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 (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 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

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:

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

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-

·        Nick’s band’s new single, Aftermath by@jackfunkmusic –

·        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.

Late 90s, early 2000s jam sound like Incubus, Radiohead,or Limp Bizkit. Ben’s more experimental on the drums – very nice.

The jam itself is chill, sweet, and mellow. Guitar loopsreversed and halved.

·        Do chocolate starfish eat or swim in hot dogflavored water?

·        Like sunlight and drops of water, nice intro onthe drums

·        Reversing loops, set it to halftime when you’restuck in a jam

·        On a march to catch a butterfly – setting thescene.

·        Stick toss crisscross? That could be the namefor something.

·        Check out the new single on https://jackfunkmusic.com

·        Here’s some more information about Laenif, by BWDerge - https://bwderge.com/how-was-laenif-created-world-building-and-self-publishing-journey/

Jams from the past, starts pretty chill. “The BirthdaySong” (not THAT birthday song) written in memory of a friend who passed away in high school. Stories from high school – tool and cigarettes.

Solid drumming and great guitar and vocals. One of thebetter recordings of this song. Shout out to the old St. John’s class of 2007. Does smoking ADHD meds do anything?

• ·        Reminiscing on old attempts at album
• ·        Nick sings in this one!
• ·        Buy The Sun Will Eat You, Too here - https://www.amazon.com/Sun-Will-Eat-You-Too/dp/B0DN5XV875
• ·        Watch a short story about suicide prevention - https://youtu.be/cogngx-9nis
• ·        Does anyone have an old copy of “Braining Wheelsof the Train”?
• ·        Communism and Rage Against the Machine… andblindness.
• ·        Becomes more of a jam, talking about smoking.
• ·        Microwaved blunts? Why was that a good idea?
• ·        Sounding like they know what they’re doing…
• ·        The old me is a younger me…
• ·        Don’t be so hard on your old self… in thiseconomy?
• ·        June* 2025…
• ·        Information about “Remember Me, Nothing”:https://bwderge.com/remember-me-nothing-novel-by-bw-derge
• ·        New Jack Funk song: https://youtu.be/_GkKMxmFkEw?si=4njuzsltG-t4SIMZ
• ·        Why it might be better to write books instead ofsongs…
• ·        Nick is King Jack? (Full length album on thehorizon?)

[audio file]

Still no band name, tons of jams to listen to. What aboutLaser Fist? Band-Ter? Off the Roll? Snail Bear? Anyway, we also listen to a jamfrom April 2024: “Dreamy, Spacey, No Words.”

A very peaceful jam. Finding the groove. Talking about drumheads. How long has Remo been around? BW Derge and Nick Ring complain aboutstock footage and streaming services.

·        It’s episode 12!

·        Buy Ben a drum kit, become a sponsor.

·        Nightmare on Elm Street facts!

·        Shout out to iHeart app.

·        Duplicate jams, unpublished episodes…

·        Mentioning Fiona Apple, Val Kilmer, and BamMagera

·        Can you trust A.I. about science?

·        Little tings on the cymbals, finding agroove.

·        Snare starts off… off (without the rattle).

·        Happy jams… it’s a good one.

·        Limited edition VHS tapes? It’s bonkers!

·        We are not sponsored by the Watch Now app.

·        Here comes the tornado!

·        Consider this jam… tabbed. Starred. Noted.

{youtube video}

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.

Listening to a jam that has been published on the YouTubechannel already. (LINK) Talking guitar effects, how drumming is like skateboarding…in video games, and how much recording quality matters with music.

Talking shit about the band Tool and how fans booed theband in Mexico. Perhaps some technical issues were going on backstage? CanadianCowboy was one of the first jams they did that sounded good.

• Guitars make mind-blowing noises
• Starts with a drum solo

• The bluesy shit we like
• Simple blues that feels good
• Gets a bit swerved.. or sloppy, whichever.
• Emotionally poetic jam music
• Locked in lo-fi two instruments
• 2019 Single Material Music (Jammi Jam)
• Tool repeated setlist in Mexico
• Is it a big deal, worth booing?
• Danny Carey and Maynard are humans
• The follow-ups are coming, next episode!

BW Derge on Drums, Nick Ring on Guitar – your hosts forthe jam notes podcast. Reacting to an old improvised instrumental music jam.

Talking strategy like… keeping eyes open and head up whileon the drums. Transitions will make or break a jam. Bouncing a ball like the Tool song Reflection. Nick likes ‘em long… songs that is.

·        Happy go plucky?

·        Clashing with old college roommates

·        Signals, switches, flags, and lights

·        Recorded the first episode of the podcast justbefore this jam

·        Different types of drumming… swimming,breathing… drowning?

·        Heads up – this might become a podcast aboutbaseball (just kidding)

·        The super bowl is so stupid… Go Pack Go…

·        Pssh… Chiefs. Whatever. Eagles suck, too.

·        There’s a good little breakdown

·        A good, long rap song is a rare find (six ormore minutes)

·        In some kind of groove… ends nicely.

·        Pissing off Lars from Metallica… remember Napster?

·        Possible band name: THE SMATTERING

·        The follow-ups are coming! (This is the 10thepisode)

Talking about music we played on February 28, 2023. Thisepisode is about listening – Crank It Up. We’re talking Miyazaki movie settings (not America).

True crime ASMR, right? Anything that makes a tiny sound,I guess. Hit the middle school brain hard (nu metal). This jam has vibes of a hero; someone with a purpose. Hero enters the wastelands…

Talking some music theory – loops with different notes atdifferent times with wizards and demons. Mufasa (this is CNN)… Maybe fighting isn’t the way. Send your ideas for podcast segments…

• ·        The jam note is “Awesome”
• ·        Deftones, maybe Radiohead
• ·        Remember the band Orgy?
• ·        Congrats to Nick and Hannah (marriage stuff)
• ·        Taking time with this one (nice)
• ·        A wizard or something…
• ·        Don’t mess around if the demon is watching.
• ·        This is the second time we’ve said it was ourfavorite
• ·        … but this was actually recorded first.
• ·        That’s some Deftones right there.
• ·        Listen to Jack Funk!
• ·        We like to drink beer.
• ·        Will the jams end up on Spotify… I guesswe’ll see.