Schecky's Jam Bands

Hey hey, jam lovers, welcome back to another episode of Schecky’s Jam Bands, where we take a deep dive into the best grooves, improvisations, and stories in the world of jam. Today we’re talking about a band that’s carved out their own corner of the jam universe with a blend of rock, funk, psychedelic, and just enough weirdness to keep things beautifully unpredictable. That’s right—we’re talking about Big Something.

Big Something formed back in 2009 in Burlington, North Carolina. The core lineup includes Nick MacDaniels on vocals and guitar, Jesse Hensley on lead guitar, Doug Marshall on bass, Casey Cranford on sax and EWI, Josh Kagel on keys and trumpet, and Ben Vinograd on drums.

The band originally started playing under the name anonymous but later shifted to Big Something—a name that captures the band’s personality perfectly: playful, tongue-in-cheek, and a little mysterious. When people asked what kind of band they were, instead of boxing themselves into one genre, they simply said, “We’re a big… something.” And it stuck.

Welcome back to Schecky’s Jam Bands, the show where we dive deep into the best bands pushing improvisation, energy, and genre-bending creativity. Today, we’re talking about a powerhouse of progressive rock-fusion that’s been taking the jam scene by storm — TAUK.

TAUK hails from Oyster Bay, New York. The core members — Matt Jalbert on guitar, A.C. Carter on keyboards, Charlie Dolan on bass, and Isaac Teel on drums — came together with a shared love of blending progressive rock, jazz, funk, and electronic sounds into something entirely their own.

The band originally started as a group of friends playing music in high school. After cycling through different lineups and names, they officially became TAUK in the late 2000s and began carving out their spot on the national jam circuit.

The name TAUK comes from Montauk, the easternmost tip of Long Island, where the band would retreat for inspiration and jamming. They shortened it to “TAUK” to keep it punchy and memorable — a simple word that’s now become synonymous with instrumental, groove-heavy, exploratory jams.

Welcome back to Schecky’s Jam Bands, where we unpack the stories behind the bands lighting up festival fields coast-to-coast. Today, we’re diving into Baltimore’s own gleaming beacon of funk and good vibes: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong.

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong began in 2009 as a dorm-room project between college freshmen Greg "Scrambled Greg" Ormont and Jeremy Schon at the University of Maryland. From humble beginnings jamming on covers and silly original songs, the band organically expanded and began touring.

The name? It literally jumped off a “Psychology 101” textbook page. Greg spotted the phrase “pigeons playing ping pong”, pointed it out to Jeremy, and both instantly agreed – that was their name. He later linked it to B.F. Skinner’s famed pigeon experiments, connecting positive reinforcement to how music rewards and habit-forming performances feel.

Hey, jam heads, welcome back to another episode of Schecky’s Jam Bands, the show where we dive deep into the grooves, the magic, and the madness of the jam band scene. Today, we’re heading to Prescott, Arizona, to talk about a band that’s been steadily climbing the ranks of the jam community with their explosive improvisation and fearless setlists — Spafford.

Spafford formed back in 2009 when guitarist and vocalist Brian Moss met bassist Jordan Fairless at an open mic night in Prescott. The two hit it off instantly — Brian had this soaring guitar tone and knack for taking solos into uncharted territory, while Jordan brought a steady but adventurous bass groove. They later added drummer Nick Tkachyk and keyboardist Andrew “Red” Johnson, locking in that signature Spafford sound: equal parts funk, rock, jazz fusion, and psychedelia.

Hey everyone, welcome to Schecky’s Jam Bands, where we cut through the noise and dig into the stories behind the bands lighting up stages across the globe. I’m Rob Scheckman, and today we're taking a deep dive into the soulful scorcher band called the Blues Pills.

Formed in 2011 in Örebro, Sweden, Blues Pills sprang from a transatlantic meeting between stepbrothers Zack Anderson (bass) and Cory Berry (drums), they were veterans of Radio Moscow, and they met powerhouse vocalist Elin Larsson on tour in California. They recorded two demos, posted them on YouTube, and instantly attracted attention. The name “Blues Pills”? That came from a friend’s music blog, BluesPillz, centered on buried gems from the ’60s and ’70s underground blues and psych sounds—an aesthetic that perfectly fits their sonic ethos.

Their sound is a heady potion of psychedelic blues rock, led by Elin's Janis Joplin-caliber vocals—raw, soulful, and larger-than-life. Songs like Devil Man put them on the map with their Bliss EP in 2012, and they quickly gained traction touring Europe—playing festivals from Desertfest to Crossroads to Rockpalast’s Live at Rockpalast EP.

Welcome back to Schecky’s Jam Bands, the podcast that digs deep into the stories, sounds, and souls of the bands redefining live music today. I’m your host, Rob Scheckman, and today, we're sniffin’ around one of the fastest-rising acts in the jam band scene—Dogs In A Pile.

Yup, you heard that right—Dogs In A Pile. Quirky name, killer chops, and a whole lotta vibe. Let’s get into it.

Dogs In A Pile hails from the East Coast—specifically the Jersey Shore—and they formed in 2019. But don’t let their relatively recent origin fool you. These guys play with the chemistry and depth of a band that’s been touring for decades.

Welcome back to Schecky’s Jam Bands, the podcast where we dive deep into the wild world of genre-bending rock stars and musical revolutionaries. Today, we’re pulling the red curtains back on one of modern rock’s most enigmatic and electrifying figures: Jack White.

You may know him best as the frontman of The White Stripes, but that’s just the beginning. Jack White isn’t just a musician — he’s a walking record store, a sound engineer’s fever dream, and possibly the last great analog rock star.

Hey everyone, welcome back to Schecky’s Jam Bands —your weekly deep-dive into the stories behind the best jam bands lighting up the scene today. I’m your host, Rob Scheckman, and today we’re cracking into one of the fastest-growing acts in the modern jam circuit—Eggy.

No, you didn’t mishear me. They’re called Eggy—like the breakfast food—and they’re serving up improvisational rock with a side of sincerity, groove, and psychedelic energy. So pour yourself a cup of coffee and let’s get into the yolk of it.

Today for our first episode of Schecky’s Jam Bands, I decided to start out with a very special artist who is by far my most favorite modern artist.

Today, we’re diving into an artist who’s been hailed as the future of blues, the torchbearer of Hendrix, and one of the most electrifying guitarists of our time — that’s right, we're talking about Gary Clark Jr.