Being a fan and writer/editor of jamband music, the idea of being within 50 yards of my house means that one has to take a few stylistic risks. For example, is the palette prepared for free jazz? Metal Machine Music? Space funk? Heady Ligeti? Old Country? Perhaps, one can clear the area by inserting Phish’s “Tower Jam” from 2003’s IT Festival. Regardless, the meat of the music buffet is often eclectic and filled with a bounty of choices, which somehow all make their way back into that improvised noodle offshoot that became its own genre, JAMBAND music. Ahhh…I see we are back at the beginning.

Tooling away from within 50 yards of said house, with children in the family van, as it were, the radio stations, sans ever-present iPod, and any choice CDs, were dialed-in like some old artifact from the late 20th century. “Yes, I see, the RADIO. How quaint. Let’s tune in, Jeeves, and see what formula abides for all.” So, the dial was turned, and came upon an R&B/dance party station. The young lads—all under the age of 10, 10 being the demarcation zone between music heard at children’s birthday monstrosities and the heavy strands of say Slayer, once that cool teenager down the street turns their warped ears—86ed the dance mix, and screamed, “THAT’S NOT ROCK & ROLL!” Well, then, the dial was turned, and post-alternative, post-grunge, high-energy indie rock arrived out of the speakers shrieking in its whiney wake. Alas, the young lads 86ed the alt rock, and screamed, “THAT’S NOT ROCK & ROLL!” Finally, in the aftermath of young critics raising their collective middle finger to all that is not rock, we came upon an ancient station belching yesteryear’s taciturn outrage with a hearty burst of Bachman-Turner Overdrive. The three lads smiled, leaned forward, and commenced to headbang as if their young lives depended upon BTO, before howling to the Unholy God of Loudness: “ THAT’S ROCK & ROLL!” Meanwhile, one shrank either out of horror or amazement.

And, yes, those lads should depend on rock and roll because IT depends on THEM. Which brings up the interesting question—as I once pondered the definition of jazz, then improvisation, and, of course, inevitably, jamband music—what IS rock & roll? Hmmm…dear readers—good question—what it is, man?