The rules of impromptu musical gatherings clearly state: An open mic is never a jam session, and a jam session is never an open mic. Open mics include solo performers or ensembles that take turns performing covers or their own material, often under the organization of an emcee. A jam session, however, is when a group of musicians—either friends or strangers—collaborate to perform different songs together.
The Old Town Market Backroom Jam is just that, a jam session, where a sometimes small—other times large—group of local musicians assemble for a Saturday evening of strumming, picking, and singing. A loose group of musicians and their friends or family have been meeting most Saturdays in the backroom of the Old Town Market in Orcutt for a few years now, explained co-leader of the group Danny George.
George was one of the founders of the group, he explained, and admitted that at one point the weekly schedule was a bit “lackadaisical.” Another local musician, upright bassist Bob Walling, kept showing up when George didn’t, and eventually stepped up to co-host and keep the jam session consistent.
“He wanted it to be a full-on deal, which is great because all I have to do is show up,” George said. “He hosts it most every week, but if he can’t make it, I will be there to host.”
Walling has also helped spread the word on social media and elsewhere, George explained. This has helped expand the number of musicians who show up and join in.
There have been drop-ins from high school band students with trumpet, saxophone, and cajón, to SLO county banjo pickers. Everybody is welcome, George said, just as long as they either keep up with the song or sit out if they aren’t comfortable. Everybody gets a turn to pick a song, too.
“You bring a song, it’s your choice. A lot of people like the standard stuff like The Eagles, or some of the same songs,” George said. “I really like some of the folk songs, Dylan songs, or obscure songs.”
Young musicians often come with their parents as well. It’s something George said he loves to see, especially when they hop in on one of his old favorites.
“The idea that there are young people, like 15 years old, that know songs like ‘House of the Rising Sun,’ it just blows my mind,” he said. “Everything’s come full circle, and I just love that.”
Everybody brings his or her own tastes, but it always manages to gel, George said. There’s also room in the back for an audience, which often joins in and sings on the choruses.
Participants and the audience can also buy a wine tasting, some beer or other drinks, and food at the Old Town Market to enjoy while the jam happens. Whether you’re there to play, listen, sip, or chow, it’s a fun place to be, George explained.
“There are some really, really good players that come, so it’s a mix. There’s real amateurs and professional players,” he said. “It’s always a surprise to me when they keep showing up; they just like the vibe of hanging out in the back room and playing. It’s just really comfortable. It’s a comfort zone for me.”
Arts Editor Joe Payne can’t decide whether to bring his guitar, mandolin, or keyboard. Contact him at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jun 30 – Jul 7, 2016.