Not Just Long Songs: What the Jam Band Scene Taught the Music Industry by Accident While Speaking to Anyone Feeling Lost in a Crowd

What’s the deal with jam bands?

 Are they cults? Are they concerts? Are they just… long songs with extra sweat? Turns out, they were something bigger—a full-blown movement with its own rules, rituals, drug codes, and DIY economy that quietly rewired the way we experience music today.

In this episode, Adam sits down with Mike Ayers, veteran music journalist and author of Sharing in the Groove: The Untold Story of the '90s Jam Band Explosion and the Scene That Followed. From Phish to Panic, Spin Doctors to secret acid etiquette, Mike unpacks how a grassroots subculture went from dirt-floor clubs to influencing everything from Bonnaroo to Bandcamp.

Even if you’ve never followed a band cross-country or smelled like patchouli by accident, this conversation will make you feel like you missed out on something... and maybe inspire you to find your own version of it.

Come for the bands • Stay for the philosophy • Leave with your head a little more expanded



LINKS

• Sharing in the Groove (Buy the Book): Amazon Link to Book

 • Mike Ayers Website: https://mike-ayers.com/

• Mike on X/Twiter: https://twitter.com/mikeayers

• Mike on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themikeayers/

Not Just Long Songs: What the Jam Band Scene Taught the Music Industry by Accident While Speaking to Anyone Feeling Lost in a Crowd

********

Listen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel:

• Official Website: adammontiel.com
• Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
• Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
• iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
• YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

********

CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!

********

ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!

********

FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM

*********

Sincere Thanks to the supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!

We Help You Legal

General Store Paso Robles

Daou Vineyards

WoodsHumaneSociety

.css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}