Superjam brings the sounds of the '70s and '80s to Jackson for free concert

Remember those heady days in the late '70s and early '80s? Jackson native Dave Farver does, and he and his St. Louis-based band, Superjam, are returning to his hometown to remind people just how much the old days rocked.

The band will bring its repertoire of classic arena staples to Jackson's Nick Leist Memorial Band Shell on Sunday for a free concert alongside the Jackson Municipal Band. The concert will run from 3 to 6 p.m.

Farver, the band's lead vocalist and saxophone player, has roots in the community that run deep, having fallen in love with music in his youth and taken lessons from area musicians. Some, such as saxophonist Pat Schwent, aka Saxy Jazz, are still prolific performers around town.

"I'd have to give a lot of credit to Pat Schwent," Farver said. "She always encouraged me."

In fact, Schwent set him up playing his first live gig when he was still a student.

"She invited me to be a part of this Dixieland thing at a political convention," he recalled. "She always inspired me growing up."

He purchased the saxophone he now uses from Schwent, too, but said he also looked up to the band shell's namesake.

"I'm really happy that they decided to dedicate the band shell to Nick Leist," he said. "He was a leader in the Jackson music program."

But Sunday's show won't be Farver's first time on the Nick Leist Memorial Band Shell stage.

"I performed there when I was in the municipal band in high school," he recalled. "And also in a really horrible cover band on that same stage once. Now I have a chance to redeem myself with a band who knows what they're doing."

He's only half-joking about the redemption bit, but the real reason he's excited to play there is the opportunity to connect with a hometown audience.

"I'm intimately connected with that area in Jackson," he said.

He said Superjam prides itself on the authenticity of its live shows.

"Personally, I just like playing in front of people," he said. "It's a really good thing to see people's faces light up."

It helps, too, that the songs Superjam plays are widely recognizable classics from Rush, Styx, 38 Special, Journey and others, but Farver said that at a Superjam show, you're not hearing a recording; you're hearing a human band.

"There's more of a connection when you have live music," Farver said. "And some people just like the challenge of playing. It's intricate music. It contains technical gymnastics."

But the band has proven more than capable in its five-year history. The Riverfront Times named Superjam the best cover band in 2013 and best tribute band in 2010.

Farver said performing is the most satisfying aspect of his job.

"It's all music that I grew up listening to," he said.

But being a professional musician isn't all about being a rock star. Farver said one of the greatest challenges the band faces is squeezing in time to practice its "super jams."

"It's just trying to get five adults in the same room to learn the songs," he said. "You have to justify the time you spend, because you definitely have to rehearse. The next challenge is finding gigs. You have to get paid for your efforts."

In addition to Farver, the five-piece band includes bassist Jeff Gallo, lead guitarist Eric Lysaght, keyboardist and guitarist James Wolfe and drummer Ken McCraw.

For those who like to rock but won't be able to make it out Sunday, Superjam also will play Sept. 25 in Sikeston, Missouri.

The '80s Bash to Raise Some Cash, hosted by the SEMO Food Bank, will mark its 30th anniversary with an '80s-themed party featuring Superjam. Tickets for the charity show are available at www.semofoodbank.org or by calling (573) 471-1818.

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627

Pertinent address:

Jackson City Park, Jackson, Mo.