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In the larger cities of Texas, we have blues jams. It's the easiest music for a wide diversity of musicians to "jam" together on. There were times in Dallas when you could find a decent blues jam in various clubs around the city from Sunday through Thursday.

I used to think the rest of the world was like that?



So answer the poll and do some 'splaining, Ricky.

yod wrote:In the larger cities of Texas, we have blues jams. It's the easiest music for a wide diversity of musicians to "jam" together on. There were times in Dallas when you could find a decent blues jam in various clubs around the city from Sunday through Thursday.

I used to think the rest of the world was like that?

Actually, we used to have one club in town, called the the "Sunset Inn" (was a motel Bar) , that guaranteed nightly Blues and Jazz. They were some pretty awesome bands, usually from out of town. Some were local as well. The joint was run by nafarius hucksters and the motel was literally a roach motel... But they had the best Two for one happy hours... and the Bar/Stage was legit. On occasion, you might see a couple of hot professional ladies frequenting that place. Just a few years ago, the building got condemned and the city demolished it... SO, now, the acts don't come through as much.

PaperDog wrote:. SO, now, the acts don't come through as much.

I was talking about a place where random musicians gathered and jammed together in a "live" situation.

We have a very active blues thing going on here in the Eastern Panhandle of WV.

Every year there's the Blue Heron Blues Festival, & we have a few ppl who run blues jams around the area. Most notably, there's a guy named Dennis, who has a lil organization he calls BluesGate Jams. He has a whole network of ppl that he sets up with open mics & such. He has a FB page. Great guy. Good bass player, too. There's a jam almost every night of the week, in a 35-mile radius.

yod wrote:

PaperDog wrote:. SO, now, the acts don't come through as much.

I was talking about a place where random musicians gathered and jammed together in a "live" situation.

In That Case... I don't think we have it here. If there is a place, its being kept under a hat

There are still a few places, but if you're really worth your salt, you'd stay away. In fact, many of these places pushed all the good musicians away with their petty bickerings and egos, especially when they can't play that well. Then many of the clubs turned themselves into sports bars with multiple big screen tvs and overly loud jukebox music. Sad.

Chaeya

We are a small town but the business is beginning to come back to downtown area. Much has been remodeled. We have Musicians whom play downtown most very weekend " Under the Derrick's "

There are quite a few reconstructed ( and some restored original ) standard oil derricks downtown in the historical districts " world richest acre" as they bill it. Quite the attraction for people whom unlike myself have never spent a hundred degree summer pulling tubing under one of those 80 foot monsters.

Some of the stuffed shirt fuddyduddy old money must finally be dead.
Good to see down town coming back to life.

Blues jams are where a lot of bands began in the Dallas area. For as far back as I can remember, Texas musicians would meet for brews and jamming on the off-nights at some dive bar.

This promoted a sense of comraderie on the other nights of the week also. It isn't unusual to see people go up to "sit in" with the band for a few songs on any occasion.

I've been party to a lot of cool jam sessions like that. A band I had in the 80s used to do a weekly gig on Greenville Avenue (Dallas) and Chuck Rainey (Steely Dan, Quincy Jones, and Aretha Franklin) was a regular visitor that would jam with us.

In Beaumont TX, there was only one live music rock bar so (almost) every band touring through would come out to jam. My favorite one was when Gary Richrath (spelling?) of REO Speedwagon got his guitar-playing-ass kicked onstage by a local hero named Scott McGill. REO Speedwagon then came out with Scott McGill's version of Johnny B Goode on their next album, a live concert recording.

So anyway, like I said, I thought the whole world was like that....


Are there really no other cities outside of Texas, West Virginia, and LA where musicians gather to jam live???

Many places to jam here, blues and other styles. I myself hosted an open mic for seven years where I also put two bands together. But I rarely go to them these days unless I want to try out some new material on someone. Most of the blues jams are fifty-something dudes who have enough money to buy 57 Les Pauls but ain't that great of players.

Many places, but it's pretty much the same guys who show up all the time. Most are not very good, but they are VERY LOUD and want to stay on the bandstand all night.

Why are some of the worst musicians the ones that want to get up all the time?

jimmydanger wrote:Many places to jam here, blues and other styles. I myself hosted an open mic for seven years where I also put two bands together. But I rarely go to them these days unless I want to try out some new material on someone. Most of the blues jams are fifty-something dudes who have enough money to buy 57 Les Pauls but ain't that great of players.

Similar situation in Kansas City. Jams all over town. I seldom if ever go to them. Mainly mediocre musicians involved. Even some of the host bands are lame. Also some of the host bands do it FOR FREE. Don't get me started on playing for free when the venue is MAKING A PROFIT. I've never been crazy about jams. I hosted one for about four months. The same ten people showed up EVERY week playing the same ten lame tunes EVERY week. B-O-R-I-N-G...

Last weekend I learned a good lesson that I put into practice yesterday.

From audience stand point there is not much worse than the never ending sound check.
I was like ... damn man, that MIC works already sesh.

The band sounded good, BOARDERLINE was the name of the group.
I listened for a while, the drummer also did the lead vox which was interesting.
It had been a long hot day, being tired when they went into Mustang Sally I had to walk.

Sunday afternoon after load-out, I was sitting visiting with Floyd and Tony and learned that Floyd ( Eric Davis ) was their bassist for eight years.

Slacker G wrote:Many places, but it's pretty much the same guys who show up all the time. Most are not very good, but they are VERY LOUD and want to stay on the bandstand all night.

Why are some of the worst musicians the ones that want to get up all the time?

LOL! Since they don't get paid, they're probably doing it for the free salad.

From my perspective, its probably the free salad and the fact that I need some sort of environment that supports the routine of stage, & performance.

When I was younger, I used to sneak in to the local church after school to play and pound on their piano...(My family was always broke, so the folks could never afford anything , let alone a piano) I finally got thrown out by the reverend... For me there was no other place for me to go... So I now I take out all my anger and vengeance on people who host jam sessions... hee hee!

Hello all! Many places in Chicago for Blues jams. In fact, many places for all types of music. Rosa's Lounge for Blues, Quencher's Saloon for Jazz, The Mutiny for Metal/Punk, Schuba's and Martyr's for Fusion. All have set dates for the open jams and the venues provide all back-line equipment. The best periodical to find the schedules is the Chicago Reader Newspaper. Let me know if you are in town and I can arrange a night for your band. Be ready for who takes the stage with you.... Ive seen some big names come out of the crowd without warning.

How's it hangin J

Long time no see.