Topic: 2014 Fall Ham Jam Music Fest:

[N1ERF]

• We are lucky.
• We are lucky that twice a year we get to attend an event that has been increasingly becoming rarer in many parts of the country.
• We are lucky that we have a large group of great volunteers that go out of their way to make this a successful event - and have OUR Near Fest's best interests at heart.
• We are lucky that as part of this event, we are given the opportunity to continue something that many of us enjoy attending and participating in.
• We are simply lucky!

I'd like to ask any and all of the individuals that either participate in, or attend this event, to help make it the best. This means self-policing our own actions, habits and other unmentionable things - To use the choices we make, wisely (ie; No public nudity, jumping off of tall buildings in a single bound wearing a tutu, etc...). 

The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy everything that we are lucky to have.


All able musicians are expected to attend and participate. This means all. Even the ones that don't like to attend. You know who you are.



Common Courtesy: Suggestions To Play By:

• Turn down. Seriously! People start leaving when you are too effing loud. I see it every season. It's real! Also, don't be afraid to ask someone to turn down - Including myself.
• Don't hog the stage. Allow others to play and to participate. You are expected to either sit out or sit back. It's only fair.
• Allow for different styles & types of music. It's not just rock/electric only.
• Keep the noise down. Once you crank up, it forces the others to have to do the same.
  It then goes in to the area of "Sucky Sound". Besides... I don't want my ears ringing into next year.
• If you play: At the end of the night, you are expected to do your part in helping take down and help pack away any sound equipment that was used. It's the right thing to do.
• Have Fun!

Note: If you have a song/songs you want to play, post it here so that others will have time to learn the music. It is very helpful to others.


I've been asked to fill in for Brian this season as the Musical Head Cheese and Toe Jam. 

If you have any questions, I'll try to answer them. If I don't know the answer, I'll try to ask someone who is way smarter than me.

Bring your music, bring your talent, bring yourself and have fun.

[k1kfi]

 ...OK, I missed the last few...got a new amp, 5 big watts, is that too much? LoL!

[k1kfi]

Blackstar, HT-5...

[N1ERF]

Nothing wrong with QRP...

I'd say bring what works for you!

[KB1NZN]

Regarding QRP and the Amps...

As the "Sound Guy" for the event for many years now, what would actually work the best for me is something like this...primarily for the guitars but also for the other instruments like keyboards, etc...

Bring a fairly small Amp + accessories that that you are familiar with and have the effects you would like to use. I will "mic" it to boost the sound for the room and the radio station, but you will still have the advantage of a local "monitor" and the accessories you are familiar with for your instrument. The drums, vocal mics and other misc instruments like the harmonica already come to the mixer. Having all of the instruments in the mixer will allow me to balance the sound for everyone. Since we don't do any kind of a sound check or practice - a lot of the work will be done on the fly, but that's what a Jam is all about...right?

What do y'all thinK?

-Ben

[N1ERF]

... And Ben is a very "Sound Guy"! 



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On a separate note:

I'm looking for suggestions for songs to play and also looking for stuff to work on.

If you have any songs that you want to play, you need to speak up! The sooner the better!

It will allow many of us more time to work on it. It doesn't matter what style, just let those who would be interested know.


If anyone is interested, here are some songs and/or bands (but not limited to) that I'd like to play (ie; Wish List):

Two songs that I am working out of my comfort zone on guitar are (All (songs) I already know on bass):

Free - All Right Now and The Hollies - Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress. (and possibly The Rolling Stones - Jumpin' Jack Flash in Eb)

Badfinger - No Matter What
Bad Company - Can't Get Enough
Dave Edmunds - I Hear You knockin'
T-Rex - Bang A Gong (Get It On)
Eddie Money - Two Tickets To Paradise
John Mellencamp - The Authority Song
Van Morrison - Wild Night
The Black Crows - Hard To Handle
Georgia Satellites - Keep Your Hands To Yourself
James Gang - Funk 49
INXS - This Time
The Hollies - Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)
Free - All Right Now


Steve Miller Band
The Eagles
Rolling Stones
Boz Scaggs
Doobie Brothers
Bachman Turner Overdrive

And many, many more...

Remember to post your wishes - Be sure to practice and be prepared to play!

[W1VFB]

First of all I would like to congratulate John and all who are involved with the Jam.  When I heard about the issues I totally understood the result but felt bad for the real jammers that worked hard to put it on.  Brian mostly(who by the way we need to get him his ham license ) who worked diligently to make the jam a success and to John and Cliff who were always there along with many others that I don't have names for.  I wish them continued success for the years to come and maybe I'll some day play again with the gang.  I'll see you there at NearFest.

[DrOptigan]

Can't wait! I'm glad that the jam is back on; was looking iffy for awhile there. Am not 100% sure yet if I'll be bringing the big red Farfisa with me as usual (might be a good idea to give the ol' beast a rest from time to time), but we'll see. In any case, I'd be willing to do some singing, as I've been doing the past few jams. Hopefully, we'll get to play some more 'proggy' material (I know it's been a challenge to get a rendition of Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son going in the past...). Anyway, here's a short list of suggestions as to stuff we can play at the jam:

Badfinger - Baby Blue (in addition to No Matter What)
Beatles - too many to list
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust or Suffragette City
The Guess Who - No Time, No Sugar Tonight, or American Woman
Led Zeppelin - ?
Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
Joe Walsh (WB6ACU!) - Life's Been Good or Rocky Mountain Way
Yes - Roundabout or I've Seen All Good People (might need to bring along helium for these ones...)

More later, when they come to mind.
-Adam

[W1VFB]

Hey,
Where's all the input for the Jam!!  Nobody has posted since Sept. 13th.  Even though I will not be playing at the Jam, we still need to make this thing better.  Like John's post said, TURN DOWN.  Just because you can't hear yourself doesn't mean turn your little amp up to 11.  Maybe it means turn down and when the song ends, everyone turns down a number rather than up three numbers.  Let show everyone that we can change the JAM back into what it used to be and what the future can be!!  ROCK ON JAMMERS!!!

[N1ERF]

I wanted to thank all of you who participated in Friday's Ham Jam including all of the individuals who allowed us to continue to "spread the Jam". It was a success!

We would also not be able to continue without the leadership of Mr. Mike and the Board of individuals who make it all happen. We are thankful for all that you do!

Also, thanks to our Very Sound Guy, Ben for getting the sound out!

Hope to continue and improve the fun next season!

PS: Thanks to the members of the audience who attended and did not throw any cabbage at us. Even though I use the excuse that I am only a bass player, thanks for being kind enough not to kick me out during my amateur guitar playing. I promise I'll be better next time!


PPS: If anyone has any pictures, please share them!


John

[W1VFB]

I would like to congratulate John on his extreme effort to bring back the "JAM".  Organizing any event is extremely hard and to pull one out of the ashes is even harder.  To everyone involved, you all did a great job, and I know you'll all be back next spring and will do even better.  Every year is a learning and a growing event.  I want to thank John and Mr. Mike for making it all happen.

[DrOptigan]

Boy, that was fun! Thanks to everyone who made it an awesome jam, as usual. Had a good time attempting to play my goofy keyboards, and trying to sing. Definitely wish I'd gotten to sing Black Sabbath's "Paranoid", but hopefully next time. Can't wait 'till May!
-Adam

PS: "NEEEEEEEYOW!"

[W1RC]

Well, Jamsters, the Deerfield Jamfest is secure.  Everything's fine.  We'll see you all in May at FreeFest XVII.  In case you haven't heard, no admission fee will be charged at the May fester. 

We will setup the new jamfest board for NEAR-Fest XVII soon. You have all winter to plan.  Thanks to John N1ERF for doing a super job organizing the Jam.

"Ya done good!"

73,

MrMike