Jam in the ‘Dam 2006 vs. 2007 Thoughts

Memories.

The dudes behind the annual Jam in the ‘Dam festival have just posted a video capsule showing some highlights from the 2006 fest. Man, this took me back. The fact that I went with a music festival in Amsterdam as the anchor for a two-week run through Europe seems pretty intelligent in hindsight. It was a great spot to end the trip on. It was my four favorite bands playing in a small club in Amsterdam. It was a no-brainer, as I like to say…

For everyone else’s sake, I wish the lineup for the 2007 festival was as strong as the 2006 lineup. To be 100%, completely honest here — it just isn’t. The main anchor of this year’s festival is actually Dark Star Orchestra, a band that uses the songs and setlists of the Grateful Dead as the music that they play live. Do they write originals? Maybe…but they certainly don’t play them. They cover the Grateful Dead.

Said another way…THEY ARE A GRATEFUL DEAD COVER BAND.

They’re up there as one of the most unexciting things happening in music these days if you ask me. And I’ve never actually even listened to them. Talk about blissfully ignorant, huh?

Rounding out the lineup, you’ve got Keller Williams — who’s played Jam in the ‘Dam before and still continues to do the same if-you’ve-seen-it-once guitar and electronic looping — Galactic — who’s NOLA funk got excluded from last year’s fest after being originally announced — and Yonder Mountain String Band — the newgrass jamband that seemingly doesn’t fully mix well with the rest of the lineup (except for Keller’s forays into the bluegrass realm).

Am I missing something here?

I feel close to this festival — I feel invested — and I feel that we had this great festival that was pushing the limits and they’ve gone and taken a giant-ass 25-year step backwards. I feel that there are plenty of jamband fans that are willing to move on PAST the Grateful Dead as opposed to constantly living with their memories of “better times” when Jerry was alive and whatnot. Do we really need another festival dedicated to *his* memory? Is this homage-worthy or not? I’m curious as to your thoughts. Drop some knowledge in the comments…

September 22, 2006 | by Justin Ward | Features

About the author

Justin Ward is the Editor at Live Music Blog and has been with the site from the very beginning. He currently lives in San Francisco and regularly tweets other stuff over @justinpward.

He also plays in NVO and sometimes calls himself dudha.us ("dude house"). Follow his projects over at JustinWard.org.

http://www.burningoak.com Kane from BurningOak

“The name’s Johnny Utah!”

…paddling away: “Who cares!”
Adam

I’m with you 100 percent, Justin: middling lineup, polar opposite of last year. I’ve never been to JITD before, but I get the impression that it’s mostly American fans. Perhaps this was a chance to give European heads a taste of noodly American rock and roll. I’ve had my fill of Keller and all things GD. The saturation point has probably not been reached in the land of Kraftwerk and Daft Punk, so maybe this lineup was structured for Euros to pony up and train it in to Amsterdam.
Adam

I’m with you 100 percent, Justin: middling lineup, polar opposite of last year. I’ve never been to JITD before, but I get the impression that it’s mostly American fans. Perhaps this was a chance to give European heads a taste of noodly American rock and roll. I’ve had my fill of Keller and all things GD. The saturation point has probably not been reached in the land of Kraftwerk and Daft Punk, so maybe this lineup was structured for Euros to pony up and train it in to Amsterdam.
Damon Effingham

BB: “As to the comment above, if the decision was economics, in terms of inexpensive bands, then will the ticket price lower?”

I sincerely doubt it. The people who put on this show want to MAKE MONEY. These decisions weren’t made to pass along the savings to the consumer.

CJ: “Saying cover bands are unexciting is one thing, but to call out a band before you’ve ever even seen them seems pretty brash in my opinion.”
So saying a cover band is unexciting is fine, but saying that DSO is is “brash”? I’m unexcited by the prospect of seeing them (I heard about 5 minutes at All Good 2 years ago), I don’t think that’s brash. On a blog that’s already made it’s peace with the fact that the GD are gone and is not too interested in staying transfixed on that era, I don’t think it’s brash at all to say, “I came post-GD, so I’m not all that excited about a GD cover band.”
Damon Effingham

BB: “As to the comment above, if the decision was economics, in terms of inexpensive bands, then will the ticket price lower?”

I sincerely doubt it. The people who put on this show want to MAKE MONEY. These decisions weren’t made to pass along the savings to the consumer.

CJ: “Saying cover bands are unexciting is one thing, but to call out a band before you’ve ever even seen them seems pretty brash in my opinion.”
So saying a cover band is unexciting is fine, but saying that DSO is is “brash”? I’m unexcited by the prospect of seeing them (I heard about 5 minutes at All Good 2 years ago), I don’t think that’s brash. On a blog that’s already made it’s peace with the fact that the GD are gone and is not too interested in staying transfixed on that era, I don’t think it’s brash at all to say, “I came post-GD, so I’m not all that excited about a GD cover band.”
http://jeditang.wordpress.com Tang

OK, I have to admit that if I was seriously considering going. I’m a Yonder kinda guy, and after they got dropped last year, I really want to come out and show some support. But I think Justin’s got it right. Traveling across the globe to see a GD cover band (and they are great) just doesn’t seem like a brilliant economic decision. I’d rather take that money, and that week, catch 4 domestic shows and do some sightseeing right here at home. I would have loved to see some cohesion in the lineup. Keller + Yonder does = Crazy Delicious though. And I can’t help but notice the irony in YMSB being relegated to “2nd tier jam band” while they’re the one act everyone so far has agreed is worth seeing. I’ve yet to see B/R Duo, but I think MMW w/ Scofield or those guys would have been a better choice. As it stands, you won’t see us there.
http://jeditang.wordpress.com Tang

OK, I have to admit that if I was seriously considering going. I’m a Yonder kinda guy, and after they got dropped last year, I really want to come out and show some support. But I think Justin’s got it right. Traveling across the globe to see a GD cover band (and they are great) just doesn’t seem like a brilliant economic decision. I’d rather take that money, and that week, catch 4 domestic shows and do some sightseeing right here at home. I would have loved to see some cohesion in the lineup. Keller + Yonder does = Crazy Delicious though. And I can’t help but notice the irony in YMSB being relegated to “2nd tier jam band” while they’re the one act everyone so far has agreed is worth seeing. I’ve yet to see B/R Duo, but I think MMW w/ Scofield or those guys would have been a better choice. As it stands, you won’t see us there.
http://www.simplehelp.net Ross

To be fair, I consider DSO a tribute band, not a cover band. And though I’ve only seen them once, it was a retardedly good time. I’d go a lot farther than across the street to see them, but like you, not to Amsterdam.

Now, the upcoming Jam Cruise.. holy crap am I drooling over that one…
http://www.simplehelp.net Ross

To be fair, I consider DSO a tribute band, not a cover band. And though I’ve only seen them once, it was a retardedly good time. I’d go a lot farther than across the street to see them, but like you, not to Amsterdam.

Now, the upcoming Jam Cruise.. holy crap am I drooling over that one…
mondo

Honestly, I’m very close to the organizers, and I can tell you unequivocally that money DOES come in to play. Just not in the way you all think. They can only sell 1500 tickets. That only allows bands to take part that WANT to take part. Not just bands (can you say Ratdog?) that only want to be PAID. It’s a HUGE overhead on travel, backline, and accomodations alone, let alone what you pay the bands. They specifically wanted to change up the feel this year. Smart, considering last year didn’t sell out, and they KNOW who’s fans were buying or not. It’s great that people are so passionate about this festival, that’s a good thing in the long run. Remember, the trip to Amsterdam alone, in a reasonably priced time of year, is a great thing. I go every year, even before there was a JitD. Have some faith in these folks, they know what they’re doing.
mondo

Honestly, I’m very close to the organizers, and I can tell you unequivocally that money DOES come in to play. Just not in the way you all think. They can only sell 1500 tickets. That only allows bands to take part that WANT to take part. Not just bands (can you say Ratdog?) that only want to be PAID. It’s a HUGE overhead on travel, backline, and accomodations alone, let alone what you pay the bands. They specifically wanted to change up the feel this year. Smart, considering last year didn’t sell out, and they KNOW who’s fans were buying or not. It’s great that people are so passionate about this festival, that’s a good thing in the long run. Remember, the trip to Amsterdam alone, in a reasonably priced time of year, is a great thing. I go every year, even before there was a JitD. Have some faith in these folks, they know what they’re doing.
Dolemite

Jeez people settle down- go to Barney’s Coffeshop and buy a few grams of “Willie Nelson” roll it, smoke it and it won’t matter if you are listening to Britney Spears you are going to have a good time. Anyway if you are that uptight about a concert then you probably wouldn’t enjoy what Holland or Europe has to offer anyway – just stay in the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Dolemite

Jeez people settle down- go to Barney’s Coffeshop and buy a few grams of “Willie Nelson” roll it, smoke it and it won’t matter if you are listening to Britney Spears you are going to have a good time. Anyway if you are that uptight about a concert then you probably wouldn’t enjoy what Holland or Europe has to offer anyway – just stay in the land of the free and the home of the brave!
http://loan-til-payday-here.blogspot.com/ Jonh

Very nice site! loan til payday
http://loan-til-payday-here.blogspot.com/ Jonh

Very nice site! loan til payday
Brian May

Dolemite- You hit the nail right on the bud. peace-
http://panic1 Brian May

Dolemite- You hit the nail right on the bud. peace-
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kynjan

Are there people usually selling extra tickets during the concerts and if so, do they go cheaper than buying before hand??

- First time Jammer