<DIV>The term “jam band” is used to categorize a type of music that favors improvisation and musicianship over concise riffs, hooks, and traditional songwriting structure. The term also defines the fiercely dedicated fans of the music as accurately as it does the bands themselves. Thus, “jam band fans” are likely to support any band that falls into the category of “jam band.” Much as with the Grateful Dead—the original jam band—the survival of the “jam band scene” depends upon a symbiotic relationship with fans. Jam bands nurture a close relationship with their fans, fostered through constant touring and the mutual belief that each performance is a unique, shared event.<BR><BR><i>JAMerica</i> tells the story of the roots and evolution of the jam band scene from the people who know it best: the musicians. Modeling itself on such books as <i>Edie: American Girl</i> by George Plimpton and Jean Stein (an oral history of the life of Edie Sedgewick ) and <i>Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk</i> by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain, the book is an oral history of the jam band scene, integrating stories from the first generation (Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers), second generation (Phish, Widespread Panic, Blues Traveler, Aquarium Rescue Unit, Dave Matthews Band), and third generation (Moe, Leftover Salmon, String Cheese Incident, Umphrey’s McGee). Interviews focus on musical influences, songwriting, relationships with fans, and the importance (including the joys and war stories) of touring, including early gigs and venues (e.g. the Wetlands in New York City) that supported the emergence of the jam band scene.</div>