not improvise. DAVE sucks, unless your a frat guy or a little girl. Phish dominates. Nobody can improvise on their level. So therefore, this poll is defunct.
{"commentId":7405643,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"solley-b"}
{"commentId":7412254,"authorDomain":"dem5000"}
Yeah! WTF? Phish is by far the biggest tour of all of those this year. I mean, there are some awesome bands/shows there that I've seen multiple times but how could they leave out the reunion tour that sold out in like a minute? I figured this article was based around phish when I clicked on it. Maybe because at this point its probably impossible to get tix. Pittsburgh two weeks baby!!!!!!!
{"commentId":7412254,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"dem5000"}
{"commentId":7398408,"authorDomain":"marcoesquandolas"}
uh.......... ever heard of phish?
{"commentId":7398408,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"marcoesquandolas"}
#2 - Mon Jun 1, 2009 4:21 PM EDT{"commentId":7398662,"authorDomain":"chasefuller"}
I just got back from Boston from a weekend of seeing both DMB shows and the lone Phish show. Hopelessly remarkable that the author fails to mention THE band that reigns superior over the ever-changing jam band scene particularly since this is the first summer they've played together since 2005. I am of course referring to Phish. Phish killed it last night, and there is certainly more excitement, buzz, talk, and noise about Phish in the jam band community than any other band (though all bands mentioned are great and fun to experience). I simply cannot get my head around how a person that commits an error of this magnitude even got the job.
{"commentId":7398662,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"chasefuller"}
#3 - Mon Jun 1, 2009 4:31 PM EDT{"commentId":7398664,"authorDomain":"deeds23"}
Where's Phish in this article? They're one of the greatest jam bands of all time and are making a HUGE comeback this summer! Do your research...
{"commentId":7398664,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"deeds23"}
#4 - Mon Jun 1, 2009 4:31 PM EDT{"commentId":7398974,"authorDomain":"unclejohn78"}
I'm the guitarist for the "jamband" Phish and we are not mentioned in this article.
Maybe you haven't heard of us because we've been on a 5 year hiatus and just got back together earlier this year.
Or perhaps it's because we started in 1983 and have only existed as an almighty phenomenon for 26 years.
Just sayin...
{"commentId":7398974,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"unclejohn78"}
- 1 vote
#5 - Mon Jun 1, 2009 4:43 PM EDT{"commentId":7399550,"authorDomain":"surelyfunky"}
i am a music teacher with a wide-open summer schedule, and there is nothing i'd rather do than tour with Phish. luckily, i scored tickets to seven shows. there is no doubt in my mind that this is the jamband of jambands. but what do i know? i only have a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in music.
{"commentId":7399550,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"surelyfunky"}
#6 - Mon Jun 1, 2009 5:09 PM EDT{"commentId":7400098,"authorDomain":"timsn"}
Seriously??? You list 10+ jam bands to be ranked (with Tea Leaf Green even) and you can't seem to muster the cosmic energy to include Phish?
This article, while I commend for hitting into a discussion thread not given much attention by mainstream media, is just stupid. I mean it's like talking about who the best basketball players in the playoffs are and not mentioning LeBron James... like him or not, he's IN the dicsussion.
Phish is headlining two nights at Bonnaroo, playing some 25 shows, all of which soldout instantly, and just played a specatular show at Phenway.... how does a 'writer' write about something and yet be so clueless of the subject.
Cornmeal???? REALLY?!
{"commentId":7400098,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"timsn"}
#7 - Mon Jun 1, 2009 5:38 PM EDT{"commentId":7402044,"authorDomain":"kwcpanic"}
no phish in the article or survey? research much?
{"commentId":7402044,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"kwcpanic"}
#8 - Mon Jun 1, 2009 8:25 PM EDT{"commentId":7405926,"authorDomain":"solley-b"}
DMB is not a jamband. In fact, they are the ONLY band that can play a 20 song and not improvise. Therefore, they are not an actual JAM band
{"commentId":7405926,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"solley-b"}
#9 - Tue Jun 2, 2009 12:05 AM EDT{"commentId":7406251,"authorDomain":"darkhollow"}
Phish is not touring this summer -- their dates end June 21, just before the first day of summer. I think if they were on the road during the summer, they would have warranted a mentionm.
{"commentId":7406251,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"darkhollow"}
#10 - Tue Jun 2, 2009 12:26 AM EDT{"commentId":7409639,"authorDomain":"sand-ryder"}
phish is playing through august and rumors of a pepsi arena 3 day halloween show and a miami new years run continue to twist around, ill see you all there
{"commentId":7409639,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"sand-ryder"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":7406311,"authorDomain":"mkrobinson"}
Phish is touring this summer, even if you want to get cute with technicalities. Unless August isn't summer.
Cornmeal? DMB?
lol.......
{"commentId":7406311,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"mkrobinson"}
#11 - Tue Jun 2, 2009 12:30 AM EDT{"commentId":7406683,"authorDomain":"darkarw"}
Wow.... missed Phish huh?
{"commentId":7406683,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"darkarw"}
#12 - Tue Jun 2, 2009 1:04 AM EDT{"commentId":7406750,"authorDomain":"mfmerrim"}
What a joke. This is why I never read news articles relating to this subject. Any journalist worth his salt would've put the research time to figure out that Phish is the most important jamband to discuss based on ticket sales, venues, etc.
If Tony Sclafani retains his job, then he must have naked pictures of his editor or something. In the days where jounalists are getting canned left and right due to budget restraints, this guy should be at the front of the line for the chopping block.
{"commentId":7406750,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"mfmerrim"}
#13 - Tue Jun 2, 2009 1:11 AM EDT{"commentId":7407470,"authorDomain":"cesarhernandez1987"}
Thank you Phans. I need not say a word.
{"commentId":7407470,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"cesarhernandez1987"}
#14 - Tue Jun 2, 2009 2:38 AM EDT{"commentId":7409265,"authorDomain":"unored5"}
i just got done with this great piece covering the history of jazz.... i left out miles, coltrane, parker, and dizzy though. why bother mentioning the most important ones?? just admit you were handed this story and have no idea about jam bands or you have serious phish hate.
{"commentId":7409265,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"unored5"}
#15 - Tue Jun 2, 2009 8:21 AM EDT{"commentId":7410622,"authorDomain":"cwlandsman"}
I could not sit idly by, even though all my fellow heads have aptly pointed it out, but this guy (or gal?) Tony, is obviously a pair of clown shoes. DMB? Really? Really? Should have been the second clue. The first: MSNBC writing about jam bands. Its a travesty that Phish isn't in the top 2, let alone that it isn't even included in the poll down at the bottom. I'll be laughing my ass off about this article when I'm noodling on the lawn at Alpine Valley.
{"commentId":7410622,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"cwlandsman"}
#16 - Tue Jun 2, 2009 10:01 AM EDT{"commentId":7412756,"authorDomain":"joey-4"}
Check out some clips from the disco biscuits historic show (Bisco Inferno) last saturday at red rocks ampitheatre featuring the Disco Biscuits (2 Sets), Paul Oakenfold, RJD2, Z-Trip, and The New Deal on youtube - search for "The Disco Biscuits" "Red Rocks" and the videos are posted by MindlessCricket
{"commentId":7412756,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"joey-4"}
#17 - Tue Jun 2, 2009 11:50 AM EDT{"commentId":7412827,"authorDomain":"shockadow"}
seriously, what moron wrote this article, SO CLUELESS...no Phish, no article...period.
{"commentId":7412827,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"shockadow"}
#18 - Tue Jun 2, 2009 11:53 AM EDT{"commentId":7412851,"authorDomain":"joey-4"}
also check out discobiscuits.com for upcoming tourdates
{"commentId":7412851,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"joey-4"}
#19 - Tue Jun 2, 2009 11:55 AM EDT{"commentId":7417441,"authorDomain":"goody156"}
they probably left phish off of the vote to give all of the other bands a chance, of course Phish rages supreme. That being said, BISCO FTMFW
{"commentId":7417441,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"goody156"}
#20 - Tue Jun 2, 2009 3:07 PM EDT{"commentId":7418831,"authorDomain":"bvogel4598"}
DMB is not a jam band! Where is Phish? AND WHO IS THE HALF-FAG THAT WROTE THIS ARTICLE???!!
{"commentId":7418831,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"bvogel4598"}
#21 - Tue Jun 2, 2009 4:03 PM EDT{"commentId":7419016,"authorDomain":"howlinatthemoon"}
I guess it goes without mentioning....PHISH reigns supreme. Time to find a writer that actaully knows something about the subject they are writing about. I hate to assault the author but really no mention of Phish?
{"commentId":7419016,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"howlinatthemoon"}
#22 - Tue Jun 2, 2009 4:10 PM EDT{"commentId":7419225,"authorDomain":"chickenshack1985"}
How the hell does WSP only get 7% of votes thus far? And on top of that they don't even get a word written about them in the article...Plus they are touring with ABB this summer and they will be rotating who is the headline band. I bet more ppl will go to the summer tour concerts with the desire to see PANIC (no knock on ABB what-so-ever).
{"commentId":7419225,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"chickenshack1985"}
- 1 vote
#23 - Tue Jun 2, 2009 4:19 PM EDT{"commentId":7419343,"authorDomain":"chickenshack1985"}
Oh yeah by the way...Tea Leaf Green is the shiznit!!! Josh Clark melts my face!!!!
{"commentId":7419343,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"chickenshack1985"}
- 1 vote
#24 - Tue Jun 2, 2009 4:24 PM EDT{"commentId":7423386,"authorDomain":"azother1"}
In no order, WSP, TLG and ABB would be the only bands listed. Phish bytes, and Bisco, might as well see STSBoring. No thanks! I want my jam made with Rock n Blues...
{"commentId":7423386,"threadId":"592769","contentId":"2886055","authorDomain":"azother1"}
- 1 vote
#25 - Tue Jun 2, 2009 7:35 PM EDT{"canLink":false,"threadId":"592769","isPrivate":false}
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