Last Thursday, the popular jam band Percy Hill appeared in Plymouth State’s MPR room for a hundred minute set. Opening local act Pete Bolduc warmed up the crowd with his acoustic emo from 8 to 8:30 p.m. Percy Hill then took the stage. The crowd stood up and pushed to the front, cat calling to the band members and grooving to Percy Hill’s smooth vibe. For approximately an hour and a half Percy Hill played under the praiseworthy, light arrangement as the audience sung along. At the end Percy Hill submitted to the cheers of the crowd and ended up playing three encore sets. PSC student Mel Kant Mindal commented “They’re one of my favorite bands. I like their jamming and live music.”
Jam Band music provides a platform from which to spring your own musical imagination. Whereas a Blink 182 concert is 90 percent band input and 10 percent audience, Jam Band music is more of a sixty/forty ratio, where the musicians feed off the audiences collective energy and reciprocate a unique experience for every show. The organic nature of the music grants the band a possibility for evolution, eliminating the risks of stagnation or boredom. Alex Gandelman, PSC student and first time Percy Hill viewer, says “They surprised me. The room was nice too…much better than the fireplace lounge.”
The turnout was large concerning past attendance for PACE events. A majority of the crowd fit into the “crunchy” category: tie-dyed, dread locked, and smelling of patchouli. Kevin Desmond, PACE’s VP of Entertainment, explains their decision to showcase Percy Hill. “People come out of the woodwork for jam bands. The turnout tends to be much bigger than a rock or comedian event.” PACE has commissioned another well-known jam band, Psychedelic Breakfast, to play on February 27. Organizers expect another good turnout.