Well I should start with a little disclaimer that I by no means like all jam band music. A lot of contemporary jam bands are awful (to me)...so when I talk about them I mostly just mean Phish and The Grateful Dead and some of their adjacent projects.

Something I love about good jam band music is this sense of exploration. It’s kind of like a rollercoaster. The composed sections are like the cars you sit in and provide a sense of context and security, and once you’re safely inside and feel like you know what’s going on, slowly creeping up the hill, the band drops you into the abyss. For me, having the composed music to latch onto helps me feel a greater connection to and understanding of the improvisation in a way I haven’t experienced with other improvisational music I’ve listened to.

I think as a musician, in the past I’ve often experienced music as some sort of reflection or expression of myself, even if it isn’t my own. What I love about Phish shows is that the music ultimately has nothing to do with me. I buy the ticket, I take the ride, for better or for worse, but for whatever reason it always feels worthwhile. I’ve always struggled with control issues, and getting into this music has really helped me let go of some of that.

If you really want to expedite the process of finding the appeal, LSD is extremely helpful lol