I first stumbled into the weekly Tuesday Night Jam at Doc’s Bar on Tybee Island in January of 2010.
Situated in the back of the small, but popular bar was a room full of pickers playing and singing music. A little intimidating for me.
But eventually, it would become a regular part of my life. I can count the jams I’ve missed on both hands and have a few fingers left over.
Mayor Jason Buelterman drops by Jam after winning reelection
First, it made me a much better guitar player. I was strictly a rhythm guitar player with no knowledge of the notes and neck. I’m still a rhythm player, but I can run up and down the neck, noodling the correct notes, if not picking the perfect melody. Some of this new ability was learned at the jam. Most was learned from DVD lessons the jam inspired.
Secondly, I think the jam influenced the type of music I now play and write. I would guess that a quarter of my playlist was first played for me at these jams. I’ve picked up more songs from John Wynn than the law should allow. Pretty sure I discovered Jason Isbell through the jam, for example.
I first heard Wagon Wheel at the jam!
And most importantly, I met almost all of my local friends there. Roy and Martha Swindelle, Chip Zulliger, John Wynn, Jim Simmons and Jim Todesca, Dan Dunnagan, Conga Dave, David Westbrook, Craig Anderson, et. al.
And in turn I’ve introduced folks to the jam, like Jefferson Ross, who then brought in Stan Ray.
Three years running, we’ve celebrated the anniversary of the jam, which started in Nov. 2009, a few months before I discovered it.
Jam’s third anniversary
We no longer jam at Doc’s, but we still jam. At the city’s Old School Building. Room 6. And while we’ve lost a few regulars, we’re still playing music every Tuesday night on Tybee Island, starting around 7.
BYOB and guitar. Or banjo. Or mandolin. Or stand up bass. It’s still all acoustic. And all are still welcome.
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