The inaugural Canyon Jam at Colorado’s iconic Mishawaka Amphitheatre features several of the jam scene’s “Next Phase” of bands, such as Spafford, The Main Squeeze, Aqueous, Mungion, Organ Freeman, Cycles, Moves at Midnight, and Jus’ Sayin’. The two-day event takes place on September 8th and 9th, and is looking to be an annual affair boasting some of the jam scene’s top young talent. With the event just several weeks away, we decided to catch up with members of each band on the lineup in this new Live For Live Music interview series dubbed Road To Canyon Jam.

Why The Mishawaka Amphitheatre Is One Of The Most Coveted Scenic Venues In The Country

Our initial installments of the “Road To Canyon Jam” interview series featured conversations with Cycles’ guitarist Patrick Harvey and drummer Michael Wood, Aqueous drummer Rob Houk, and Spafford bassist Jordan Fairless. In our latest installment, we chatted with Trevor Steer from Los Angeles-based organ trio Organ Freeman. Tickets for Canyon Jam are currently on-sale and can be purchased here. For event updates and additional information, join the Facebook Event page.

Live For Live Music: The nature of Canyon Jam centers around the art of the “jam.” What, in your opinion, are the key ingredients to make up a solid improvisation?

Trevor Steer: If I had to summarize our approach, it would be arc. Improvisation is, of course, a big part of what we do. The most important component of our music, in our own eyes, is definitely the writing, and the writing has to have an arc. Improvisation that doesn’t support the greater vision of the music isn’t particularly compelling. Great improvising is great writing, and great writing has a purpose and a direction.

L4LM: Because Canyon Jam is in its first year and given the location and the lineup, what are you most excited about for Canyon Jam?

TS: Canyon Jam will actually be our first show in Colorado together as a band, so more than anything, we’re excited to finally get to play for our fans who have been waiting for us to make it out that way. Also, every person I’ve talked to from there has raved about how beautiful the Mishawaka is, so that can’t be a bad sign. I’m actually holding off on looking up pictures so I can show up and be surprised.

L4LM: In their earlier years, bands like The Disco Biscuits, The String Cheese Incident, and STS9 performed at the Mishawaka. Do you ever put any thought into bands that have played iconic venues before you and how that relates to your own career?

TS: Honestly, not really. On the business end, it is, of course, useful to look at that type of information and understand what places you should be playing and why, but that’s where I stop. Comparing ourselves to other bands and ascribing too much significance to any particular accomplishment or milestone—be it playing a specific venue, following in the footsteps of a famous band, or anything else—has historically only served to distract us. Entertaining the thought that we might be the next Phish because we played the same venue once would be setting ourselves up for unnecessary disappointment. We’re focused on doing what we’re doing in the moment to the best of our ability, independent of what other groups have done before us.

L4LM: The Mishawaka is known for its intimate and gorgeous setting. How does a venue’s vibe affect how you go into a performance?

TS: The short answer is I have no idea. The energy of a place absolutely has a potentially huge effect on a performance, but it’s so difficult to quantify. Some of our best shows have been at beautiful venues that inspired us and provided those intangible elements that elevate a show above what it would normally have been; some of our best shows have been in horrible venues where everything went wrong and we simply stopped caring out of frustration and truly let go. Our approach obviously has to be different depending on which of these situations we’re in, but the goal is still the same: To put ourselves in a state of mind where we are totally focused on the music.

L4LM: Playing Colorado, in general, always seems to bring out the best in bands. Why do you think that is?

TS: Since it’ll be our first time there, I’ll leave it up to you to decide if it brings out the best in us. We’ll worry about why after the show, over a stiff drink.

Tickets for Canyon Jam are currently on-sale and can be purchased here. For event updates and additional information, join the Facebook Event page.

Friday Schedule:
6 pm – Doors
8 pm – 9 pm –  Moves at Midnight
9:30 pm – 10:30 pm – Mungion
11 pm – 1 am – Main Squeeze

Saturday Schedule:
4 pm – Doors
6 pm – 6:40 pm – Jus Sayin’
7 pm – 8 pm – Cycles
8:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Organ Freeman
10 pm – 11:30 pm – Aqueous
12 am – 2 am – Spafford