| In a year when jam master Tom Wilson hung up all the mic cords but his own and Jackdaw’s quit hosting open stages, other venues stepped up to the challenge. T.A. Vern’s relies on the ample talents of Dave McCann to draw participants, and when the Ironwood opened in April, it offered a non-smoking Tuesday night jam admirably hosted by Brian McAreavey.
But the best jam in town remains the one with more miles on it than most. The Ship & Anchor’s Saturday afternoon tradition is a sure bet, as it draws on some of the city’s premier talent, rotating weekly, to keep things moving. The jam begins around 2 p.m. with a performance by the host, which in the past has included The Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir, Steve Coffey and the Lokels, The Co-Dependents, and Carolyn Mark. Then, ready-to-die-trying types get up and have the choice of attacking the stage solo or with the support of some of the host musicians. Before the hosts close things down, they perform another short set. Be ready to discover new talent, like when Charlotte Wilson, a.k.a. Helen Highwater, hit the stage in January, wonderfully foreshadowing her forthcoming EP.
And even if, as is the danger with all open stages, all comers suck, there’s still good music from the hosts, great bar food and decent drink prices. |
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