DMB Losing the Jam-Band Edge?

[i am sam2]

i see..compared to some of the mainstream music out there, i've always considered DMB to be .. "jam-ish".

absolutely

[mrjones]

I think its a misconception of the difference between what makes a jam band and "jamming" on a song for 10 minutes.

To clarify, how I've always kept them separated, a jam band will start with a set song but totally take it in a different direction in improvisation. Key changes, time changes, soloing, whatever you want to include to the point where the original song only acts as a foundation and the rest a total departure with an occasional return to the original piece. Phish was excellent at this even on studio albums (i.e. "Run Like An Antelope" on Lawnboy) where I feel that's hard to accomplish in the time alloted.

DMB on the other hand in terms of "jamming" typically only have extended solos or series of solos in each song. While Boyd can take LIOG to different heights with his violin solo, Carter can drum solo on Hello Again, or Leroi on the end of #41 the songs (chord progession, timing, etc) typically remains the seem underneath. DMB does a great job of varying sections of songs they tend to "jam" (solo) but its rarely a dramatic departure and it's more on a year to year basis than night to night. Free soloing everynight always allows for a bit of improvisation but this alone should not constitute them as a jam band.

This make sense to anyone?

thats the best argument i heard in ahwile. totally changed my opinion

[czech]

havent read the whole thread, but i have never and would never consider DMB a jam band.

[jsgksu]

I think its a misconception of the difference between what makes a jam band and "jamming" on a song for 10 minutes.

To clarify, how I've always kept them separated, a jam band will start with a set song but totally take it in a different direction in improvisation. Key changes, time changes, soloing, whatever you want to include to the point where the original song only acts as a foundation and the rest a total departure with an occasional return to the original piece. Phish was excellent at this even on studio albums (i.e. "Run Like An Antelope" on Lawnboy) where I feel that's hard to accomplish in the time alloted.

DMB on the other hand in terms of "jamming" typically only have extended solos or series of solos in each song. While Boyd can take LIOG to different heights with his violin solo, Carter can drum solo on Hello Again, or Leroi on the end of #41 the songs (chord progession, timing, etc) typically remains the seem underneath. DMB does a great job of varying sections of songs they tend to "jam" (solo) but its rarely a dramatic departure and it's more on a year to year basis than night to night. Free soloing everynight always allows for a bit of improvisation but this alone should not constitute them as a jam band.

This make sense to anyone?

thats the best argument i heard in ahwile. totally changed my opinion

makes sense to me

[czech]

I think its a misconception of the difference between what makes a jam band and "jamming" on a song for 10 minutes.

To clarify, how I've always kept them separated, a jam band will start with a set song but totally take it in a different direction in improvisation. Key changes, time changes, soloing, whatever you want to include to the point where the original song only acts as a foundation and the rest a total departure with an occasional return to the original piece. Phish was excellent at this even on studio albums (i.e. "Run Like An Antelope" on Lawnboy) where I feel that's hard to accomplish in the time alloted.

DMB on the other hand in terms of "jamming" typically only have extended solos or series of solos in each song. While Boyd can take LIOG to different heights with his violin solo, Carter can drum solo on Hello Again, or Leroi on the end of #41 the songs (chord progession, timing, etc) typically remains the seem underneath. DMB does a great job of varying sections of songs they tend to "jam" (solo) but its rarely a dramatic departure and it's more on a year to year basis than night to night. Free soloing everynight always allows for a bit of improvisation but this alone should not constitute them as a jam band.

This make sense to anyone?

thats the best argument i heard in ahwile. totally changed my opinion

makes sense to me

this is what I was refering to in my post. I once refered to DMB as a jam band to my friend's dad who is an unbelievable drummer and a huge dead fan. He lectured me forever on that one and he was completely right.