Clip: A guide to Jam Bands Sun, 21 May 2000 17:38:47 -0700 ALMOST DEAD -- JAM BANDS AT A GLANCE Sunday, May 21, 2000 ©2000 San Francisco Chronicle URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000 /05/21/PK6771.DTL&type=music ALMOST DEAD -- JAM BANDS AT A GLANCE With the death of Jerry Garcia in 1995, the Grateful Dead has passed the mantle of improvisational music to a new wave of jam bands. Different as they can be, these groups share an omnivorous interest in musical styles, a ``feed your head'' mentality and a willingness to let fans tape their live shows. The H.O.R.D.E. tour (the jam- band answer to Lollapalooza) helped develop a mutually supportive community across the country. Now each region has its own reigning jam band -- the Slip, Deep Banana Blackout, the Zen Tricksters, the Steve Kimock Band. The scene has gone establishment, too: On July 22, Web magazine JamBands.com will host the first Jammy Awards at New York's Irving Plaza. Highlights will include tributes to Hall of Fame jam bands -- including, of course, the Grateful Dead. Some of the leading jam bands: . PHISH Playing in the Band (Who Are They?): One of the biggest-grossing acts in pop; have their own Ben & Jerry's flavor, too (``Phish Food'') The Music Never Stopped (How Jammy?): Midnight-til-dawn millennial New Year's Eve party in Florida Unbroken Chain (Six Degrees (or Less) of the Grateful Dead): Members Anastasio and McConnell part of first Phil Lesh & Friends comeback gig When Push Comes to Shove (The Verdict): Widest-ranging of the jam bands; can be the goofiest, too moe. Playing in the Band (Who Are They?): Formed 1990, Buffalo, N.Y. The Music Never Stopped (How Jammy?): Most songs on new live set ``L'' more than 10 minutes long Unbroken Chain (Six Degrees (or Less) of the Grateful Dead): Jammed with Bob Weir on 1997 Furthur Festival When Push Comes to Shove (The Verdict): Most calypso-oriented of the bunch GOV'T MULE Playing in the Band (Who Are They?): Began as side project of '90s Allman Brothers comeback The Music Never Stopped (How Jammy?): Coltrane-ish ``Afro- Blue'': half an hour Unbroken Chain (Six Degrees (or Less) of the Grateful Dead): Guitarist Warren Haynes has played with Lesh When Push Comes to Shove (The Verdict): Classic-rocking-est of the jam bands? GALACTIC Playing in the Band (Who Are They?): New Orleans funkateers The Music Never Stopped (How Jammy?): Regular rave-style all- nighters; one planned for Mountain Aire fest Unbroken Chain (Six Degrees (or Less) of the Grateful Dead): Drummer Stanton Moore records with Charlie Hunter, whose former sax player Dave Ellis was in Ratdog When Push Comes to Shove (The Verdict): Smooth, not crunchy; a jam band in spirit, mainly STRING CHEESE INCIDENT Playing in the Band (Who Are They?): ``Electrograss'' outfit from Boulder, Colo. The Music Never Stopped (How Jammy?): Nightly ``Drum Jam'' Unbroken Chain (Six Degrees (or Less) of the Grateful Dead): Dead sidekicks Vince Welnick, Merl Saunders have guested When Push Comes to Shove (The Verdict): Long on spunk, as the name suggests DAVE MATTHEWS BAND Playing in the Band (Who Are They?): A jam band graduate? huge sales, huge celebrity The Music Never Stopped (How Jammy?): Even potential singles are 7 minutes long Unbroken Chain (Six Degrees (or Less) of the Grateful Dead): Opened for the Dead in Vegas in May 1995 When Push Comes to Shove (The Verdict): Epitomizes the commercial potential of the grassroots scene LEFTOVER SALMON Playing in the Band (Who Are They?): ``Polyethnic Cajun slamgrass'' from Colorado The Music Never Stopped (How Jammy?): Last year's High Sierra fest: Vince Herman serenaded campers til dawn Unbroken Chain (Six Degrees (or Less) of the Grateful Dead): Dead associate Pete Sears plays piano part-time When Push Comes to Shove (The Verdict): Self-described: ``Not for people that take themselves, music or the world in general too seriously'' WIDESPREAD PANIC Playing in the Band (Who Are They?): Southern boogie from Athens, Ga. The Music Never Stopped (How Jammy?): New live album, ``Another Joyous Occasion,'' is an hourlong jam Unbroken Chain (Six Degrees (or Less) of the Grateful Dead): Playing July 15 in Milwaukee with Lesh and Bob Dylan When Push Comes to Shove (The Verdict): Often compared to the Allmans, for simplicity's sake BLUES TRAVELER Playing in the Band (Who Are They?): Frontman John Popper founded H.O.R.D.E. The Music Never Stopped (How Jammy?): Early shows with Spin Doctors: seamless segues from one band's set to the next Unbroken Chain (Six Degrees (or Less) of the Grateful Dead): Close ties with the Bill Graham empire When Push Comes to Shove (The Verdict): Getting back in gear after death of bassist Bobby Sheehan ekoostik hookah Playing in the Band (Who Are They?): Ohio hippie band The Music Never Stopped (How Jammy?): Annual summer Hookahville festivals stretch over Memorial, Labor Day weekends Unbroken Chain (Six Degrees (or Less) of the Grateful Dead): Weir's Ratdog has played Hookahville When Push Comes to Shove (The Verdict): Good example of a regional favorite gone global through word of mouth