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Making Magic at the Melkweg! A SoundPress.net Feature Article by Rich and Laura Lynch The first annual Jam in the Dam was held March 2005 at the legendary Melkweg Club in Amsterdam, Holland. Jam in the Dam was an effort to export the American jam band scene to Europe, and as you might expect, a large percentage of the fans at the Melkweg were Americans who had followed their favorite bands to this special event.
 The two-disc DVD set features Umphrey's McGee, Keller Williams, The Disco Biscuits and Particle playing sets that lasted from thirty to fifty minutes each. Besides three hours of excellent music, the DVD set includes interviews with all of the artists reflecting on their music, the jam band scene and their impressions of Amsterdam. For most of the artists it was their first time in Europe and all were enjoying the exposure to a different culture. It was a great gig, allowing each group to play to new audiences with opportunities for the bands and their fans to interact in an intimate setting. Jam in the Dam was expertly shot and edited by Lawrence Shapiro. The DVDs captured the magic at the Melkweg along with bonus slideshows and a special "coffee shop" featurette. Jam in the Dam is also cutting edge with its interactive options of playing the whole film or choosing music or individual songs only. The DVDs are well organized with a good mix of music and interviews along with just the right amount of screen splits during jams. Camera angles were fantastic, focusing on each band member with close ups on the instruments for viewers to observe techniques. Disc one opens with clips of the city of Amsterdam and comments from the bands and their fans about coming together for the show. Umphrey's McGee, who formed in 1997 at the University of Notre Dame, opened their set with rapid-fire rhythms. They have two drummers, one playing the traditional kit and the other handling various skins and percussion. 'Believe the Lie' had the edge of a punk song but stayed true to the jam band format. The chord structures were repetitive with each player building on what another had started. Throughout the groove were keyboard effects and duplicating leads progressing in the jam. In an interview, Umphrey's McGee explained that their music is like building blocks, sort of like legos. They mentioned a serious Zappa mentality and the music coming full circle. 'Hurt Bird Bath' started off in the low ranges that are often associated with metal music but soon moving up the scale into a horse trot rhythm. Musical legos were added before circling back to the darker metal chords than building up to a higher, faster tempo with the keys in the lead. 'Uncle Wally' and 'JaJunk' were more whimsical jams but still featured their signature chord progressions that intricately grow on one another. The band is tight but sometimes a few subtle glances are needed to confirm the direction of the groove. Overall, an impressive set for the inventive Umphrey's McGee. Particle has gained a reputation for their unique blend of trance, dance and groove. Their set on disc one featured many up-tempo, mesmerizing jams. 'King Hassan' was edgy and haunting yet exploding with energy. Some of the instruments were played through effect boxes adding to the mystery of the song, which had gone through a number of mood and tempo changes. 'Ed and Molly' was a rhythm heavy tune with the guitar adding accents. The song continued to expand on rich textures and tones with the keys adding to the allure. The song moved into a spooky section before the close. Particle talked about going to the Van Gogh museum and compared painters to musicians, referring to their music as a canvas and elaborating on the creative process. Particle's music is colorful – 'Zia' and 'Mind Over Matter' were versatile and vibrant. Both jams came to life in free flowing formats across an experimental canvas. Their set culminated with a stellar piano solo by Steve Molitz. Disc two also opens with a comment section before switching to the Melkweg with solo artist Keller Williams on stage with quite a few instruments and equipment. Keller starts off on the acoustic guitar with furious fretwork and fast paced storytelling. The next phase of his song, Williams adds a vocal loop and a bass line, then he jumps over to the electric guitar for a jam. Keller closes 'Play This' by switching off the other instruments and strumming the acoustic. During his interview, Keller mentioned that he plays to entertain himself and folks seem to like it. Williams was lucky enough to open for others (String Cheese Incident) and since he could not afford a band he created his one-man show using soundboards, synthesizer pick-ups and other instruments. 'Stupid Questions' featured crisp chords from the acoustic, witty reflections and more multifaceted layering. 'Dance of the Freek > Freeker by the Speaker' started with Keller tapping out various rhythms on a drum pad. He added a funky bass line to the looping drums. Williams inserted an electric guitar lead with an unusual tone to the mix. Moving to the theremin he crafted a squeaky electronic sound. Keller returns to the guitar to sing and chant, building more loops before slowing the whole piece down to focus on the acoustic and whistling. 'Breathe' was the last song of the set, exploring a maze of layering, vocal techniques along with percussion and island sound effect through the bass guitar. It is entertaining just to watch Keller manipulate all his equipment to craft songs that were interesting and innovative. The Disco Biscuits have been together over a decade and are well respected in the jam band scene. The Biscuits opened their set with the animated 'Jigsaw Earth'. The song ebbed and flowed with varied tempos and tones with the jams building on the momentum of each instrument. 'Aceetobee' had an up-tempo funky groove with harmonizing vocals. The song had a rich thick sound oozing with tight musical interactions as players would form a chord structure and the others would pick it up and add to it. The Disco Biscuits talked about their music blending elements of trance with rock, exploring different paths and chaos. They believe that side projects are good breaks for band members and often results in improvements within the group. Joel and Brendan from Umphrey's McGee joined The Disco Biscuits for 'Home Again' – a flavorful, musical gumbo. The rhythms were spicy as subtle guitars thickened the mix. Savory keys along with some chunky bass lines pulled it altogether ending the set and the weekend on a high note. The first annual Jam in the Dam was a success bringing together diverse bands in a classic venue and exposing each to new fans. The DVDs featuring Umphrey's McGee, Keller Williams, The Disco Biscuits and Particle truly captures the enthusiasm and energy of the jams and goes beyond with the bonus features. The magic of Melkweg lives on through Jam in the Dam! Related Links: For more information on Jam In The Dam and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links -- JamInTheDam.com | Buy 2005 DVD
(Originally Published on April 18, 2006) |
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