WEBVTT 00:00:20.820 --> 00:00:23.239 Hey, hey, jam lovers. Welcome back to another 00:00:23.239 --> 00:00:26.280 episode of Shecky's Jam Bands, where we take 00:00:26.280 --> 00:00:29.500 a deep dive into the best grooves, improvisations, 00:00:29.660 --> 00:00:33.039 and stories in the world of jam. Today we're 00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:35.460 talking about a band that's carved out their 00:00:35.460 --> 00:00:38.359 own corner of the jam universe with a blend of 00:00:38.359 --> 00:00:42.340 rock, funk, psychedelic, and just enough weirdness 00:00:42.340 --> 00:00:45.679 to keep things beautifully unpredictable. That's 00:00:45.679 --> 00:00:49.890 right, we're talking about Big Something. Big 00:00:49.890 --> 00:00:53.590 something formed back in 2009 in Burlington, 00:00:53.890 --> 00:00:57.350 North Carolina. The core lineup includes Nick 00:00:57.350 --> 00:01:01.630 McDaniels on vocals and guitar, Jesse Hensley 00:01:01.630 --> 00:01:06.129 on lead guitar, Doug Marshall on bass, Casey 00:01:06.129 --> 00:01:09.810 Cranford on sax and EWI, which is electronic 00:01:09.810 --> 00:01:13.689 wind instrument, and Josh Cagle on keys and trumpet, 00:01:14.170 --> 00:01:19.079 and lastly, Ben Vinograd on drums. The band originally 00:01:19.079 --> 00:01:21.780 started playing under the name Anonymous, but 00:01:21.780 --> 00:01:24.920 later shifted to Big Something, a name that captures 00:01:24.920 --> 00:01:28.480 the band's personality perfectly. Playful, tongue 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:31.819 -in -cheek, and a little mysterious. When people 00:01:31.819 --> 00:01:34.359 asked what kind of band they are, instead of 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:37.560 boxing themselves into one genre, they simply 00:01:37.560 --> 00:01:41.019 said, we're a Big Something, and it's stuck. 00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:45.420 What makes Big Something so compelling is their 00:01:45.420 --> 00:01:48.810 versatility. They'll slide from high -energy 00:01:48.810 --> 00:01:53.030 funk to spacey psychedelia, then hit you hard 00:01:53.030 --> 00:01:57.590 with rock riffs, all within a single set. Think 00:01:57.590 --> 00:02:01.430 Fish meets Talking Heads with a splash of Umphrey's 00:02:01.430 --> 00:02:05.030 McGee. Some of the key songs to check out, especially 00:02:05.030 --> 00:02:08.250 if you're new to Big Something. Number one is 00:02:08.250 --> 00:02:11.210 Mega London, one of their signature songs, a 00:02:11.210 --> 00:02:14.150 funk rock monster that's become a live favorite. 00:02:14.460 --> 00:02:17.159 The riff is catchy and the lyrics are quirky. 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:21.580 The jam potential is massive. Secondly, Tumbleweed, 00:02:21.740 --> 00:02:24.560 a great introduction to their more psychedelic, 00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:27.860 expansive side. It's a song that really opens 00:02:27.860 --> 00:02:32.240 up live. Third song you should check out is called 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:36.759 Song for Us, a more heartfelt melodic piece that 00:02:36.759 --> 00:02:39.620 shows their more emotional range. Lastly, you 00:02:39.620 --> 00:02:43.439 should check out Blue Dream. a deep -cut fan 00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:46.699 favorite, hypnotic and spacey, often stretching 00:02:46.699 --> 00:02:49.680 well beyond its studio version in live performances. 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:54.219 Alright, let's talk about what really matters 00:02:54.219 --> 00:02:59.500 to the Jamheads, our live experiences. Big Something's 00:02:59.500 --> 00:03:02.960 jams are known for storytelling arcs. They'll 00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:05.819 start with a tight groove, building layers of 00:03:05.819 --> 00:03:09.669 tension, exploding into soaring guitar peaks 00:03:09.669 --> 00:03:12.810 and then settling into funky, danceable releases. 00:03:13.610 --> 00:03:15.789 Here are some particularly unforgettable jam 00:03:15.789 --> 00:03:20.990 moments. Firstly is Mega London at the Big Watt 00:03:20.990 --> 00:03:24.449 Festival. Their self -hosted festival is legendary. 00:03:25.389 --> 00:03:28.129 And at one of the editions, they stretched Mega 00:03:28.129 --> 00:03:32.669 London into 20 plus minutes, which was a real 00:03:32.669 --> 00:03:36.289 odyssey, and had everything. jazz -influenced 00:03:36.289 --> 00:03:40.789 sax solos, a nasty funk breakdown, a dual guitar 00:03:40.789 --> 00:03:43.909 peak that reminded everyone why this band is 00:03:43.909 --> 00:03:47.289 a force. Secondly, you have to check out Tumbleweed, 00:03:47.789 --> 00:03:50.509 which transitions into the Talking Heads' Girlfriend 00:03:50.509 --> 00:03:54.009 is Better, Big Something loves weaving in creative 00:03:54.009 --> 00:03:57.770 covers mid -jam, and this segue was a perfect 00:03:57.770 --> 00:04:01.650 example of their quirky sense of fun and genre 00:04:01.650 --> 00:04:06.030 -bending chops. Lastly, their improvised sci 00:04:06.030 --> 00:04:10.310 -fi jams, thanks to J .C. Cranford and his EWI 00:04:10.310 --> 00:04:12.750 instrument, which is again, an electrical wind 00:04:12.750 --> 00:04:17.449 instrument, Big Something often dives into futuristic, 00:04:17.970 --> 00:04:21.370 synth -driven territory, layering spacey textures 00:04:21.370 --> 00:04:26.009 on top of traditional rock instrumentation. These 00:04:26.009 --> 00:04:29.430 jams make them feel like they're scoring a sci 00:04:29.430 --> 00:04:32.740 -fi movie in real time. Let's talk about some 00:04:32.740 --> 00:04:35.939 unique facts and the brand personality. They 00:04:35.939 --> 00:04:38.399 host their own annual music festival called The 00:04:38.399 --> 00:04:41.980 Big What, which has become a staple for jam fans 00:04:41.980 --> 00:04:45.000 in the Southeast. It's more than just a festival. 00:04:45.480 --> 00:04:48.399 It's a community celebration of music, art, and 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:52.600 good vibes. Secondly, they've shared the stage 00:04:52.600 --> 00:04:55.779 with heavy hitters like the B -52s, Humphreys 00:04:55.779 --> 00:04:59.959 McGee, Galactic, and Mo, proving that they can 00:04:59.959 --> 00:05:04.800 hold their own with jam scene veterans. Their 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:08.439 blend of instruments, particularly the sax and 00:05:08.439 --> 00:05:11.459 EWI, sets them apart from other jam bands who 00:05:11.459 --> 00:05:14.920 stick with more traditional setups. They're known 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:17.980 for their quirky humor, both their lyrics and 00:05:17.980 --> 00:05:20.480 their stage presence. They don't take themselves 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:22.839 too seriously, and it makes their shows feel 00:05:22.839 --> 00:05:25.899 more like a party than a performance. So if you 00:05:25.899 --> 00:05:29.060 haven't already, dive into Big Something, They're 00:05:29.060 --> 00:05:31.639 a band that can make you laugh, dance, and get 00:05:31.639 --> 00:05:34.879 lost in a 25 minute jam all in the same set. 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:38.100 Whether it's the funky punch of Mega London, 00:05:38.600 --> 00:05:42.800 the expansive beauty of Tumbleweed, or the unpredictable 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:46.220 jams that take you on a ride, Big Something is 00:05:46.220 --> 00:05:49.519 exactly what their name suggests. A big something 00:05:49.519 --> 00:05:53.339 in the jam scene that you cannot ignore. That's 00:05:53.339 --> 00:05:55.839 it for today's episode of Shecky's Jam Bands. 00:05:56.339 --> 00:05:59.319 Hit me up with your favorite big something jams 00:05:59.319 --> 00:06:02.259 and let me know what band you want to hear about 00:06:02.259 --> 00:06:06.600 next. Until then, keep grooving, keep jamming, 00:06:07.019 --> 00:06:07.800 and keep it weird.