Massive thanks to Gary and Derren from the Cottonhouse Shakers
I've been a huge fan of jam nights ever since I started drumming about 3 years ago - jams gave me the chance to play with "real" musicians in front of a "real" audience and the jam at the Stanley in particular was the place I always felt "nurtured" as a fledgling drummer. The house band and audience there, in my experience, have always been second to none in terms of musicianship but, and I think more importantly, generosity of spirit. I've never felt intimidated or dismissed by the musicians there - as a "solo" attendee I've been dependant on the willingness of others to let me play with them however much of an unknown quantity I may have been.
Thanks to the confidence and sense of belonging (in the wider music community) the jam gave me it gave me the confidence to join my first band (with fellow jam night attendees) and though that experiment ultimately didn't last I do credit the Stanley jam with inspiring me to want to get out of my bedroom and perform to a wider audience and I subsequently was successful in joining several bands. The audition process has never unnerved me as once you've truly jammed music you had no knowledge of with vastly more experienced musicians in front of a very knowledgeable (and appreciative audience) there really isn't much more you can fear.
Anyway, it seems very odd that, whilst I still consider myself to be very much a novice drummer I keep being asked to host a regular night at the Stanley (there are several "house bands" who rotate on a weekly basis so as to not let the evening's content grow stale - with the same genre being in focus each week as is so often the case).
Last night I was honoured to co-host the evening with Gary and Derren from the Cottonhouse Shakers. I'd been nattering Gary to come along ever since I saw him in action at his own "local" jam night at the 3 in a bar club in Darwen. Those that have seen him play will know his versatility as a performer and I certainly wasn't disappointed last night. He didn't scrimp on energy and enthusiasm in the slightest and I was humbled by his faith in me to drum with them when I'd fully expected him to prefer to use his own drummer.
Derren too proved to be a revelation - a very animated performance and delivering a cracking bass solo the quality of which prompted a spontaneous outbreak of applause mid song.
Ian (Ramones1234) from this forum also came along to check out the evening and got up to play with Gary and Derren for several songs at the end of the evening. I'd never met Ian before and it was great to meet yet another fellow nwb'er and get to know the person behind the profile. Ian is a very competent musician (classically trained in double bass but now reliving his youth on the Les Paul he's owned since he was a teenager) and it was a treat to watch him grow in confidence as the songs progressed, trading riffs with Gary who romped all over the stage area ensuring that everyone got chance to solo.
At the end of the evening I got very positive feedback (on behalf of the band) from Phil the landlord and the regular audience - it seemed that the mix of music from the "new" faces had gone down very well indeed and that people very very much hoping for a repeat appearance. I think Gary Derren and Ian were all somewhat surprised by the number of non musicians in attendance - the jam is very much like a gig in that the audience always by far exceeds the number of musicians there but they very much come to watch, and SUPPORT, the musicians there. There was a good mix of musicians in attendance and the balance worked well meaning that everyone there got a good 20 minutes or so of stage time each.
All in all I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope to do it again with the Cottonhouse Lads within the next couple of months if they're able.
For anyone else who may be interested, the jam is at The Stanley Club 58 - 60 Stanley Street Accrington BB5 6PQ. 9pm - 11pm every Monday night.