Jam Notes Podcast

Would you rather cave dive or sing in public? The Jam Notes podcast is back for season 2! With StarCraft talk! Trying something a little different this go around. Switching up the formats each episode - adding things, streamlining stuff. Jamming begins around 10 minute mark. This episode we’re talking about our creative endeavors next to a drum kit in a shoebox. Nick’s doing solo work, original so...

Nine Inch Nails, Sublime, Mars Volta… these bands arementioned in the seasonal finale of the Jam Notes podcast. There’s also discussions about math, ghosts, bigfoot, and more! Closing season one out with some follow-ups on bandnames, drumhead logos, and back pain. Ben explains why math is inherently incomplete and then there’s tangents about bigfoot and ghosts. Musically, we’ve got references to N...

Nick talks about writing songs, debates with Ben aboutthe importance of recording quality, and both discuss Rage Against the Machine’salbum of cover songs (Renegades of Funk)   Talking about a jam from April17, 2024 (Maynard’s birthday). Talking about “funky monkeys,” “Brass Monkeys,”and Nick’s brother Trevor’s band FermentedBeats (from Pittsburgh, with clarinet). Ben notes the energy and poeticma...

Reaction video for improvised music on guitar and drums. Letus know if you prefer the jams cooked or raw. Jazzy syncopation at the circus? Ben’s brain farts? Don’t want to miss this one.   The podcast is getting pretty official – they’ve got anotepad and pen. Talking about uploading jams to platforms like Amazon Music and Spotify using the app “Lander” (not a sponsored promotion) Reacting to impro...

In this episode, BW Derge (drums) and Nick Ring (guitars)are talking about an improvised jam from January 2024.   Something about bowling? The jam’s got loops, reverb – all that jazz. “Jam”-uary, get it? Playing clue with effect pedals instead of weapons… maybe? The jams are free, unlike bowling. Also – a review of the recent Puscifer, A Perfect Circle, and Primus 2025 spring tour. Possibly going...

It’s turtles all the way down. BW Derge, drummer, andNick Ring, guitarist, talk about a jam from May the fourth 2024. Ninja turtles, sea turtles… all about turtles. Turtle jam. We’re talking all about turtles. There’sninja turtles, Nick’s like a turtle, sea turtles, the phrase “turtles all the way down.” No follow-ups this episode, stay tuned! Bouncy turtles? Ben’s favorite animal. Are we turtleye...

Late 90s, early 2000s jam sound like Incubus, Radiohead,or Limp Bizkit. Ben’s more experimental on the drums – very nice. The jam itself is chill, sweet, and mellow. Guitar loopsreversed and halved. ·        Do chocolate starfish eat or swim in hot dogflavored water? ·        Like sunlight and drops of water, nice intro onthe drums ·        Reversing loops, set it to halftime when you’restuck in a...

Jams from the past, starts pretty chill. “The BirthdaySong” (not THAT birthday song) written in memory of a friend who passed away in high school. Stories from high school – tool and cigarettes. Solid drumming and great guitar and vocals. One of thebetter recordings of this song. Shout out to the old St. John’s class of 2007. Does smoking ADHD meds do anything? ·        Reminiscing on old attempts...

[audio file]   Still no band name, tons of jams to listen to. What aboutLaser Fist? Band-Ter? Off the Roll? Snail Bear? Anyway, we also listen to a jamfrom April 2024: “Dreamy, Spacey, No Words.” A very peaceful jam. Finding the groove. Talking about drumheads. How long has Remo been around? BW Derge and Nick Ring complain aboutstock footage and streaming services. ·         It’s episode 12! ·    ...

Listening to a jam that has been published on the YouTubechannel already. (LINK) Talking guitar effects, how drumming is like skateboarding…in video games, and how much recording quality matters with music. Talking shit about the band Tool and how fans booed theband in Mexico. Perhaps some technical issues were going on backstage? CanadianCowboy was one of the first jams they did that sounded good...

BW Derge on Drums, Nick Ring on Guitar – your hosts forthe jam notes podcast. Reacting to an old improvised instrumental music jam. Talking strategy like… keeping eyes open and head up whileon the drums. Transitions will make or break a jam. Bouncing a ball like the Tool song Reflection. Nick likes ‘em long… songs that is. ·         Happy go plucky? ·         Clashing with old college roommates · ...

Talking about music we played on February 28, 2023. Thisepisode is about listening – Crank It Up. We’re talking Miyazaki movie settings (not America). True crime ASMR, right? Anything that makes a tiny sound,I guess. Hit the middle school brain hard (nu metal). This jam has vibes of a hero; someone with a purpose. Hero enters the wastelands… Talking some music theory – loops with different notes a...

BW Derge on Drums and Nick Ring on Guitars. Simple, cleanbeginning makes it easier to get weird and more complex. First jam is like a soundtrack to a spy movie… there’s always a boat to save James Bond. Second jam was less than minute. Remember bikes? Remember playing video games without the internet on Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. Get your own stars in  Mario 64. ·         Pedal tones or Peta...

Listening and reacting to jam from December 2022,reminiscent of Legend of Zelda music vibes. Lots of burping, going on a journey, liking the sound of the guitar. Thuds and bangs make the drum go boom-boom. Ends with cover of the Legend of Zelda song. Drummer and host BW Derge and guitarist Nick Ring fromjack funk talk about delay, reverb, distortion, loops, drum technique, and more: ·         The...

BW Derge on Drums and Nick Ring on Guitar, listening to ajam session from the previous year. It’s a crunchy primal piece supposedly about a bear taking a piss. Uncontrollable piss. Does a bear piss in the woods? Maybe. Hot damn. The drummer for Primus retired. Danny Carey from Toolstepped in. Who will be the next permanent drummer? Also – the origins of the podcast! Follow us down the halls of ref...

Talking about, reacting to a jam we did in November 2022and why Spotify is not a great platform because of how they pay their musicians.“Off the Roll” possible band name? Everything will fall apart once there’s aband name. Angry periods in life and how they come about. Talkingabout babies, slam-demics, and missing jams. We shut up and we don’t talk for alittle bit, just listening and winging it. S...

This one is kind of all over the place. The Jam Notes guysare talking about an improvised instrumental jam from October 2021 called ‘Lotsof Space… Beautiful.” Builds up slowly and nicely. Gets a little grungy. Discussing discipline as it relates to jamming and writingmusic. Can you have discipline and still call it “jamming”? And of course,discussing Rock and Roll HOF induction ceremony: Keith Urb...

“It’s Alive!” Nick and Ben discuss a jam from early 2023.Snare sounded good. Loop is possibly reminiscent of Nine Inch Nails. Gets a bitgroovier. One of the more intuitive improvised instrumental rock music jams. Whatare differences between writing poetry and songwriting or writing lyrics? Featuring: ·         True crime and ASMR crypto-currencies? Nope. Just jams and notes. ·         Ominous spac...

After playing music together for over 20 years, Ben andNick listen to one of their jams and talk about their approach to music andmore. This episode- ·         Have they written any songs? ·         What is a “jam”? ·         The many meanings of jam music ·         Nick’s got some wicked solos ·         Ben loves playing drums in a certain space ·         Syncopation ·         One is the loneline...