PS – You’re a douche bag.

First of all, Wiff or JTrain or whatever your name is, you begin by saying *you’re* going to define what a jam band is and then go on to base you’re entire
“article” (aren’t you being a bit generous with that word, Tomforth?) on Wikapedia’s definition “world’s most accurate website?” “Gospel?” You’re all being facetious, right?).

Trying to categorize/define/judge a band by it’s audience is thoroughly ignorant. Based on the looks of many who were at the Jethro Tull and Who shows I saw earlier this year, I guess I would have to label those two bands Adult Contemporary. I consider Bela Fleck & the Flecktones to be a jam band, but I guess since their audience does not fit the mold, you wouldn’t consider them to be, right?

Jam music demands one quality that I can tell none of you people have – patience (and this is coming from someone who suffers from ADD!). I have to ask you J, do you like the portions of Wilco’s shows that are “jammy?” If the answer is no, then fine – you’re the type who would rather here a song played note for note as on the album; close-minded, but if that’s what you like, that’s what you like. If the answer is yes, well then do you know why that is? Because you know the damn songs that those jams are constructed around! When you know the song well, the jam has a context as opposed to the aimless wondering that I’m sure you view it as (except with Wilco’s jams, of course!). The awesome “Divided Sky” you provided above is a perfect example. Most of the sections of that “16 minute jam” as you call it – at least two thirds of the song (that’s right – song!) – are easily recognizable from the studio version. But how would you and Prof. Oblivious know that?

George – none of the musicians “have to be that talented?” How clueless are you? It takes significantly more skill to play (well) than the Wilco Song above. Am I saying it’s a bad song? No. But any musician will tell you it’s extremely easier to play than the Phish song above it.

Now I feel better – regardless of whether this sees the light of day or not.

According to me.

Lameness is extremely subjective.

I don’t know if Wilco is lame or not. I’ve never even heard them. Grateful Dead and Phish got me through my early 20s jam band phase just fine. It seems like Wilco was around, “Causin it…to Drwoooooooowwwn” or somethingorother.

I guess they got big the past few years.

is wilco lame? nope.

Wilco is impossible to neatly categorize except to say that they are the BEST live band on Earth.

An evil, dark jam band, when compared to most, but with all their repetitive guitar work and one-whole-side-of-the-vinyl long songs, they are, in fact, a jam band.

Your mom is, though. Oooooooooh!!!111111!1!1!

Also, I didn’t realize The Mars Volta was a jam band. What about Dream Theater? Are they a jam band?

The one and only time I saw Wilco play, 2 people in front of me did the hippie-arm-twirling-loop-de-loop-circle dance during the first 20 minute song. They smelled of pungent patchouli and later made out for another “extended version” of a song.