Tonefiend Forum

Do you ever attend jam sessions at your local pub or when you're out on vacation? Have you ever hosted these types of events (which provide some of us with real meat and potatoes steady gigs)? With all the potential for divinity but often veering dangerously close to the profane, the jam session has been both a music school and a steady gig for me, as well as hooking me up with some truly talented musicians who I would go on to work with.

I did a posting on my blog about the etiquette involved which you may find of interest: https://inspireformation.blogspot.ca/2013/02/a-little-heads-up-for-jammers.html

We used to allow most anyone on stage with us when we played out as The Dits in the early 2000s at least once a month. We had 2 provisos one was no one played their primary instrument,and that you had to use FX you we're not used to like ring modulator or extreme echo etc. but we were looking more for live mayhem rather than melodic bliss. The instruments for walk ons included a bridge less guitar, cheap cello, drums set, keys, percussion, found objects mostly chosen to be impossible to play tunefully. The members of trio then sort of navigated and sewed the noise into our improvisation. Honestly tho' most of the people showing up were part of music circle we played in so it was less of a crap shoot than you might think.

We do some great textures no doubt about it. Scott is the original member of the band, I've been playing with him for 15 years and we have developed a real level of intuitive musical communication. I have to say it is the most fun I have ever had playing any type music.