Jam Cam Chronicles - All Good 2004

Posted by: Anonymous | January 1st, 2004

I had the pleasure of attending All Good Music Festival at Marvin’s Mountaintop in Masontown, West Virginia in July of 2004. It was a weekend I will remember forever. I got the opportunity to watch as Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon jammed backstage to and with anyone that would play or listen. I also sat and enjoyed my coffee the next morning as Jon Fishman of Phish and Jazz Mandolin Project recounted a trip to Hawaii in which he peered through a healing fountain’s waters giving him momentary 20/20 vision. Needless to say, when I found a copy of the All Good DVD in my mailbox this past fall I was more than anxious to relive moments from one of my favorite festivals of the year.

My personal experience with video editing and shooting live music for Idiotpress.com made me pay specific attention to things that the ordinary viewer would not, such as the audio synching and overall use of multiple camera angles. JamCam excelled at both. The timing on the video and audio synchronization were impeccable while viewpoints varied enough to keep me interested but not so much that it made me dizzy. The personal interview with Tim Walther, All Good’s creator, really helped me gain new insight about the way the festival came to be as well as how it has grown to be what it is today. The most impressive thing to me about not only this DVD, but all those I have viewed in the first series by JamCam, has been how much attention they devote to the crowd, workers and others involved in the scene.

Umphrey’s McGee was the spotlight band of the All Good DVD and delivered a true to form comical interview that traced the roots of the band’s musical ethic to Spinal Tap. “Have a good time, all the time,” quotes Umphrey’s McGee bassist Ryan Stasik. Well Ryan, when folks watch this DVD, they will be convinced that they can have “a good time all the time” at the All Good Music Festival.

Overall, JamCam is a breath of fresh air that the jam scene has needed. If you don’t get the chance to attend some of the coming year’s most happening music festivals, rest assured that for a mere pittance you can purchase the memories and relive them whenever you wish from the comfort of your own abode. Or, if you get to go and just want to relive the good times as I have, JamCam Chronicles will be there for you as well.

By Matt Ward