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| Umphrey's McGee at Summer Camp 2011 - Photo Credit: Andrew Duch |
Ever since jazz musicians began a tradition of interpreting classic songs to fit their own aesthetic sensibilities, covers have been a part of the modern music scene.
Unlike rock bands that tend to pay homage to their contemporaries, jam bands and electronica acts don’t pigeonhole themselves in any one genre and seem to revel in the shock factor of surprising bust-outs.
The Grateful Dead began their career covering blues songs – a tradition that stayed with them throughout their lustrous career. Their covers ranged from classic country (Hank Williams and Johnny Cash) to folk (The Mamas and The Papas) to the blues (Otis Redding).
Today’s jam bands have broadened their repertoire to include covers from even more genres. Phish is famous for their interpretations of Son Seal’s “Funky Bitch,” David Byrne’s “Cities” and The Rolling Stones’ “Loving Cup.” They also often perform Stevie Wonders’ “Boogie On Reggae Woman,” Ween’s “Roses Are Free” and Allen Toussaint’s “Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley.”
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| String Cheese Incident - Photo Credit: Jordan August |
Maybe most notably, Umphrey’s McGee’s Halloween shows are filled with cover mash-ups that combine originals with covers of anything from AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses to Bob Marley and Nirvana. This requires equal parts skill and inventiveness.
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String Cheese Incident recently reunited for an East Coast tour and updated their cover repertoire to suit the current musical climate.
“We always play the classic rock covers – The Who, The Beatles,” keyboardist Kyle Hollingsworth said. “[We thought], ‘let’s figure out some cool stuff to do that is less in the classic world.’”
The tour included covers of MGMT’s “Time to Pretend”, and Cee-Lo’s “Fuck You.” Hollingsworth noted that the band wanted to start playing more recent covers for the younger crowds.
“At Red Rocks, we played ‘Carry On My Wayward Son,’” he said. “We get up there and four people knew what it was.”
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Jaybird, host of Philadelphia jam band radio show “Endless Boundaries,” believes that covers are more prevalent in jam band sets than in those of traditional rock groups because of their freedom to not be bound by playing their supposed “hits.”
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| Phish - Photo Credit: Holly O'Connor |
Jam bands are also known for their virtuosic playing style and their ability to make any song their own. Molding songs to their playing style and adding layers of improvisation translate to creating engaging covers.
“If, for example, Madonna or whoever were to do a cover, it would be the way that it is for the most part,” Hollingsworth said.
According to artists, it’s also a way for them to put their creative stamp on a popular song.
“When a jam band grabs a cover, they can expand it, do a 20-minute jam, do something really cool in the intro, create a different time signature or play Afro-beats,” Hollingsworth said. “I think there’s more ability to play and have fun with covers.”
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For Hollingsworth, it’s also a way to grow.
“I enjoy learning a different song and how someone else writes music,” he said. “It forces you to really push yourself as a musician.”
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| Phish - Photo Credit: Holly O'Connor |
“It’s always great to hear a new version or interpretation of an old and great song like ‘Billy Jean,’” 23-year-old Anuj Kapur said.
“I just think its fun to hear songs that we grew up listening to with a new interpretation,” 23-year-old Braden Silverman said.
Even Hollingsworth gets nostalgic.
“We all say, ‘It takes me back to this time,’ especially if you do a Grateful Dead cover and people were really there,” he said.
No matter why fans and musicians alike love covers, it’s clear that they are an essential part of jam band culture.
“They really bring the community together,” Hollingsworth said.
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Contact staff writer Hannah Epstein at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or editor Nick Rhodes at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
What’s your favorite jam band cover? Let us know in the comments below.
