“Jam Band”=ingenious ruse to make rich hippies think they are getting a real concert

Um…they’re all crap. Go get jobs, hippies!

MMJ, Hendrix, and Zep deserve better than to be included here. Jam bands are a joke to all except their stoner devotees. Not sure a band as embarrassingly lousy as Phish has ever been as big.

Have a (real) job. Happen to like (good) improvisation as opposed to rote recital of “hit singles.” Willing to watch a band fall on its face while taking chances rather than play the same songs, in the same order, with the same between song banter night after night. If Ornette Coleman and Miles Davis can dig the Dead but you can’t, you think the problem is with them, or you?

LOL, I guess you guys will just never get it..sucks for you cause you’ll never see a real show

Im trying to weigh in both sides of this argument……….

How about a band that changes its setlist almost every night but doesnt extend every song they have into 10-30 minute “improvisations”? I think an arena rock band can improvise their setlist and arrangements enough to be fresh. Even having different arrangements and playing, for example, soft acoustic ballads and adding horn and string arrangements to popular rock hits works for me. And of course, you can never go wrong with extending a good guitar solo by about 2-3 minutes. Just ’cause awesome jazz musicians like bands that improvise doesn’t mean I have to “dig it”. Just ain’t my cup of tea to listen to tons of notes run together for what seems to be an interminable amount of time. I dont have that much weed to smoke.

Phish as a band knows far more about music than 99% of the bands on this website

So, by converse logic, if I don’t dig the Dead but Miles Davis and Ornette Coleman do, then I have a problem.

Love Allman Bros. Band in the #1 spot.

I think it would be more appropriate if each item in this list were followed by a ” > “.

I think it would be more appropriate if each item in this list were followed by a ” > “.

Lights Out the “>” is just too sweet. You made me smile.

Phish blow = blow Phish

You are Idiots! If you guys don’t realize how good these bands are! You’re MORONS!!! these are bands that never play the same shit twice, There sound is always fresh and different every show they play! If you want to listen to some shitty sell-out band then don’t listen to any of these bands. But know that you are listening to shit! AND I DONT NEED TO SMOKE WEED TO KNOW THAT!

Obviously this poll is wrong. How can the Allman Bros beat out GD for top spot….simply retarted.

Oh yeah and Umphreys beating Widespread Panic….WRONG!!!!!!!

Sonic Youth, Television, Mars Volta, shit even Roxy Music- “jam band” is not synonymous with “music drenched in pot smoke and repetitiveness”

First, I would like to express my disgust with the general Rolling Stone audience and writers. To include Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix on this list is blasphemous. For bands like moe. and Umphreys McGee to be ranked above these bands on any list, is just plain rediculous.

A “jam-band”,by definition, is a band that would prefer to not have to make studio recordings. It is a band that releases more live recordings in any given year than they do albums in their entire career. Neither Led Zeppelin nor The Jimi Hendrix Experience (which is by the way the band name, Jimi Hendrix is the lead singer and guitar player) fit into this category as some of their studio albums are in history as the best of all time. I beg anyone to find me a Phish record or even Dave album that meets the quality of these artists. Jam Bands are filled with very talented musicians, but to put real artistry on this list is as sad as those who quit their jobs and spend thousands a year to watch middle-aged hippies play pentatonic scales for 30 minutes a song.

I think Radiohead totally jams, I can’t believe they didn’t make the cut. B.S.
And no way are the Allman’s better than Zeppelin. IMO.

Seriously? Are you retarted? That is not at all what a jam band is! A jam band is a band that plays all different kinds of genres. They don’t just play generic rock, they mix it up. In a show OR on an ALBUM they’ll play the blues, rock, hip hop, jazz, etc etc. Whatever is a jam band will mix it up they won’t just have a generic sound…Do your research before you sound like more of a dumbass!!
and radiohead a jamband?? MOST BANDS JAM YOU IDIOT! there’s a difference between being a jam band and jamming on stage!

You are all turds…it’s a poll…relax. And for the sake of opinions – I like hippies! The majority are truely happy human beings…take note.

In response to wow…

If your definition of jam band holds true, whats to keep a group like Outcast off of this list? They are notorious for taking styles from all different genres from 50’s jazz to modern rock.

If your definition holds true, Kanye West may be part of the most creative “Jam Band” of all time for he takes inspiration and musical cues from all spectrums of music. Limp Bizkit mixed hip hop and rock are they a “jam band” too?

The term jam band is based upon the word “jam” which is a slang word for improvasation. Thus as stated before a band which is notorious for their studio performances can not be considered a jam band. And with your definition radiohead would indeed be a jam band because they have been take tempos used in vastly different genres (hip hop), use electronic music used mostly in techno, guitar frills used mainly in classic rock, and vocal constructions based upon classical compositions (just to name a few of their influences). As you see “wow” your definition, and your response immediately following don’t coincide with eachother. Next time you want to call someone a dumbass, be sure that you are right.

Anyone who worries about what other people think of their music, or feels a need to put down other peoples taste in music, has too much free time on their hands. Life goes on Corky. Get over yourself.

You tards wouldn’t know a hippie if one punched you in the face.

wow, you people are rediculous…i have a real job and dont get high ALL the time and i love jam music. if you dont like it, fine, its not for you, but for anyone to try to say these bands suck are just flat out ignorant. These bands have more talent in their pinky then just about any of bands that rolling stone covers. Jimi, MMJ and Led shouldnt be on this list but who cares….its a readers poll. I think if you take out those 3 bands then the list is perfect. Allman Bros, Dead, Phish and Umphreys are probably the most talented and well rounded improvisational rock stars of all time…im not saying the best imrpovers because Coltrane and Davis will forver hold that place, IMO, but as far as playing night after night and alwasy keeping it fresh and interesting, these four bands take the cake….maybe some of you should actually listen or go see some of these bands live before you try to tell eveyone how shitty they are.

I dare anyone to go to youtube and watch Umphrey’s Mcgee’s Wizard Burial Ground from 12-30-08, then come back here and cal them a jamband.

this list is terrible but then again its people who actually read rolling stone who voted in it so I can’t say I’m surprised.

So far “Ryan” seems to be the only one who gets it.

yeoo, this be like the headiest og heady lists, I couldnt of come up better if I had smoked some deems, boofed some mahldog, huffed some jenkem all the while riding to the moon in my heady crystal powered spaceship

this list is better than boofed mahldog recycled for jenkem use

List seems legit, id’ve liked to see Dead #1 and Cheese in the top 5 though.

Seriously? and wow, neither of you really offer a good description of what a jamband is, there is alot more to the equation.

Hey Jimi fans,
Band of Gypsys = Jamband

This is awful.

The Roots.

I guess this shows that only pop listeners voted… I regret reading altogether.. Yes Allman Bros are great, but Umphrees & Moe shouldn’t of even made the list and STS9 & Disco Biscuits aern’t even Jam Bands(Hippie Techno does not count) and Widespread Panic has proven, for longer than the average age of the voters that they should be #2 next to the Dead

Long live Umphrey’s! Go buy “Mantis” January 20!!

A lot of you people are clueless in my opinion.

1. never even knew LZ was really considered a jamband and Hendrix for that matter.

2. who ever said/thinks that Radiohead should be anywhere near that top 10 has probably never listened to a jam band.

3. I would say 95% of the “hardocore” Umphrey’s fans did not even know this vote was going on.

Troy B and Nick, get a clue. MMJ is NOT a jamband. EVIL URGES!! you telling me that whiny stuff is jamband worthy?

wsp sux!

Kitemike:
I was at the show (as well as several others of theirs) and they are a jamband. Much of their sound is rooted in metal and prog, but a jamband nonetheless. And one of the best IMO. Jamband is not as narrowly defined as it used to be.

Kitemike:
I was at the show (as well as several others of theirs) and Umphrey’s is a jamband. Much of their sound is rooted in metal and prog, but a jamband nonetheless. And one of the best IMO. Jamband is not as narrowly defined as it used to be.

The only thing dumber than this poll is you guy arguing over the definition of “jamband”. Its a useless term. The attempt to throw a bunch of wholly unrelated bands into one genre is pointless. If you want a have a poll about live music, ask which is the greatest live band. That’s what really counts. There’s no such thing as a jamband. Nearly all bands jam.

all these bands are great in one way or another, sure some of them are more jammy than others, if everyone liked the same kind of music, earth would be kinda boring, i prefer jam myself, but i don’t think any of this is worth argueing over the internet over…

this list is a complete joke. where is blues traveler? no g. love? no ben harper? no dave matthews and friends? who the fuck are the disco biscuits? where are the bunkin’ custies?

i would totally blow most the bands on that list!

i have never heard of the disco biscuits. who’s got my mahldog?

who would you replace them with then?

I would replace My Morning Jacket with New Riders of the Purple Sage, Jefferson Airplane, Big Brother and the Holding Company, CCR….

MMJ a jamband? Did anyone that voted on this list ever see them live or actually listen to their albums? They aren’t a jamband.

“Disco Biscuits aern’t even Jam Bands(Hippie Techno does not count)”

if u think the biscuits are “hippie techno” you are seriously missing out, they have some of the greatest improvisational skills of any band

Doz me plz?

1. Jam Bands are simply bands that make jamming and improvisation a major staple of their live act.
2. Jambands have a musical diversity that defies a term such as jamband, as was stated before jambands write and improvise in rock, bluegrass, electronic, blues, jazz and every form of music you’ve ever thought of
3. I never made fun of your music, yet everyone seems to find fault with the music i listen to, is this fair to me? its just b.s. that every person just says you have to do drugs and smoke pot to listen to these bands. whatever. FU

Zeppelin, MMJ, Dave Matthews, Hendrix? I’m sorry, even though this is a readers poll, Rolling Stone has lost serious touch with its music by highlighting jokes like Lil Wayne as a great rapper, and riding the proverbial dick that is pop rock and it is reflected in its readers taste in music. Also how the monkey titties did the Allman Brothers rank higher than The Grateful Dead. Sure i like the Allman Brothers more, but i recognize that Jerry and crew did more for “jam” music than any other band in history, save Jazz musicians.
Id also like to add that “jam” music is not like it used to be. Bands like Umphrey’s who span all genres in a single show and bands like Bisco who fuse elements of rock, classical, electronica, and jazz all into one beautiful soundscape of untzitized fantasasism. Then you got STS9, who i dont necessarily consider a jam band, that fuses rock, funk, electronica, hip hop and a whole slew of other genres into what i consider sonic art that splatters all over your audio cortex and creates multiple orgasms in your ear pussy.
Sure these bands can get a little wankery but they have to in order to make up new material on the spot, and in the end its worth it because you pay 35 dollars and get a two set show with a few song encore filled with totally original material vs if you go to some pop rock band, u will pay 45 or so dollars, and get an hr and a half long show filled with stuff you have already heard. I feel like when you go see a pop band, you are only paying to bask in the presence of that person, and that is total bull semen in my opinion.

So. It is true. Stasik (U. McGee) DOES have herpes. I heard it last weekend @ the doubledoor. Fuck, he’s so god damn cute.

I’m fucking hungry…who stole my got damn lunch….

Hmmmm…This is an interesting list to say the least. Im not sure if some of these bands should be up here, but thats besides the point. To say that the Disco Biscuits are not a jamband you have to be pretty ignorant. The vast majority of their show is improve. Umphrey’s…hahahaha talk about a glorified cover band. No real identity in their music…besides maybe some Van Halen, or some form of speed metal.

Do you want a live musical experience that will evoke feelings that cover the entire spectrum of emotion…Go see the Disco Biscuits.

Shut your whiney bisco ass up. They deserve the last slot, so suck it like they do. Be happy they were even mentioned.

Misinformed is about all I can say about this list. I think this is a good reflection on how the masses really are musically challenged. The reason for this is due to the blinders that so many Americans are guilty of. People are afraid of being out of the norm and taking chances in the unknown. The unknown scares people and makes them uncomfortable, which is why many individuals turn away from different forms of music. The majority go back and listen to the stail and minimalistic sounds that remind them of being normal…safe. 2 Reasons why this is a you people should be ashamed of yourselves. Number 1 is The Grateful Dead not being #1, you have to be kidding me. Number 2 is that Led Zeppelin, My Morning Jaket, DMB, and Santana are not jambands. A few extended jams attached to some songs does not really fall under a jamband.

Disco Biscuits= worst.band.ever. Fanbase growth idle since 2004. True story.

It doesn’t matter what the list looks like, because even if it was perfect there would still be people bitching about it.

Umphrey’s melts faces, then eats them.

1)Biscuits shouldn’t be anywhere on the top 100 “jam bands” of all time.

2)Allman Brothers beating out The Dead? Come on, everyone knows southern rock sucks!

3)You don’t need to smoke pot to enjoy jam bands.

4)The fact that you think everyone who listens to jam bands is a pot smoking hippie proves how ignorant and closed minded you are…maybe that’s why you don’t like the music?

5)”Jam bands” now are basically “jam bands” because MTV and radio ruined the “rock” genre with nickelback, stained, creed, etc. If the more modern “jam bands” were around 30 years ago they’d just be another rock band and you’d love ‘em!

6)Disco Biscuits will play your wedding for $500.

No repect to Traffic or Zappa. Gotta love a good Zappa improv story that phish took up or blistering guitar scales which Umpherys is based on. While Steve Winwood can play any song better then the orgianal artist.

…for those who do not think Zeppelin should be included have never really listened to live Zeppelin…especially early Zeppelin-

They played extended pieces of improvisation that included teases of other songs, extended solos general vamping that is the epitome of a “jam” band. Please have a clue. For reference- listen to SF-4.27.69

RS strikes again! MMJ, Led Zep and Jimi ARE NOT JAMBANDS!

Miles Davis circa 1969-1974

P-Funk, especially Maggot Brain

I have some reservations about the list, but who cares? all these bands on the list due their thing in their own way and that is what it is all about. The Grateful Dead opened the door for a lot of the jam scene and should be one, but if they get beat at least it’s by the Allman brothers. Anyways I am happy that we can at least have enough bands doing what they do to even have this conversation

I am employed thank you. I think this is absolutely halarious. Music Genres have pretty much meshed together so much you can’t even classify music anymore. In my eyes, their are two types of music; commercialized pop bullshit that talks about money hoes cars and clothes, then their are the uncommercialized, well I guess not completly uncommercialized, artists that manage to put on kick ass shows, makes tons of cash, keep it original and stay off of MTV, and I think that’s pretty dank. The list itself is fucked up, don’t really know what Rolling Stone was thinking. Maybe the employees were stoned, that’s a good excuse.

when will the world realize that dmb is not a jam band, playing the same shit on repeat for 8 min. downt make you a jamband, and i love dmb allmans get respect but dead in numero uno spot for sure i think moe. should be above um but thats cuz i am moe. biased

mmj is not a jamband, they just latched on to the scene and used it to propel themselves zep shouldnt be on this list, but they are zep so u let it slide

there are much better bands the sts9 and sci

why is rolling stone doing this, lets face it you completely ignore the jam scene, and only take it for its stereotypes, doesnt surprise me that the list would be wrong

moe. is my favorite touring jam band right now, glad to see umphrey’s made the list….and the disco biscuits…

there’s so much good music out there, it’d be nice if more people supported grass roots independent jam bands….seriously GO SEE LIVE MUSIC and keep the artform alive!!!!!!!!

oh and i do have a job. i’m a teacher, and i love jam bands. lay off losers!

What a joke.

Wow, just shows you how stupid people who read Rolling Stone are.

yeahhh braahhh, that Machine Gun > Purple Haze > Machine Gun > Purple Haze > Foxey Lady > Machine Gun > Purple Haze > Machine Gun pallindrome from Woodstock is off tha hook!!!!

ugh. i can’t believe how stupid some people are. If DMB, MMJ, Hendrix, Santana, and Led Zeppelin are considered jambands, then Pink Floyd should be above them all, who aren’t even on the list.

wow. i’m still in shock at how stupid people really are.

and i love the comments on how lousy Phish is. I wish I could be that cool, to trash talent on the interwebs. Yeah… You Enjoy Myself isn’t a masterpiece of musicial innovation… sure, why not. I guess Dark Side of the Moon is a shitty album, too, right? (Animals is better anyway…)

you people boggle my mind. you should all be studied to see where these genes came from.

MMW TABB TAB STS9 BBFCFM RHCP MMB ELO STP VH YEM NWA MOP PETA NCAA AARP TCQ TLC EC JGB NOTORIOUS BIG DMB GD

*ALL GREAT JAM BANDS

what a great point, jam bands dont put on real concerts, just like radiohead doesnt produce real music, because they use computers. the shows some of these bands put out like umphrey’s, phish and the grateful dead are some of the most amazing live shows ever preformed. i dont think i have ever heard someone call phish lousy,if you dont like their music thats your personal preference but at least respect their talent. and criticizing a band and/or their fans because some of them do drugs is just arbitrary, its like saying the beatles sucked because they got high.

Umphreys is absolutely amazing.
The best live band out there right now……..
Cut the crap and go see live music.

I dont have a job and I smoke very good bud. I am however on a full ride to a prestigious university, so don’t just assume superiority. I enjoy all of these bands, though I do take issue with some of their classifications as jam (Dave, Jacket, Zeppelin
wtf?) . To the haters, sometimes these bands’ shows are dismal, but most make you laugh and cry and love life all at the same time. If you can’t handle all the dirt bags that follow these guys religiously, then I don’t blame you; hippies can be intrusive, self-righteous, and generally lame. But so are most people who like metal, so no reason to hate.

1. The Grateful Dead, if you don’t agree, then you’re wrong…dead wrong
2. Panic, they bust it so Big
3. SCI, just because I love every side project. Travis and Hann make it rain!
4. Phish, would be higher, but the fans are a major buzzkill
5. Moe., American Gangsters
6. TRIBE, they tore down Red Rocks then built it up again the next night…a true miracle

Yes, there are clearly bands on this list that should not even be remotely considered as jam bands. While the classics like Phish, Dead, and Allmans are all great in their own respective ways, for my money, Umphrey’s is by far the best band out there these days. Never, ever, do they have the same jams twice and they know exactly when to change it up to keep listeners hooked during their shows. Uninformed people need to change their views on what exactly a jam band is.

P.S. I heard Bisco will actually play your wedding and throw in a happy ending for LESS than $500.

haha. UM above Panic like they should be

MMJ is a whiney wanna be brit sounding rock band, no where near jam, UM sucks ass, and phish should be number 1

1. dead 2. bisco …. duh.

warren haynes has more way more talent than trey and his over rated loopy riffs.

A definition of a jamband probably should have been provided. I would also like to see the ages of the kids that submitted these entries. If I was a betting man I would say the average age was probably around 17. There is no way somebody in their 30’s would have chosen shitty and non jambands as their favorite jamband. How many 17 year olds have ever been to a Dead or Phish show? Get a clue Rolling Stone. Go to jambase.com or jambands.com and ask them to do a poll. I bet you anything that their results do not come close to yours. I would say it would and should start like this.

1. dead
2. phish
3. panic
4. sci

STS9? Im sorry, no fucking way I do not consider them a “jam band” umphrey’s is def. the best jam band out there today, they are not about the money and they do not put themselves on a pedestal, fan-based band. I can relate them to a modern dead, i do not consider phish, even though they picked up after the dead, the called it quites one album too late

If Led Zeppelin, Dave Matthews Band, Jimi Hendrix and Santana are on the list then I wanted The Doors added.

They jammed more than any of those bands / artists. Don’t think so? Grab some of their live recordings.

umphreys mcgee is talent at its finest. those guys are true professionals. they are one of the most loyal bands ive seen in a long time to themselves as well as their fans. I enjoy/love pretty much every band on that list, i dont agree with it but…. the only thing that can really ruin a good concert is all the trust fund hippies that attend. You guys are embarassing yourself by trying way to hard. which who would try hard to look like a scumbag? you guys are weird.

umphreys is absolutely amazing, ten times more talented then bisco, no contest. phish is also incredible along with obviously the grateful dead and allman brothers. however if anyone has heard mantis (which nothing short of incredible) i would definitely say they made a jump from jam to prog. and clearly DMB, zeppelin, and hendrix dont beling anywhere close to this list. stupid rollingstone.

1 dead
2 phish
3 moe.
4 abb
5 um
6 bisco
7 govt mule
8 the breakfast
9 sci
10 umelt
11 wsp (not even a fan, just have respect)

honorable mention to ha ha the moose just cause they are fucking awesome

Good to see Umphrey’s McGee getting the love. Those guys are amazing. Beyond being a “jamband.”

They all belong on that list…im sorry you people are ignorent…keep ur bias comments off here…

The order might need some tweaking…but dont say who isnt a jam band.

And for those who rip on hendrix…try to find a studio recording he did and a live recording…was it the exact same? ABSOLUTLY NOT…why???? CUZ HE JAMMED OUT TO IT… He made so much improv in his shows it’s not funny. So for all you muscally deaf people out there that have only heard a studio version of hey joe, get the hell out of here…

And all the Dave, Allman Bros. haters…go to one of there shows and tell me they don’t jam… please do…you’ll look like a total idiot trying to argue ur point after seeing them live

Blah Blah DMB is awesome…we all know that…they JAM and throw down HARD weather it be at a festival or a single show….the deserve to be much higher!

Umphreys and moe. open for DMB, they should be under their feet licking the sh8t off their shoes….They suck as does string cheese…PERIOD

Gumbo, Pink Floyd is one of my favorite bands but you”re the one who is incompetent. All of their music was composed. There was no improv…why should they be on a jamband list?

Grateful dead not the #1 Jam band of all time? god i hate when RS tries wayyy to hard to be different. Not having GD as the #1 jam band of all time is absurd.

Props to Rolling Stone. Its always tough for any magazine to do an article like this because obviously no one is going to agree with it. I think all of these bands are worthy of being on the list, maybe not in that exact order, but they all deserve a spot. I am floored by how many people don’t think that DMB is a jam band. Anyone who has been to a live show can attest that they are one of the greatest jam bands of their time, and one of the highest grossing tour bands of ALL TIME! You shouldn’t post ignorant comments until you have some background info

If the people who think dmb is not a jam band then why at concerts are most of their songs 8+ mins. I guess the 30+ mins of #41 was nothing,same with every Seek Up, Two Step or Nancies–>Warehouse.

what a joke….seriously other than the top 3-5, this is a joke. now i know why i canceled my rs subscription.

Alright, first of all just because a band plays songs live and incorporates improv does NOT classify them as a jam band so shut up jason. Second, good music, which most of the bands mentioned here produce, has no genre, and should not be restricted to either type or time period. Making a list like greatest “jam band” is a stupid idea, and the fact that people say bands like umphreys and moe lick shit off of dmb shoes, shows how fucking idiotic the people who read rolling stone are (”LMAO2″). They also do NOT open for dmb, they have completely different fan bases clearly (dmb draws the attention of idiots again “LMAO2″). If you cant recognize real talent then keep your mouth shut.

UM is the best jam band going now. They will surpass Phish for sure. Im not paying 50 bucks to see Phish try to fatten there wallets. Cant beat a 20 buck UM show. And they’re ability to see the future of the rock industry is uncanny. Downloads of shows available the day after the show, The Mantis pre-order. Innovation my friends. See ya on the road UM.

Okay, so maybe these aren’t standard “jam bands” but if you’ve seen ‘em live you will agree that they are worthy of the word “jam” :
Frank Zappa
Ozric Tentacles
King Crimson
Jethro Tull

Oh well, this is Rolling Stone we’re talking about…doesn’t get much more corporate and commercial than that.

UMPHREYS.

Im pretty sure you guys need to stop looking for whats “cool” and start actualy looking for good music because there two huge differences.

UM kicks the shit out of DMB BY THE WAY. Dave is a bunch of sold out bullshit now. they havent been good for years.

you can argue about it as much as you want but the fact is, this poll reflects the opinion of the public.
opinion, by its very definition, is not wrong. it *can’t* be. there is no such thing.
this is the popular vote. you don’t have to agree with it.
and for chrissake, stop proclaiming your egotistical arrogance over teh tubez. none of your ridiculous “knowledge” matters in the real world.

I LOVE DAVE!! All you haters that say that DMB is not a “jam band” and “sold out” are greatly misinformed and need to get your heads out your buttocks!! If it weren’t for DMB a lot of these newer bands wouldn’t stand a chance, and if you can past the poser frat boys and vexing drunk chicks, and really get into the music, Dave shows are awesome!! And I really enjoy UM, G. Love shoulda been on here, but who the hell is My Morning Jacket?? The Disco Biscuits?? I guess if I grab my kids early learning guitar and gave myself a mysterious clever name, I could be called a Jam Band!! Next Year Rolling Stone….you’d better list DurpleNurple!!

No gnr, no vote. Psych. UM rules. This vote should’ve excluded UM, since they clearly rock any vote. I mean really, have you ever been to s dead show. Too many effen hippies. Yikes!! I love UM.

like it was said Dead should be one and Biscuits number two….you fools just dont know that i got my gun in my hand!!!!!

UMPHREY’S!!!

UMPHREY’S!!!

what about perpetual groove?

This list is awful!!!!I mean Led zeppelin, dave matthews, my morning jacket and hendrix?? I dont consider any of them jam bands. There are some really good bands missing here. How bout u-melt, medeski martin and wood, etc…I love almost all music, but nothing compares to many jambands talent, originality, and there live shows…I totally agree that you have never been to a good show until you have seen many of these jambands live…and i have seen everyone from rolling stones to phish and the dead, and both the phish, and dead blow them out…

Yeah this list is pretty terrible. Led and Hendrix are clearly classic rock and Where is Perpetual Groove on this list?
1.Grateful Dead
2.Phish
3.UM
4.Moe
5.Mede ski Martin Wood
6.Allman Brothers
7.Widespread Panic
8.String Cheese Incident
9.Galactic
10.Perpetu al Groove

Oh well. According to RS if you smoke to a band it’s a jamband. I’m surprised they didnt put Sublime, Doors, and Bob Marley on this list. I’ll stick with Relix Magazine.

There are hundreds of bands i don’t like but i’m not going to bitch about them on a message board. different strokes for different folks.

Its not that I dont mind a few of those artist, it is just more that they are not jam bands. Did zeppelin and hendrix probably have an influence on alot of jam bands…yes, but this list doesn’t say influences it says 15 best jambands…so dont take it the wrong way, but this is a terribly list…

got here via link, quick look and..i have to question why all you kids are contributing to whats been proven to be one of the most coroporately biased (ie. labels pay RS for good reviews) and sold out if not to mention oldest and most out of touch music sources out there..Rs is dead..find yourself a blog, even a good mag like magnet.. thousands in touch.. dont contribute to the post 60’s baby boomer generation dinosaur that is RS…this current economic crisis is due to the the hypocrisy of that so called 60’s baby boomer peace and love generation that sold out its ideals for money = houses and toys they couldn’t afford…now you young dude gotta pay for it.. RS is a symbol of that hypocrisy..at one time it was a great mag, now its pay to play just like your local politician…young kids wake up, rolling stone sux..find your own path, not your parents’ path..a hint, go see a railroad earth show…

no one mentioned robert randolph and the family band

Words can’t describe how sick the Disco Biscuits are. Best live show around, musically and visually.

A jam band should make you get lost in the music and dance your ass off. No one does that better right now than the Biscuits. You’ll be dancing for hours and when it’s over you’ll want more.
The Dead make you dance, Allman Bros make you dance, Biscuits make you dance, and they all have songs you can sing along to.

dead
phish
cheese
moe.

dead
phish
cheese
moe.

Jam Bands I Like:

1. Nomo
2. Comets on Fire
3. non American folk influenced meandering Dead influenced stuff that has real emotion
4. John Coltrane
5. The Budos Band
6. The No Neck Blues Band

Umphrey’s Mcgee is the best touring band out there right now. Don’t forget the Omega Moos. and I agree with Traffic. Glad And Lowspark surpass any zeppelin song in the jam sense. . . i absoluly love the people who say zepplin, santana, and hendrix werent jam bands… first of all hendrix had guest stars half of the time. and i guess you’d put them in the group of progressive rock? triphop? i dont understand. . . . anyone that does freelance in their songs and doesnt play them THE SAME every time is a jamband to me. . . Keep It Real And Listen To The Omega Moos!

Toubab Krewe???

Read the small print guys… the Rolling Stone Didn’t make this list….. the people and fans did… you shudda voted……

I’m not sure how MMJ is even on this list, they got their start touring w/ moe. and play the jam scene – which is increasingly becoming mainstream thanks to fucking bonnaroo, but they are far from improvisational w/ their live music. I think string cheese and widespread panic should be swapped but i didn’t vote so..

Percy Hill Percy Hill

aww man lists pretty legit
but i think sts9 should for sure be higher up
at least higher than the disco biscucts

1. Disco Biscuits. 2. Who cares?

1. Disco Biscuits. 2. Who cares?

The boys from Railroad Earth are the greatest Jammers of all time…Read the reviews as they just passed through San Francisco…on the way to Telluride..

I’ve seen 3 of the top 7 on the list above …No comparison…The RR boys are out touring as we speak…Check ‘em out…Best of all time….

1.grateful dead
2. moe.
3. allman
4. Phish
5. Umphrey’s
6. Les Claypool (primus and solo stuff)
7. Biscuits
8. G Love

My opinion of course

1. Cheese
2. Moe.
3. Umph’s
4. Panic
5. Biscuits

And to all of those who say jam bands suck. GO SEE LIVE MUSIC.

the grateful dead are the greatest jam band of all time no questions asked. phish comes in a close second with the allman bros. and then everyone else is good but nowhere near these bands..everyone beatin off the UM listen to the music they are the most repetative jams iv ever heard

You have to give Keller Williams some love too. Not only does he jam with a sound of a whole band by himself, he also has a great band that rips it up, the WMD’S. I for one can’t wait to see him again at the Mishawaka Amphitheater in Colorado, Aug 21-22. If you live in Colorado you don’t want to miss this chance to see Keller both solo, and with his band. Gonna be good times for sure.

If you change the context from “Best Jam Bands” to “Best Jams” the list starts to diversify…

1. Phish
2. Grateful Dead
3. Widespread Panic
4. Talking Heads
5. Jimi Hendrix
6. Allman Brothers
7. Neil Young & Crazy Horse
8. Prince
9. B-52’s
10. XTC

Are we really forgetting Ekoostik Hookah. One of the top 10 all time easy. For those that haven’t heard get yourself Sweenyfied. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

early o.a.r. and robert randolph and the family band

1) Grateful Dead
2) CHEESE
3)Allman Brothers
4)Phish
5)Panic
6)Kel ler
7)Lotus
8)EOTO
9)STS9
10)D isco biscuits

1. The Dead
2. Phish
3. STS9
4. Bruce Springstein
5. Disco Buiscuts

anti noodler your a tool, MMJ is a jam band retard

1. Phish
2. STS9
3. Grateful Dead
4. WSP
5. D Biscuits

im not a hippy in fact im a hardcore republican who loves good music aka jam bands heres the true list

1 dead simply the first
2 widespread the best
3 cheese
4 phish not my fav just respect
5 allman bb bc of influence
6 sts9 this shits fire
7 p groove
8 govt mule
9 moe.
10 disco
11 umph
12 yonder mnt string
13 bela fleck
14 keller
15 primus

1. Dead
2. Phish

3-infinity…..who cares

For what it’s worth, a lot of he jam band stuff hearkens back to the day when real musicians played real instruments. Long improvs are what makes a jam band a jam band. Anyone who enjoyed the Allmans for example in their heyday would likely love this stuff, but like most music you either love it or hate it. You can’t listen to some of Phis’ better stuff and deny Trey is a genius. And I’m not a hippie stoner, I’m a professional with a day job and a guitar player and working musician of over thirty years with a pretty sophisticated ear. ANd I love jazz and can speak to that. Likewise if you like jazz band stuff, then listen to some of the jams of Coltrane and some of those guys and you’ll see where the comparisons come in.

1)Paige Mcconnell is better than your moms favorite pianist.

2)Mike Gordon is better than your VH1 Bassist.

3)Jon Fishman is better than the drummer of your MTV band.

4)Trey Anastasio is the best Guitarist of his generation hands down…..

Yea my music sucks hard! No wait…I don’t let the tv/radio tell me what I should be listening to. The pedigree of who’s playing does that for me.

Next question…..