Schecky's Jam Bands

Dive into the cosmic chaos of Dopapod — the prog-funk jam band redefining modern improvisation. If you love mind-bending grooves, hit follow and join the journey.

In this episode of Schecky’s Jam Bands, we explore Dopapod’s origins at Berklee College of Music, their genre-blending sound, and the palindromic quirks that shape their identity. From essential tracks like “Present Ghosts” and “Mucho” to legendary live jams such as “Trickery” and “FABA,” Schecky breaks down what makes Dopapod one of the most innovative forces in the jam-band scene. With their mix of math-rock precision, psychedelic funk energy, and playful creativity, Dopapod proves why they’ve carved out their own lane in modern improvisational music.

Hey jam heads, welcome back to Schecky’s Jam Bands — the show where we dive deep into the groove, the improvisation, and the magic behind the best jam bands on the planet. Today, we’re talking about a group that perfectly walks the line between precision and chaos — a band that’s as tight as Rush but as unpredictable as Phish. Yep… we’re talking about Umphrey’s McGee.

The story of Umphrey’s McGee starts back in 1997 at the University of Notre Dame. Guitarists Brendan Bayliss and Joel Cummins, both from earlier campus projects, decided to team up with drummer Mike Mirro and bassist Ryan Stasik. The guys were just college friends jamming for fun — but the chemistry was instant.

They started gigging around South Bend and quickly developed a reputation for their technical chops and fearless improvisation. In 2000, after releasing their first album Greatest Hits Vol. III (yes, they led with that name — total jam band humor), they began drawing a serious cult following.

By the early 2000s, the lineup solidified with Jake Cinninger on guitar, Kris Myers on drums, and later Andy Farag and Ben Atkind adding percussion and rhythm texture.

So, what’s with the name Umphrey’s McGee? Turns out, it came from a friend’s father — an actual guy named Umphrey McGee — whose quirky name stuck as a joke between the bandmates. When it came time to pick something official, they went with it. It’s got that perfect blend of weirdness and originality that fits their vibe.

Hey hey, jam family—welcome back to Schecky’s Jam Bands, where we dig deep into the music, the legends, and the rising stars of the jam scene. Today we’re heading to Athens, Georgia—home to a lot of great music—to talk about a band that’s been laying down ethereal, melodic grooves for over two decades now: Perpetual Groove, or as the fans call them, P-Groove.

So let’s rewind the tape. Perpetual Groove formed in 1997 at the Savannah College of Art and Design. The founding members—guitarist Brock Butler, bassist Adam Perry, drummer Albert Suttle, and keyboardist Matt McDonald—were art students by day, musicians by night.

They cut their teeth on small gigs around Georgia and quickly realized they had something different brewing: a mix of soaring guitar melodies, spacey textures, and dance-driven rhythms. Think ambient meets southern rock meets electronic beats.

Eventually they moved operations up the road to Athens, GA, which became their home base and springboard into the larger jam circuit.

The name Perpetual Groove? It captures exactly what they’re about: creating a groove that feels endless, something you can get lost in. It’s that feeling when you’re on the dance floor, eyes closed, hours go by, and the music just keeps flowing.

Hey now, jam lovers, and welcome back to Schecky’s Jam Bands — the place where we spin stories, break down the jams, and shine a light on the bands that are pushing improvisational music into new directions.

Today, we’re heading down south to Athens, Georgia — a city with a legendary music history — to talk about one of the most exciting young bands on the scene: Underground Springhouse.

Underground Springhouse came together back in 2015 at the University of Georgia. Like so many jam bands before them, they started as college buddies jamming in basements, house parties, and small clubs. But what made them stand out early was their ability to blend genres seamlessly — reggae grooves, southern rock, funk, and of course, those extended jam journeys that keep you guessing where the song might land.

Now let’s talk about that name: Underground Springhouse. It sounds like some mystical venue carved out of the earth, right? Well, it’s actually a nod to a literal springhouse in Dahlonega, Georgia — a kind of rustic, underground storage spot that kept things cool before refrigeration. The guys thought it fit their vibe: a little mysterious, rooted in the south, and with a natural, flowing energy.

“Hey everyone, welcome back to Schecky’s Jam Bands, the place where we dig deep into the bands that keep the spirit of improvisation, community, and straight-up grooves alive. Today, we’re heading into the tribal, spiritual, world-infused universe of a band that really carved out its own lane in the jam scene of the ‘90s and beyond — that’s right, we’re talking about Rusted Root.

So, let’s get into it.”

“Rusted Root was formed back in 1990 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by frontman Michael Glabicki. He was joined by percussionist Liz Berlin, bassist Patrick Norman, and a rotating cast of other talented musicians who built up the group’s massive rhythmic sound.

As for the name? ‘Rusted Root’ reflects that earthy, grounded, organic vibe they were going for — something primal and rooted in the soil, but with a bit of grit and rawness too. It perfectly matches their sound, which blends rock, world music, African and Latin percussion, and good old jam-band exploration.”

“What makes Rusted Root stand out is their multi-layered percussion and global influences. You don’t just hear guitars and bass — you hear congas, djembes, bongos, and rhythms inspired by West African and Latin traditions. Combine that with Glabicki’s soaring, mystical vocals, and you’ve got something that feels both spiritual and festival-ready.”

Hey now, jam family — welcome back to Schecky’s Jam Bands, the podcast where we dive deep into the stories, sounds, and spirit of the bands that keep the improvisational flame alive. Today, we’re going back to the source — the godfathers of the jam scene, the band that changed how we think about live music: The Grateful Dead.

Whether you’re a lifelong Deadhead or just getting your feet wet, this episode’s going to explore how this legendary band formed, how they got their name, their most essential tracks and live jams, and the strange magic that keeps their music alive decades later.

The Grateful Dead’s story begins in Palo Alto, California, in the early 1960s. The band’s roots lie in the countercultural swirl of the Bay Area — a time when the folk revival, beat poetry, and psychedelic experimentation were all colliding.

Jerry Garcia, the heart and soul of the group, was a bluegrass banjo player who loved improvisation. He met Bob Weir, a young rhythm guitarist, on New Year’s Eve in 1963. They soon teamed up with Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, who brought the bluesy swagger; Phil Lesh, a classically trained trumpet player turned bassist; and Bill Kreutzmann, a jazz-influenced drummer.

By 1965, they were calling themselves The Warlocks — but when they discovered another band had the same name, they needed something new.

“Welcome back to Schecky’s Jam Bands, where we shine the spotlight on the bands that make every night feel like a new adventure. Today, we’re talking about one of the most enduring and beloved names in the jam scene — the one and only moe.

If Phish and the Dead laid the groundwork, moe. took it, strapped on some distortion pedals, and built a whole new playground. So let’s dig into how they came to be, their signature sound, and of course — some of their most unforgettable jams.”

“moe. got its start back in 1989 at the University at Buffalo in upstate New York. The founding lineup included Rob Derhak on bass, Chuck Garvey and Al Schnier on guitars, and Vinnie Amico on drums, who joined a few years later to solidify the classic lineup.

Now, the name? Believe it or not, there’s no deep mystical story here. Originally, the band was called ‘Five Guys Named Moe,’ after a Louis Jordan song, but eventually they just shortened it to moe. — with a period at the end. That period has become part of their brand — and moe.rons, as their fans call themselves, wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Hey hey jam heads — welcome back to Schecky’s Jam Bands, the podcast where we dive into the roots, grooves, and improvisational journeys of the bands keeping the jam scene alive. Today, we’re heading straight into the heart of Ohio to shine a light on a band that has built a reputation for explosive energy, fearless jams, and a fiercely loyal fanbase: The Werks.

If you haven’t given these guys a serious listen yet, trust me — you’re missing out on some of the most versatile, genre-hopping jams of the last two decades.”

“The Werks formed back in 2005 in Dayton, Ohio. The story goes that Chris Houser on guitar, Rob Chafin on drums, Chuck Love on bass, and Dave Bartoletti on keys came together out of a shared love for both jam titans like Phish and the Dead — but also for hard rock, funk, and electronic music.

As for the name ‘The Werks’? It started as a casual phrase in the band’s circle of friends — if something was top-notch, the whole package, they’d say it had ‘the works.’ When the band started gigging, the phrase stuck. They dropped the ‘the’ and stylized it as The Werks. A name that basically says: you’re gonna get everything — rock, funk, electronica, shredding jams — all in one show.”

“Welcome back to Schecky’s Jam Bands, the podcast where we dive deep into the legends and rising stars of the jam scene. Today, we’re talking about the band that sits on the throne of the jam-band kingdom. The group that took what the Grateful Dead pioneered and brought it into a new generation. That’s right—we’re talking about Phish.”

“Phish formed in Burlington, Vermont back in 1983 when Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon, Jon Fishman, and Jeff Holdsworth started jamming together at the University of Vermont. Soon after, Page McConnell joined on keyboards, and the core four that we know today—Trey, Mike, Page, and Fish—were solidified.

The name ‘Phish’ actually came from drummer Jon Fishman’s nickname, ‘Fish,’ and they stylized it with a ‘ph’ to make it stand out. Pretty simple, but iconic. And over time, they’ve become the defining jam band of the modern era—selling out arenas, headlining festivals, and even hosting their own massive festivals, like Big Cypress in 1999, which went all night into the new millennium.”

Welcome back, friends, to another episode of Schecky’s Jam Bands — your guide to the weird, wild, and wonderful corners of the jam band universe. Today, we’re diving into one of the most beloved and unique groups to come out of the modern jam scene — Twiddle.

Now, if you’ve ever set foot at a festival in the past decade, you’ve probably heard their name tossed around, often followed by someone saying, “Man, you gotta catch their set.” And they’re right.

So, who are Twiddle?

The band was formed back in 2004 at Castleton State College in Vermont. Founding members Mihali Savoulidis (guitar and vocals), Ryan Dempsey (keys), Brook Jordan (drums), and Zdenek Gubb (bass) built the band around a shared love of improvisation, genre-bending, and storytelling. Vermont, of course, being the fertile soil that gave us Phish, made for the perfect incubator.

And the name Twiddle? Well, legend has it that it was born out of playful banter between the band members — kind of a whimsical, nonsensical word that stuck. It reflects their vibe perfectly: lighthearted, fun, but with depth if you dig in.