re: what is the fascination with jam bands? is it a 20 something phenomenon?

I was really into them through my 20s (followed mainly the Dead and Phish around), and I pretty much grew out of it in my 30s. I still like to listen to the Dead some, but I missed out on a lot of music and great shows in my 20s through my single-minded focus on the jam band scene.

I still have a lot of friends in their 40s who are mainly into jam bands and spend their vacations going to see Phish, Panic, and others.