Today I am talking with Jack Moffit, Lafayette Senior, musician, and fan of the jam band scene. So, Jack to start of with, what jam bands do you like?

Phish is the biggest band for me, with the most diverse sound. String Cheese Incident. Lotus, which is kinda electronic. Grateful Dead of course, and the Allman Brothers. Some people consider Pearl Jam a jam band, but I don’t.

What draws you to these bands?

It is hard to pindown a stereotype on this scene. The music is like a blank sheet of paper on which to write. It is very open, flowing music, with a lot of virtuosity. It is like a playground, designed to showcase the musicians. The vibe is kind of exotic, which is cool, and it is also very unique.

Do you often go to concerts?

I Listen to the music a lot but I don’t go to the concerts. I should go to them though, it is something I have been meaning to do.

Do you listen to live shows or studio albums more often?

I listens to records more often, but I do like a lot of shows. Certain songs work better live, it just depends on the song. Something like “Julius” from Phish’s album Hoist, I like that album a lot, they can’t quite get the same feeling live as they do on record. However, “Slave to the Traffic Light” works much better live.

What makes a jam band to you?

Heavy amounts of improvisation, with loose structure to the songs. The lyrical themes are not  that complex and the words are simple. Everyone in the band is a usually a virtuoso on their instrument. The players talk to each other through the music when they are performing. It is exciting cause they don’t know what is going to happen on stage.

Do you consider Primus a jam band?

Primus is a jam band, they don’t seem like it on record but they are.

You talked about stereotypes, isn’t there a hippy vibe stereotype?

Yeah, it is loose, casual music.  They are just going to make something up, so you don’t know exactly what is going to happen. The concerts and festivals are kinda like communities. A lot of drugs too. (laughs)

How did you get into the scene?

I went to a sleep away camp in Vermont. A lot of the guys played the music there and Phish had a pretty big presence. So, when I got older Phish was a band I downloaded on the Internet, and as I got more into playing they were what I played.

Yeah, It really isn’t a mainstream type of music.

I didn’t know that until I got older.

Would you like to see it go mainstream?

I would like to see it get mainstream. If it good it should be mainstream. I am not one of those people that thinks something is ruined if a lot of people are enjoying it.

Do you feel that concerts and this type of music brings people together?

It is a communal experience. Phish is about being happy and being open, The music caters to that. People want to be associated with the culture not just the music.

Does your background as a musician help you appreciate the music?

Yeah, definitely. Some people say “Oh, it is just elevator music,” and I go “no, listen to what they are doing musically.”

Do you know a lot of people into the jam band scene?

It is mostly guys who play. That really tells you something doesn’t it? Or, it is people who are into outdoors hippiesh culture. A lot of people just have no idea what I am talking about.

If you wanted one thing for people to take away from the music what would it be?

It is a universal, positive message, but that is a little simplistic. The way I look at is Phish is the best at this type of music. Their music isn’t dead, you can still innovate and create new songs with the traditional instruments. It is more exciting when it is people up there making the music, rather than someone with a computer. It also makes it a much bigger deal when I don’t know what’s coming.

Is there anything else about the subject you want to say?

Yeah, it is a good way to learn an instrument, because it is very much based on improvised.

Thanks for talking to me today Jack.