Jam Notes Podcast

Breaking Math and Illusions of Understanding: Jam Notes Podcast Season 1 Finale

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 Nine Inch Nails, Sublime,and Mars Volta. And finally, a little reflection to close out the first season of the podcast. Also featuring: * Jungle beats * The triviality of directions * Bird-watching honor system * Tight ponytails and Puscifer concerts * Mold tests and snakes in the ceiling * The Smattering! * Are we really a top podcast in Norway? * More music on the way! * Ben and Nick will return in Avengers: Doomsday 20 years of jamming together, few actual songs written, noband name (yet?) – but 100s of recorded jams. So we’re talking about them on the podcast. All rights reserved. Jam Notes (ep. 19): The Incompleteness Theorem and Bigfoot Conspiracies

Songwriting, Recording, and Raging Against Machine Covers (Jam Notes Podcast)

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 [https://fermentedbeatsmusic.com/] (from Pittsburgh, with clarinet). Ben notes the energy and poeticmastery of Kendrick’s “Not Like Us,” influencing his mood during the jam, whichis grungy, smooth “like ice on a lake,” with loops and unexpected turns. ·        Quick banter about their unused Lander accountand collaboration. ·        Discussion of releasing an album by Christmas. Nota Christmas album, just timing the release… and as of January, it’s still notstarted. ·        Joking about Christmas, Hanukkah, Tet, theWinter Solstice, and Saturnalia. ·        Intended as a “quick funky jam” but stretched to10 minutes. ·        Acknowledgement that their jams often divergefrom the original intent. ·        Chord choices reminiscent of Rage Against theMachine (Battle of Los Angeles era). ·        Discussion of Rage albums (Evil Empire, Renegadesof Funk covers, Devo’s “Beautiful World”). ·        Reflection on Devo’s ironic/depressing themes of“de‑evolution.” ·        No loops initially; use of reverb, lightoverdrive. ·        Tempo shifts, experimentation with half‑timereverse loops. ·        Hit drum rims accidentally, sometimes turnedinto purposeful rim shots. “I meant to do that” ·        Recording briefly cut off; hosts joke aboutbeing “electrocuted.” ·        They speculate whether the U.S. government orextraterrestrials shut them down. ·        Decide aliens are simply “fans of the podcast.” ·        More complaints about Ben’s old drum kit… ·        Reference to Jack Funk [https://jackfunkmusic.com/] and songs like Good ForYour Soul and Mad Maestro. ·        Nick explains adding new sections to old songs,giving them fresh life in live shows. ·        Emphasis on saving ideas for the right momentwhen recording an album. ·        Clarification of what a “demo” is. ·        Debate between recording individually vs. live“ping‑pong” style. ·        Agreement that their music thrives on organic,improvised jams. (C) 2026 20 years of jamming together, few actual songs written, noband name (yet?) – but 100s of recorded jams. So we’re talking about them onthe podcast. All rights reserved. Jam Notes (ep. XVIII): Aliens are Fans of the Podcast

Post-Rock Jazz Punk? Brain Farts and Chromatic Notes

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 improvised jam on guitar and drums fromOctober 2021, called “Jazzy” or something. Not really jazz, but syncopated music. * ·        More complaints about Spotify * ·        Nick and Ben don’t like 2 dollar Steve andBasement Bill anymore * ·        Jack Funk is a different band that Nick Ringplays guitar for * ·        Is playing out of key… naughty? * ·        Petals = flowers. Pedals, with a D, are used forguitar FX. * ·        Jazzy little Jazz punk * ·        Genre of the Jam: Post-Rock Jazz Punk * ·        Start playing loud music in a church basement…and the rest will follow. * ·        The circus performance gets too intense… closesthe whole show. * ·        Jack Funk album in progress… taking some timedue to, you know, life. * ·        Here’s the store, get a hat: [https://bwderge.com/weird-alternative-fashion-shirts-art-posters-puzzles-and-more/]

Jam Notes Podcast: Motion is Lotion? Reverb vs. Delay and Reviewing Recent Primus, Puscifer Concert

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 to post the little video clip as a YouTube short… we’ll see. Follow-ups from episode 7 – delay and reverb. Which is more complex? Free drum lessons for Ben? Video game playing islagging. * ·        Switch 2 still too expensive. * ·        Signals to aliens or each other? * ·        Ads suck. HBO has commercials now?! * ·        Still need to add jams to Spotify… * ·         Listen on iHeart – is YouTube Premium worth it? * ·        Episode 11: Upside Down Tree Jam is on YouTube. * ·        Reverb is the space, not the echo. (Natural decay) * ·        Delay is more complex, according to Nick. (Multiple delays!) * ·         Getting old, talking about shoulder pain and massages

Are You Turtley Enough for the Turtle Club? ( Improvised Music Reaction)

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 turtleyenough for the turtle club? Listening to jam music, reacting to old improvised music. ·        Overdrive and a little reverb ·        Check out BW Derge’s upcoming novel, RememberMe, Nothing- [https://bwderge.com/remember-me-nothing-novel-by-bw-derge] ·        Nick’s band’s new single, Aftermath by@jackfunkmusic – [https://jackfunk.bandcamp.com/track/temple-of-the-aftermath] ·        Possible band name or on-stage personas:two-dolla Steve and drunk basement Bill ·        Remember when the internet used to be fun? ·        Finding CD-ROM video games in cereal boxes… the1990s were a different time. ·        Animorphs! Demo game with 1 level, that was fun. ·        No politics on the podcast! (but F--- theCheeto)   20 years of jamming together, few actual songs written, noband name (yet?) – but 100s of recorded jams. So we’re talking about them on the podcast. All rights reserved.