Written by When we first started GroMusic, Thursday Throwdowns as it was originally named, we never thought that it would positively impact so many people as it has.
I remember David and I enjoying some acoustic jam-time in my garage, reminiscing about the good ‘ol days when we were in bands, and missing the joy and excitement of playing with other musicians in a group setting. We wanted to find that same nostalgic feeling again, just without the unbalanced obligation of being in a small-time local band. We were always down for a tasty, impromptu jam with anyone, so we figured “Hey, let’s put out an ad on Craigslist and invite random musicians to come and jam at a rehearsal studio!”
Both of our cars were packed to the brim with any and every piece of music and presentation gear we could find when we arrived at the studio. We took an hour to set up everything we had and waited with nervous anticipation for other musicians to arrive….
…and nobody did.
Sure, we felt a disappointed. But I’m not going to lie – we understood how musicians can be, and decided to schedule another jam session two weeks later. Heck, consistency is key, right?
Two weeks later and there we were, just like last time – setting up way too much gear and waiting anxiously for musicians to arrive.
And you know what? This time, they did.
It’s been almost 12 years since that “1st” successful jam. We’ve witnessed literally hundreds of amazing people walk through the doors of the Jam. We’ve watched as experienced and dedicated musicians have inspired and motivated those who were new to the craft. We’ve watched as those who were new to the craft grew and improved, inspiring others to do the same. We’ve seen several bands form, members of which have all met at jam sessions. We’ve watched people who are struggling with something in their lives use the jam session as an outlet to remove themselves from the negativity they face on a daily basis. And yes, we’ve seen the showboats. We love them too, because at the end of the day it’s about getting to know each other through music, and that’ s what we do every time we gather for a jam.
So, in the spirit of the past, we would like to grace you with it. Here’s an informational video of us talking about the jam sessions. Also, take a listen to the recordings from the very first jam session – we think you’ll get a kick out of them. The bassist was playing a standup bass – how cool is that??
Seriously, thank you, each and everyone one of you. You have made these jam sessions what David and I live for and why we continue to host them no matter the circumstances. We owe the success of GroMusic to you.