Cobb >> Cobb Area Musicians, or C.A.M., has never been a band interested in hoarding the spotlight. Since their inception, their performance space as been as open as their arms. “We had no qualms about sharing our stage,” said band member John Gormley. “We always were open to having people come up and play with us.”
It was in this spirit that Gormely decided to begin an open jam night at the Village Pub in Cobb. All musicians — casuals, professionals and everyone in between — are invited. It’s not unusual for 80 people to attend, and every week there are new faces to be seen and voices to be heard.
It all started simply enough, with a few local performers kicking around the idea of organizing an open mic round table. But Gormley thought he could do better than a stage with a solitary microphone. He’d get a full band and PA system, taking things just a little farther than your basic open mic night.
“I really felt there was an interest that hadn’t really been tapped, both for the musicians and for the community,” he explained.
That’s not to say that full on jam sessions are a requirement. The first Sunday of every month the stage is open to any performance of any kind. If someone wants to step in front of the crowd armed with nothing more than a guitar and microphone, the audience will cheer them on all the same. Nothing is off limits, including comedy acts.
But more often than not, musicians take advantage of the full band. The open jam gives those currently without a group the opportunity to play with others. “It’s a great network too, for musicians to meet each other to connect,” Gormley said.
And for anyone who might not be able to commit to the time and energy required to perform regularly with their own band, an open jam is a chance to play music without all the pressure. Attendance is neither mandatory nor expected. Those who prefer to take on the role of spectator rather than performer are welcome to do so. Singing, playing, listening, it’s all on the table at the Village Pub every first Sunday.
When this began back during Memorial Day weekend, Gormley had expected the endeavor to start small and slowly gain momentum. But it was popular right out of the gate. The open jam only continues to grow as word spreads. And it probably doesn’t hurt that Barbara Flynn, owner of the Village Pub, serves food.
The large crowd may seem surprising to anyone who is unfamiliar with the residents of Cobb. Gormley, however, saw the numbers coming. C.A.M. did name themselves for the mountain’s music scene, after all. “My group of musicians, we’ve always said it’s amazing how much talent we’ve had in this one little area,” he said. “There is a ton of talent musically.”
Many members of C.A.M. attend the open jam nights, but the group is taking a bit of a breather at the moment, since one of their members moved to Florida and another is working a job out of the county. When they decided to step back from their music, the group had been together for 8 years, and they all decided it was time to slow things down. They’re not calling it a break, because they still perform together every couple of months, but their schedule is considerably lighter.
Is this a direct result of the Valley Fire, or would C.A.M. have made the move regardless? It’s hard to say. “The fire definitely contributed to it, no doubt,” Gormley said.
But there’s still plenty of hope for the future of the band. With loyal fans who still attend every show, Gormley believes one day they’ll return to where they once were.
One thing is for certain — the open jam is filling a void left by the destruction of the blaze. “People love to come together,” said Gormley. “And music soothes the soul.”
The jam takes place every first Sunday of the month from 6 p.m. to roughly 10 p.m. The Village Pub is located at 16365 Hwy. 175 in Cobb.
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
