Students wanting to fulfill their jam band cravings have an opportunity to
do so when Col. Bruce Hampton and The Codetalkers jam out an all-ages show tonight at Crowbar, 420 E. College Ave.

The performance will also feature The Dead guitarist Jimmy Herring, also formerly of The Allman Brothers Band.

According to the band's Web site, www.thecodetalkers.com, "The Codetalkers create a high-energy blend of jam-rock with jazz, blues and funky bluegrass, and shows often feel like a cross between a tent revival and a foreign circus act."

Greg Gabbard, owner of City Lights Records, 316 E. College Ave., said that although he isn't very familiar with The Codetalkers, he knows of Hampton when he was part of the Aquarium Rescue Unit (ARU), which also included Herring.

"There was actually a Penn State graduate who played the drums for ARU, but he said they were too crazy for him," Gabbard said. "He said that you never knew who was going to be in the band, or sitting in with the band because the line-up changed almost nightly."

Gabbard said that ARU was doing all kinds of different genres such as bluegrass, rock and jazz into one kind of jam-band unit.

He said that Herring's current position as guitarist for The Dead could very well have been due to the training ground atmosphere that ARU and Hampton's other projects have provided.

"[Col. Bruce Hampton] never really made it big, he is more of a regional fixture in the south, but a lot of his former band members have gone on to a lot more successful bands," Gabbard said. "Guys play with him for a while, and then go to The Allman Brothers Band, or Leftover Salmon or Phil Lesh's band."

Bobby Lee Rodgers, vocalist and guitarist for The Codetalkers, said that the band's main goal is just to have people leave the venue with a smile on their faces and positive outlooks on life.

"Music is a healing process, that's why people go see it," he said. "That's why I like it. If you have the wrong intention in the music it will eventually get you."

Rodgers said that The Codetalkers frequently have guest performers sitting in with the band, such as a recent sit-in by Derek Trucks and the band's current tour with Herring.

"Go through the whole jam band scene, and someone from just about every band has sat in with us," Rodgers said with a laugh. "Not just anybody, but you know, friends; People that we know and know our stuff."

Rodgers said that Herring wanted to go out on tour with the band because he really loved the music and the guys get along with him well after knowing him for years.

"The fun part is playing, that's what I really love, and traveling," he said. "It doesn't matter how good anything else is, joy can come across, if there is good intention in the music."