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| Jay Lane @ Chase Center (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Chase Center held the first of a series of jam band concerts to come last Saturday outside the arena across from the Harmonic Brewing Company restaurant space as they continue to find ways to activate the area during the NBA offseason. Saturday’s lineup featured Jay Lane perfoming with an all-star roster of Bay Area jam scene musicians as “Jay Lane & The Mayhem,” as well as “China Dolls” a female-based Dead cover band led by former Further vocalist Sunshine Becker.
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| Jay Lane & The Mayhem @ Chase Center (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
A sunny day brought an enthusiastic and diverse crowd out where twirlers, passers by and weekend brunch diners all got the opportunity to enjoy terrific music outside on a perfect day. The Chase Center had multiple events going on and felt very much alive – despite the offseason. Keep your eye out for more of these free events as it was very well done.
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| Angeline Saris of Jay Lane & The Mayhem @ Chase Center (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
While the musical action was just getting started outside, Jay Lane and I retreated into an empty Chase Center seating bowl to briefly discuss his journey, influences, musical flexibility and immediate plans for the future as Dead & Company’s residency yields Las Vegas’ Sphere to The Eagles.
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| Jon Chi of Jay Lane & The Mayhem @ Chase Center (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
SFBayAreaConcerts: I see you swiss army knife into different genres. How did you get this approach?
Jay Lane: It's funny because I like different kinds of music. You know? I like George Jones, Busta’ Rhymes and lots in between. But not everything, right? And you don't get an opportunity to play (music like that) a lot of times. When I met Les Claypool, I wasn't really into that kind of music (Primus is generally considered alternative, funk metal). I was into King Crimson so I had some things that I could relate to a little bit - like I was into 80’s funk, so I could play really well with a funk bass player. And so that's how in my mind I kind of put it together. And back then everything was a little bit of ska - there was a big ska scene in the 80s – so everybody had a little bit of ska in their music. So, of course I had a little bit of ska influence. But when I joined my first band, The Uptones, they said “Don't play like Stewart Copeland.” I was like “Oh shit! That's exactly what I was gonna do!” But they turned me on to The Specials and English Beat and stuff I hadn’t known.
And then, as I got out of high school and started meeting different people, those people turned me on to the music they like. Mainly, I've been really fortunate to have the experience to play with a wide variety of people that play different kinds of music.
SFBAC: Lately, you’ve been playing a lot with Don Was and Mickey Hart, what do you take away from playing with them. How have they influenced you?
Jay Lane: Playing with Mickey is like I’m playing with the Grateful Dead - there's that actual sound of the Grateful Dead. I haven’t experienced that much double drumming and it’s incredible with him. I've usually only done single drummer gigs, so that's been a big growing experience for me. Don Was – his ears are just gigantic. He hears everything. I've found with Don, I’m learning what not to play as much as what to play – when to not play. I’m leaving big holes for music and that’s been really fun.
SFBAC: It’s been fun with Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros to see the accordion nature of the band - you’re playing with symphonies then playing as a trio in smaller venues and then back to bigger venues. What is it like to play with Wolf Bros?
Jay Lane: It’s great because Wolf Bros is a gig where Bob gets to be featured. Playing with him in Rat Dog since 1994, I’ve learned how to play really well with Bob and to feature him. It’s really easy for him to get drowned out with the music in different scenarios. I think that's why he likes the Wolf Bros – especially the trio stuff. For years I’ve seen him – and it’s not like anyone is stepping on him (in other bands) - but it's just he's a rhythm player and he does that role and other people do their other roles. But, when those instruments aren’t there, he’s able to be spotlighted more.
SFBAC: Golden Gate Wingmen, Electric Beethoven – I’ve shot you in so many different configurations – do you have one particular vehicle you are going to be going forward with?
Jay Lane: The one thing I really like is Alphabet Soup, this hip-hop jazz thing we've been doing over the years. The guys moved to New York, so we don't get together that often. But, when we do, its always magic - even though that band has never rehearsed. So, I really enjoy doing that. Also, in the meantime, I'm doing Jay & The Mayhem with Jordan (Feinstein) here.
SFBAC: How did Jay & The Mayhem come about?
Jay Lane: Actually, Matt Loski from the Fillmore put it together for an opening slot for ALO for the concert out in Orinda. Instead of the usual “and Friends,” Matt came up “and The Mayhem”. I liked the idea and I’ve never really done anything under my name, but I figure now is the time to try to do something like that. I like to keep it real loose – not all Grateful Dead songs. We’ve got some Dead, but also R&B and different stuff.
SFBAC: Anything else you want to share with people?
Jay Lane: Yeah. I hope to do more local gigs. I really like that there is a lot of music happening in the Bay Area again and I want in!
