The Fifth Annual RAM JAM Festival: For some 39 years, RAMIRO "RAM" AYALA owned & operated a colorful neighborhood bar on the north end of downtown San Antonio. For the last 20+ years of it’s run, that bar, TACO LAND, would become the hub of a fiery hot & fiercely independent underground music scene, with Ayala himself being looked upon as the "Godfather" of this vital scene. Over those years, Taco Land would play host, proving ground, and home base to virtually every South Texas band & musician of any significance, as well as being a San Anto tour stop for national acts on-the-rise like Southern Culture On The Skids, Gwar, L7, The Fleshtones, and too many more to list. To all who were fortunate enough to experience this defining period in San Antonio’s music history, Taco Land’s walls were hallowed, and Ram Ayala himself, a beloved & iconic symbol of what could be accomplished with a potent blend of music, soul, and attitude!
Tragically, in the early morning hours of June 24th, 2005, while most of the city was celebrating another Spurs NBA Championship, it was not fireworks, but gunfire that would shatter the collective world of Taco Land’s extended musical "family". Armed assailants intent on robbery would shoot & kill Ram Ayala and doorman Doug Morgan, and critically wound bartender Denise Koger (who thankfully survived her injuries). In one brief instance, a night of celebration became a night of infamy, shock, and sadness. Some might have been content to consider this terrible event the end of the Taco Land era, but it would have been even more tragic to close the book on everything that the "House of Ram" built & stood for all those years....
Though any night that one walked through the doors of Taco Land held the potential for a party, there was always one weekend in particular that absolutely guaranteed puro party punch.... Those were Ram’s Birthday Weekends, which rolled around the second week of April each year. When the time for Ram’s birthday approached in 2006, myself (Jerry Clayworth) & Saustex Media’s Jeff Smith knew that the best way that we could honor & celebrate our friend, as well as keep the spirit of Taco Land alive & well, was to continue the yearly bash.... I once jokingly asked Ram why so many bands vied to play his birthdays, to which he replied "Everybody wants to jam with the Ram"! So, it only seemed appropriate that we call this annual celebration the "RAM JAM".
This year’s Fifth Annual Ram Jam holds some extra special significance for a few reasons. It marks a half decade since the Taco Land doors wereabruptly & unexpectedly closed, yet even after five years, the faithful have not let the memories fade! We’ve also put together what is arguably the best overall band/music lineup that we’ve had for the Ram Jam over it’s first five years. And finally, because previous Ram Jams were such a success, this years party will once again be a TWO DAY EVENT (Friday & Saturday, April 9th & 10th)!! And as always, we’re sure to be joined by a virtual who’s-who of Taco Landers from near & far. Come on down to NIGHTROCKER LIVE and join us for a "Puro Pinch Party".... On the Taco Land side of the tracks!!
FRIDAY, APRIL 9th
12:30 am –The Sons Of Hercules
11:30 pm – Hickoids
10:30 pm – Loco Gringos (Dallas)
9:30 pm – Billy Joe Winghead (Oklahoma City)
8:30 pm – Exploding Sex Kittens
SATURDAY, APRIL 10th
12:30 am – Big Drag
11:30 pm – Snowbyrd
10:30 pm – Los #3 Dinners
9:30 pm – They Never Sleep (Detroit, MI)
(Featuring ex-God Bullies & Thrall members)
8:30 pm – A very special guest TBA
