The inaugural Canyon Jam at Colorado’s iconic Mishawaka Amphitheatre features several of the jam scene’s “Next Phase” of bands, including 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 first four installments of the “Road To Canyon Jam” interview series featured conversations with Cycles’ guitarist Patrick Harvey and drummer Michael Wood, drummer Rob Houk of Buffalo-based jammers Aqueous, Spafford bassist Jordan Fairless, and Organ Freeman’s Trevor Steel.
In our latest installment, we bring you a conversation with guitarist Justin Reckamp of rising Chicago jam favorites Mungion from late last month. Since then, you’ve likely heard a fair amount about Mungion, after their tour van and trailer–containing all their gear, lights, and other equipment–was stolen in Detroit.
As the band explained in a statement, “Although we are grateful that everyone is safe, our livelihood was taken from us in the blink of an eye. After going from door to door in the neighborhood, we were able to track down some surveillance video that showed two men breaking in and stealing our van and trailer. Unfortunately, there was not much the authorities or anyone could do. After filing the police report and talking to neighbors we piled up in a hatchback and drove 6 hours to New York to play because the show must always go on!”
A matter of days before setting out on their first headlining tour, the band’s entire infrastructure literally disappeared overnight. However, the Chicago community, and the music community at large, banded together to help Mungion in their time on need, raising over $30,000 to replace their gear and their transportation with help from a successful GoFundMe campaign, a local benefit show in Chicago, and even a spot on NBC News Chicago about fans’ supportive response to the situation. Thanks to the overwhelming support of the community, Mungion is hitting the road for their first headlining tour as planned, starting Thursday night, 9/7 in Denver followed, of course, by their highly-anticipated performance at Canyon Jam.
As we get ready to jam with Mungion at the Mishawaka this weekend, check out his thoughts on the “yams,” the exceptional music scene in Colorado, and the thrill of playing such a storied, scenic venue.
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?
Justin Reckamp: Well over here in camp Mungion, we believe that our most magical “yams” (a.k.a. Mungion’s jams) happen when we are all actively listening and reacting to one another. If each person in the group is truly in the moment, then it usually happens seamlessly. Within certain sections of our tunes, we try and move together, hopefully creating different themes as a collective, and taking the music to different places from the night before. This is when the real fun begins.
“Sticking the landing” is something that doesn’t always happen when we’re trying to yam in the live setting, you have to remember that even if a yam tanks, no one is going to get hurt. A huge part of it is just about falling on your face and getting back up, and hopefully learning a thing or two from the journey alone. Don’t be too quick to judge though… Sometimes what we think are bad yams are our audience’s favorite moments. One more thing, if you’re thinking then you’re stinking. Don’t be thinking about what you ate for breakfast or how poopy the drive to the next gig will be. That’s bad for business.
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?
JR: We’re all really excited to play at such an amazing venue with some of our best buds. Mishawaka looks like an amazing place to play, and I’m sure that alone will have a positive impact on the music. Great people, great music, great scenery…It’s a win-win for everyone.
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?
JR: We’re just really happy to play at some of these iconic venues so early in our career. We have an amazing team of people in camp Mungion and are grateful for all these amazing opportunities. Just trying to keep the torch burnin’.
L4LM: The Mishawaka is known for its intimate and gorgeous setting. How does a venue’s vibe affect how you go into a performance?
JR: There’s definitely something special that happens when we play outside venues. Breathe in that fresh air, take in our surroundings and turn it up to 11. We love all the outside feels. All of them!
L4LM: Playing Colorado, in general, always seems to bring out the best in bands. Why do you think that is?
JR: Colorado is the mecca for the jam band scene and that is no secret. There is a rich jam culture in Colorado and it’s apparent at the shows. People come out and boogie down on a Tuesday night like it’s nothing but a peanut, and that is a rare occasion. We have A LOT of love for the Colorado fam. Can’t wait to be back there!
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
