Jamband Book Update!

My first thought of writing a book on the history of jambands from the Grateful Dead to today was when I wrote my undergraduate religion thesis on the traveling, music-and-alternate realities-loving culture of the Dead, Phish, and early '90s raves.  Then, over the next few years of my life, there were way too many moments when I was at a show, traveling to a show, or coming home from a show when I said to myself, "Somebody has to write this shit down!” After the drugs started to wear off, I realized…that person is me.

The Dead at the Forum - Inglewood, CA - May 9, 2009

So, I set to it.  I wanted to cover the jamband scene, where I cut my teeth, but I wanted to go back and honor the roots of the scene: early Grateful Dead tour.  I sent word out through many different avenues, in person and on the Internet, calling for tour stories from the Acid Tests in the mid-'60s to today's festival scene.  I spent countless hours with recorder and notepad on the phone, on people’s couches, and under shady canopies at festivals across the country (not to mention the time it took to transcribe all those interviews)!  People have told me and sent me their stories, pictures, and other crazy memorabilia, and I have culled a history of the jamband movement for the past 40+ years.

A menu from a lot food vendor, Split Open and Melt 

photo by Jake Cohen

So many of you responded—over 250, in fact!  I have interviewed people from all ages, from all parts of the country.  Many musicians have also been interviewed:

Steve Kimock

         Charlie Hunter

            Tony Mason (Charlie Hunter Trio)

            Erik Deutsch (Fat Mama, Charlie Hunter Trio)

            Jake Cinninger and Ryan Stasik (Umphrey's McGee)

            David Murphy (Sound Tribe Sector 9)

            Jackie Greene (Phil Lesh and Friends)

            Jen Durkin (Deep Banana Blackout, Mickey Hart's Rhythm Devils)

            Samantha Stollenwerck

            Ronnie Penque (New Riders of the Purple Sage)

  Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones)

Conscious Alliance's Vision Statement

Conscious Alliance runs food drives at concerts for donations to Native American groups

I’ve also spoken with Wavy Gravy and others who were instrumental in the planning of Woodstock and some of the early festivals in the ’60s, people who were at Watkins Glen, the last Dead show at Soldier’s Field in Chicago, and the memorial to Jerry Garcia in Golden Gate Park.  I have stories from people who were at the first Furthur Festivals, the Phil and Phriends debut, every year of Jam Cruise, the last Cheese tour, and the Phish reunion in Hampton.  Also represented are the organizers of the activism groups HeadCount and Conscious Alliance, Phish’s philanthropic organization the Waterwheel Foundation, founder of the Deaf Zone, members of Wharf Rats and the Phellowship, compiler of the Widespread Panic Everyday Companion, director of the documentary Dreadheads, an owner of the Wetlands in NYC, and editors, writers, and publishers of Relix magazine and JamBase.

Ratdog/Gov't Mule setlist - Greek Theatre, Los Angeles - June 29, 2008

I’m trying to represent as broad a spectrum as possible while remaining true to the major events in the scene’s history…obviously I’m going to have to leave a lot out, but what does go in should represent the heart of the jamband movement: good music, love, friendship, kindness, and a shitload of fun!

Steve Kimock and Friends at the NorVa in VA - March 7 & 8, 2009

The shows were planned by Passion Presents as aftershows for the Phish reunion at Hampton

 

Stay tuned for more reports from the field....

J J