When Chris Weiss found himself burning out from the demands of being in a band, the guitarist jumped aboard a whole new bandwagon – known today as “Jam Camp.”
Weiss, owner of Oak Creek-based CS Construction, devotes four to five hours one day a week to jamming out with up to a dozen local musicians in the basement of a participating drummer’s Cudahy home. The group’s open sessions, which they refer to as Jam Camp, give them the creative time and space needed to practice songs they know or harmonize with each other off the cuff.
Weiss, who has played guitar for 33 years and belonged to seven bands throughout his music career, helped form Jam Camp almost three years ago and has continued to welcome new talent to the circle.
Together, Jam Camp members play styles ranging from bluegrass to hard rock, recording each of their sessions. While they have yet to perform in public, Weiss anticipates stepping back into the spotlight soon.
Taking time to jam is something he looks forward to each week, he said, as he thrives off playing in a group setting.
“Playing by yourself, it’s OK, but it’s just not as much fun as playing with other musicians,” Weiss said, adding that music sounds much better when created with others.
