Being of the "hippie" generation, I have been hard pressed to find much music being made these days that interests me. Most of the bands I see on the late shows seem to only want to holler and make weird noises on their instruments, which too few seem to know how to really play. The radio offers little other than the same playlists day after day after day.

I am mostly a blues and jam-band fan, listening mostly to the likes of The Grateful Dead (and the Jerry Garcia Band), Allman Brothers and The String Cheese Incident.

Anyone have any suggestions for some good new music that offers more than screaming and one or two chord guitar players?

string cheese incident? haha

string cheese incident? haha

Go to Amazon or any of the other used cd sites, and grab a copy of "Carnival '99", a nice 2-disc live set that shows their range. They are all over the place in terms of what they play, and the way they approach different styles; you will hear bluegrass to jazz to rock all being interwoven through any given performance. They are one of the top jam bands, IMO.

They don't play the nice little 2.5 - 3 minute radio friendly stuff, which is why so many never heard of them.

There's a good blues/rock band I found recently when they opened for a band I like. Check out Five Horse Johnson Byl. Tell me what you think, they have some stuff on itunes if you like. They are pretty hard to find. They also have a myspace page with 4 songs on it. myspace.com/fhj

Oh and my I've really gotten my Dad into Clutch (which is the band I saw FHJ open for). Their music is definately blues rock, but their lead singer tends to yell a bit more. They have a new cd out, and the single Electric Worry off of it is an excellant song (it's actually my two year old's favorite song right now).

Who needs new music? Bob Weir is still touring.

You have probably heard of them, but you didn't mention them. Tends to be a band people who like the 'jam band' stuff either love or hate: Widespread Panic. Raspy vocals seem to either turn people off or on, go figure.

Other interesting performers I've seen of late. Umphree's McGhee, Keller Williams, Yonder Mountain String Band. A lot of friends tell me I need to listen to Railroad Earth, but I haven't had the time yet.

Thanks guys. Will check out those that I have not heard. :)

Checkout a band called Silllife. They are fantastic. I got one of their songs on myspace page. :p

:devil

Long live the Dead. Nothing like camping out at Alpine Valley for a 3 day show...or Red Rocks.

Finally had a chance to check out a couple cd's of Five Horse Johnson. They are a decent enough band, although they lose a lot of the bluesy-ness of their tunes by playing them "too hard".

I give 'em a 65; carry some nice beats, and can dance to the music. :p



I wish John Mayer wasn't such a smarmy, unlikeable little shit; he sure can write and play some great music.