Are you a fan of songs that are short and direct, clocking in at around three minutes? What about songs that are longer, with melodies that bend and twist and make you think that the song is about to end but it keeps going? If you prefer the latter, then you are probably into a good jam band – you know, those bands that lose themselves in the music, playing more for themselves than to the audience? When it comes to jam bands, you either love them or hate them – there’s no in-between. Whether you are pro-jam band or no-jam band, you must wonder how it all happened. Who is responsible for the music, this scene?
All will be revealed this July with Sharing in the Groove: The Untold Story of the ’90s Jam Band Explosion and the Scene That Followed by Mike Ayers. Formatted as an oral history, the book will contain stories told by key figures in the rise of the ‘90s jam band scene such as musicians, managers, roadies, and producers. Together, they explain how bands like Phish, Dave Matthews Band, and Blues Traveler not only formed but how they also influenced the jam band scene. Readers will also learn about the values of this scene and how those values are promoted today.
For Ayers, this is a book that is nearly 30 years in the making. His random experience working as a prep cook backstage at a Phish concert one night in the mid-90s paved the way for all-access passes at many other jam band concerts. In the years since, he has worked for outlets like Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, The Village Voice, and Uproxx, covering the jam band scene and its impact. Overall, Ayers has been to loads of shows by many of the bands mentioned in this book, including over 130 Phish shows and 20 Grateful Dead shows.
Critics are already saying:
“This great oral history has only deepened my love for the people and times that helped shape what that musical world could and should be.”
Chris Tomson of Vampire Weekend and Taper’s Choice“It’s amazing to hear how it all came together for the bands that still power the most vibrant music scene in America today.”
Pete Shapiro, owner of Brooklyn Bowl, The Capitol Theatre, and promoter of Fare Thee Well
Sharing in the Groove: The Untold Story of the ’90s Jam Band Explosion and the Scene That Followed will be released on July 22, 2025. You can pre-order a copy here.
