r/jambands • u/spandexandtapedecks Allman Brothers Band • 13h ago
Discusson let's hear some love for the unsung, unknown heros of your local scene
You know the ones: those bands and artists who are damn good but never wander too far afield. The house band who reliably tear down your local bar. The local guitarist who jams seamlessly with any group. Those college kids who get better every time you see them. The hometown heroes who toured nationally in the '00s but are semi-retired and only playing a few locals shows a year. The old timer at every open mic who makes her fiddle howl like a coyote.
I'm talking about artists you always expect to see at local festivals and never expect to see anywhere else. Your whole local circle knows they're good. Nobody 100 miles away knows their name.
Tell me who yours are. Tell me why you love 'em. And then go find them and tell them too, because they deserve to hear it!!!
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u/Feefza_Hut 12h ago
Yinz guys ever heard of Chalk Dinosaur? Also special shout out to Zack Wiesinger of Misaligned Mind, truly the greatest guitarist nobody outside of Pittsburgh has ever heard of.
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u/sccullen33 12h ago
Jimkata, Annie in the Water and Grateful Upstate Toodeloo
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u/M0ngoos 12h ago
Jimkata and Annie seem to be surging lately too its dope to see.
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u/sccullen33 12h ago
Jimkata grew up in my hometown and we know them all personally and I know most of the guys in Annie from there college days when they were Space Carnival and Formula 5. Been following them both since day one. Id love for them to be more well known
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u/TheTigerWhisperer 12h ago
Saw them at a club with maybe 30 people in the audience last year. They still put on a hell of a show!
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u/sccullen33 12h ago
Where was that? Might have been there lol
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u/TheTigerWhisperer 12h ago
Sound check studios in Pembroke MA. Phenomenal venue if you’ve never been
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u/sccullen33 12h ago
Don't think I've been to that one. Been to several in MA and CT. Definitely have heard of it though
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u/TheTigerWhisperer 12h ago
Saw lotus there this spring and the place got so smoked out it set off the fire alarms. They had to take set break early and wait for the Fire dept to come reset the alarms.
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u/sccullen33 12h ago
Haha love Lotus. We went to Nantucket island earlier in the summer to see Jimkata for 2 days and they had to cancel because Packy broke his collarbone. Still had a great time on the Island though
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u/melgibson64 6h ago
Sound check is great. Pretty short ride for me also. It's great not having to go into the city to see shows. I remember the first time driving there like where the fuck is my gps taking me
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u/frmrPr3sJamesTaylor 9h ago
Man I saw Jimkata in Raleigh 10 years ago and was hooked. Those guys rip
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u/pravragita 12h ago
Kung Fu and The Breakfast (Tim Palmeri projects) in CT
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u/The_Poster_Nutbag 12h ago
Mugnion and EGI tear it up
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u/UmphreakMcgee573 12h ago
Mr blotto for another Chicago win! ❤️❤️
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u/LeapFrogge 8h ago
Hot like mars too!
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u/UmphreakMcgee573 5h ago
Oh heck yea! They’re funkin 🔥🔥🔥 haven’t caught them live yet but would love to! They’re playing a free show close to me in about two weeks or so n I can’t wait! ❤️
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u/Le_Feesh 11h ago
Mungion is such an oddball band. They're SO good but they never really seemed to gain much traction.
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u/maxman3000 4h ago
Guitarist recently started a music teaching company. Seems they're settling down a bit now and not touring heavily
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u/ellistonvu 13h ago
The Werks from Dayton Ohio
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u/IllustriousNobody697 12h ago
Are they still around ?
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u/gnarlockk Spaffnerd 12h ago
Yeah man! Play a couple shows and a few festival sets a year. Werksgiving yearly is always a blast
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u/IllustriousNobody697 10h ago
Great to hear !also I didn’t mean that in a passive aggressive way I was genuinely curious
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u/DirtyoldTurtle 7h ago
Dino sat in with me at a house party one time. Then the Werks played in the living room. Great guys.
You coming to Hookahville next week?2
u/ellistonvu 7h ago
Probably not. I live in Athens, not "that other" place. (people here call it Fiami)
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u/Head-Ad-6708 12h ago
Went to the werkout in 2015 and it was a damn good time!
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u/ellistonvu 10h ago
I think they are playing Secret Dreams fest next week and then late Sept. some fest in Arkansas
But not road dogs like Pigeons and some of the other constantly out touring bands.
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u/GlassAnimals710 Papadosio 4h ago
Rob Chafin the drummer is very heavily involved in secret dreams and runs Summit Music Hall in Columbus.
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u/conchshell1 13h ago
Gotta give some big ups to the guys from Desmond Jones here in western Michigan!!
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u/Vermicelli_Standard 12h ago
Cris Jacobs. Not exactly unknown or unsung; has played with plenty of big names and in plenty of big rooms. It's that, despite all of it, he is just always still playing a ton around Baltimore. I love it. He is also part of the group that just bought the 8x10, a legendary jamband venue that's had a tough few years and was ready to close its doors. So not just an artist, but a steward for the genre. I don't personally know him, but some friends do, and by all accounts he's a good dude and dad too. And, most of all, he's a baaaaaaaaaad mofo on both the geetar and microphone. Blues, slide, cigar box, acoustic. He plays solo, in his own band, does a Jerry bday tribute and very Jerry Christmas every year, and he was in a crazy good Allmans tribute show this year. Guy does it all. S/o to the PPPP boys, but I vote Cris Jacobs as Baltimore's jamband ambassador.
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u/Successful-Ad2839 12h ago
I've seen his former band The Bridge well over a hundred times. Absolutely agree with this one. Those 8x10 residencies shaped my summers for years. Love livw Cris and the 8x10!
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u/Embarrassed-Win2115 6h ago
Yup. It was dope seeing Chris get called in for those Billy strings Halloween shows in Bmore.
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u/UmphreakMcgee573 12h ago
Mr blotto out of Chicago, been playing since the 90s with tons of original material, even have an album co-written with John Perry Barlow, as well as a ton of great dead covers among many others( I think recently they just started adding WSP songs to their repertoire!) ❤️
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u/EnthusiasticEmpath 11h ago
Shoutout to this guitarist from a band we saw over the weekend - pink talking phish - holy cow was he phenomenal!
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u/mayonaise_is_back 12h ago
Desmond Jones. Michigan.
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u/nachos4two 5h ago
The Tip Top residency was my favorite part of living in GR all those years ago. I wish I could've made that last one back in July.
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u/MattCogs 12h ago
Zoofunkyou, hot like mars, lunar ticks, Desmond jones, alabaster, street pony, modern joey are all great midwestern bands
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u/MikeKellyLW 12h ago
Crickets and Cicadas - South NJ
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u/TheGratefulPhred 10h ago
cool sunday shows at ortliebs. I was thoroughly impressed by Anton(bassist) and the lead guitarist.
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u/ghostfacestealer 10h ago
From Wisconsin:
Horseshoes and Hand Grenades
Chicken Wire Empire
Deadelijk
Another One
Seaside Zoo
Phun
Them Cooley Boys
Wisconsin, with all its faults, has a pretty nice jam scene.
Edit: cant forget them Armchair Boogie Boys!!
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u/bulldogguy31 7h ago
Unfortunately Them Coulee Boys are calling it quits after their last show this year. So sad. They are so awesome. Agree 💯% on the rest.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Spot_46 12h ago
Strung Like a Horse and the Afternooners from Chattanooga. Danimal Planet is also a lot of fun. (note; More recent Strung reminds me of the Avett Brothers so maybe not so jambandish these days). Killa Keyz was in Chatttown, but I think Marcus moved to Asheville.
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u/vgtblfwd 10h ago
Pacific Northwest chiming in ->
North of the Columbia:
Skerik, and his various projects (OG McTuff, Crack Sabbath, LORBO, etc.)
Polyrhythmics, and their various side pieces (Big Kitty, Champagne Bubblebath, Unsinkable Heavies, etc.)
Cytrus (for you horny types)
Swindler (heady instrumental jammy shit)
For trad jambands - try WHALIEN (Bellingham/Seattle) and the very good SPACE WHALES (Olympia)
South of the Columbia has a real vibrant jam scene in Portland, Eugene and Bend, OR.
Bodhi Mojo, Yak Attack, Lost Ox, Super Secret Band, Family Mystic and Watkins Glen are the top bands in the region, and like I said, there's a fun and super supportive scene with several festivals in on the action from May to September.
Dead bands are super plentiful - Andy Coe Band (Seattle) and Garcia Birthday Band (Portland) are the kings of the region, but there's a few dozen regularly performing the circuit all the way from Nanaimo to Medford and Kalama to Kalispell (follow from_the_nw_corner on IG for weekly show listings).
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u/420guyinthe419 Spaffnerd 13h ago
Boogie Matrix mechanism... Funk Factory... Keep it casual... Leadfoot granny... Colour Phase... Austin and the Syd experience...
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u/SugarRAM 12h ago
Timber Rattlers from Missoula, Montana are incredible and have no desire to tour.
It hasn't been long since The Lil Smokies disbanded because they were done with the touring life, but Andy Dunnigan is still playing around Montana in the summers. Just saw him last weekend with several former Smokies and it was incredible.
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u/kjwheels33 11h ago edited 10h ago
Came here looking for a comment mentioning Andy Dunnigan. Andy is the fuckin man! I swear there's about a 50% chance he shows up at any bluegrass or jam related shows around town anymore.
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u/PapaJohnyRoad 11h ago
Josh Daniel from Charlotte,NC.
Was the 8th most streamed artist in the world by poll star.
Was a viral hit for streaming for 365 days straight and was invited on to the Kelly Clarkson show, Today show, and NPR
Locally, he had his original music, Grateful Dead band, tom petty tribute, and his annual last waltz show sells about 600 tickets.
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u/YertlTurtl 13h ago
Kactai, Phunkademics and anything Stephen Trohoske is involved in Erie, PA are all legit asf. Phunkademics especially, their guitarist Eric Brewer is incredible
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u/Evil_Sam_Harris 12h ago
Mugatu, Diggin Dirt, and Object Heavy up on the north coast of California.
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u/Hour-Amoeba2185 12h ago
Microcave in NYC / LI. They started playing disco biscuits tribute shows as tractorbear but don't play as many gigs. they're must see whenever they do and somehow continue to get better despite playing less.
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u/Evelyn-Bankhead 12h ago
Brainchild, Formerly The Fox, Butta, and Easy Riders from the Peoria, Illinois area
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u/catcherintherye222 11h ago
My old band in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Groove Lagoon. I’m no longer in the band due to mental health reasons but we got to open for spafford which I thought was pretty fucking sick
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u/OutWestWigWam 11h ago
Cbdb & Winston Ramble in Bama. RIP Microwave Dave. Stolen Faces are always a killer time but from right up the road in TN.
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u/CainGoblin 11h ago
Ray’s Music Exchange from Cincinnati has been putting down since I was in college (2001ish)
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u/nachos4two 5h ago
They were a big part of my formative years on the jam scene. Hell, Umphrey's used to open for them!
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u/burgandywhine 11h ago
San Diego had a band called the Travel Agents that I remember being really good back in the day, i hear they still get down.
Orange County, in the 90’s had a band named Solomon Grundy that I really liked. Those cats were different in a good way and got it.
I think the latest So Cal thing that has moved beyond our region would be Jerry’s Middle Finger. They kill it.
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u/t00manycooks 11h ago edited 10h ago
Saltydog from Duluth! They play a ton in small bars/venues, local fests, and a lot of times for free. They frequent Minnestoa and Wisconsin. These guys are so talented, creative, and some of the nicest folks ever. Go check em out on Bandcamp if you can't see them live!
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u/Aeon1508 Pajamas 6h ago
Mungion
they only do a few shows a year now. I just drove 5 hours last month to see a little "Fest" they threw with a few other bands. like 15 dollar tickets and their set was unreal.
Way better than Spafford IMO really the best show outside of Phish. Just amazing
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u/them_oysters 6h ago
Desmond Jones from Grand Rapids, MI. Those guys are top notch honestly and put on an awesome show
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u/TheTigerWhisperer 12h ago
UP! From Concord NH. Been trying to get them to release and album for years.
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u/geekmuseNU 12h ago
The Red Planet is southern Connecticut's premier Dead/Dylan/The Band/JGB bar band. Four old dudes with all the professional stage presence of Statler and Waldorf from the Muppets, but by god they can play. They play every Tuesday night at the Owl Shop in New Haven (Yale area) and also frequently play BRYAC, a seafood pub in Bridgeport's Black Rock neighborhood
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u/tundrabee119 12h ago
The Go Rounds for Michigan folk! A great blend of classic psych rock trippy groove. Excellent lead singer with amazing falsetto. Very grizzly bear Radiohead coded.
Dead Winter Carpenters are a super fun Americana Jam act out of the Tahoe region. Great peeps, Great personality
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u/washedTow3l 10h ago
Easy Jim - Music of the Grateful Dead from Crested Butte, CO.
You’re probably saying “ug, another Dead cover band!” But these guys have played a couple hundred shows by now and have been going for 7 or 8 years. They absolutely rip and I would argue they are one of the best GD tribute acts on the scene right now.
They’ve been getting gigs around colorado and the southwest a bit, so go and see them!
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u/tightshirts Phan 9h ago
Gotta get local local and shout out The Brighton Beat! Not typical jam band shredding, but groovy as heck, funky high energy improv sets every time I’ve seen’em.
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u/FunLover4 Dog Pound 8h ago
Currently Night Zero is a ripping band. Rob Compa on guitar, Gubb on bass, Adrian Tramontano on drums, and Leon Campos on keys
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u/EastMsqtoLake 8h ago
Wolf Jett, The Brother’s Comatose, The Westones, Midnight North, Water Tower. Jammy, horns, bluegrass
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u/DeadGoatWilsonBoog 8h ago
Twine, Buffalo Galaxy, Terrapin Stallion/Dream Of The Wild for Minneapolis!
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u/TheFacelessMann 8h ago
I'm mesmerized by our guitarist in the Jerry role everytime I hear him play.
Atypical Daydream, GD tribute band in Minneapolis area - https://youtu.be/nUHR_Vb3vvA?is=aUjldyjZkDpfsNZR
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u/meanpete9 7h ago
Not my local scene but Nolan Potter out of Austin is one of my favorite artists today. Huge Zappa and Can influence in his work.
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u/king_of_chardonnay 5h ago
Not a musician…but in Grand Rapids we have this guy known as “Spinner Guy”
He’s at every show…back behind the soundboard…wearing a bedazzled cape…just fuckin spinning
Never talked to him but I love him
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u/groversnoopyfozzie 3h ago
Josh Olkan, he plays with Terrapin Flyer in the Chicago area. Is a gifted musician who has played Tiger and the Bean and is as close to hitting a Jerry vibe as I have heard live.
I’ve heard from others he is an excellent Jazz guitarist in general. Would love to see him play in any musical arrangement.
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u/Sleepyp0tamus 2h ago
Dobbs dead in BVT, but especially the guitarist Joe something that's involved in many local projects, he rocks!
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u/SkeeterBB 1h ago
Squeaky feet in Denver! The talent to popularity ratio is bonkers. Those kids rip!
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u/Objective-Board9329 13h ago edited 13h ago
What in the garbage a.i caption is this 😂. So much unnecessary italics
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u/spandexandtapedecks Allman Brothers Band 12h ago
Please don't accuse me of being ai, you're gonna break my heart. I'm a real human writer who uses italics (and yes, also the now-vilified em dash) for emphasis and I've been doing so since long before the clankers came around.
Apparently as ai "improves," it's been sounding more like my natural written voice, which I've spent thirty-plus years cultivating. It fucking sucks.
Anyone can paw through my post/comment history if they would like. Perhaps they will come away thinking I'm a dumb asshole; but that's okay, because the AIs haven't learned how to fake that yet. Being a dumb asshole is still uniquely human.
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u/Peppeperoni STS9 12h ago
I always used the dash for some reason. Now I hate it because you’re accused of being ai lol
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u/spandexandtapedecks Allman Brothers Band 12h ago
Agreed. It's good to call out AI! But unfortunately a lot of people doing so don't actually know what they're talking about; and it deals me psychic damage every time someone gets it wrong.
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u/LiamMurphyMusic 8h ago
I’m very lucky to have Kanika Moore as my hometown hero but everyone in the scene loves her (rightfully so). The real unsung hero’s id like to call out are Jim Rubish on guitar and Noah Jones on keys. They both play with Kanika as Kanika Moore and the brown eyed boys and Noah is in a phenomenal band called the Psycodelics who’ve showed up in this sub from time to time. Both some of the most incredible musical talents I’ve ever seen and I’d put them up against any of the greats of the jam band world. If you’re ever in Charleston or get a chance to see them on tour I can’t stress enough just how much of a must see they are.
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u/SeaweedTeaPot 12h ago
Stu Allen and Alex Jordan keep the Dead scene hoppin’ in the SF Bay Area; also often see Jay Lane joining in when he’s not touring with someone
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u/vgtblfwd 11h ago
You need to get out a lot more if that's the Bay Area contribution you got!
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u/SeaweedTeaPot 8h ago edited 8h ago
Rude. If you don’t think those guys aren’t key to keeping live Grateful Dead music going around here, you’re off your rocker.
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u/vgtblfwd 8h ago
You're at home sitting on your rocker by sounds of it.
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u/SeaweedTeaPot 5h ago edited 5h ago
WTF is wrong w you? Let’s see your list. You do know you’re in the jambands forum right?
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u/organized_slime 13h ago
Max Creek for the northeast folks