Open mic jam tomorrow. Need funky soulful/ country jammin song ideas..HELP!

Hey fellas,

I'm doing a small impromptu jam at a family/friend BarBQ tomorrow. Its a yearly thing that is a no pressure environment but we have a PA and a capable sound guy, a kickin drummer, 4-5 guitarists with own rigs, a keyboard, couple fiddlers, even an accordian (!) etc.
Any ideas of simple yet interesting jamming songs out there? Often we end up regressing into Takin Care of Business, Suzie Q, Sweet Home Alabama, and 12 bar blues. Any less played alternatives you've found are sure-fire winners? I'm thinking of Scofields AGogo album with MMW or Deep Banana Blackouts stuff. Or even Kings of Leon Back Down South? Any other ideas? Thanks!

hey dealt...

what can you sing? Vocals are the lynchpin for jams like you describe.

When i hear about fiddles I immediately think of Bob Wills music. Songs like Rose of San Antonio, Take Me Back to Tulsa and Bubbles in my Beer are easy progressions and lots of fun. Fiddles also work well with country shuffles ala Ray Price-Crazy Arms, Pride, The Other Woman etc. Maybe Guitars, Cadillacs by Dwight Yokum for something a bit more contemporary? Any CCR song would likely work as well.

Dim lights, thick smoke, and loud, loud music.
It's the only kind of life you'll ever understand.

Johnny Cash- Orange Blossom Special, Luther's Boogie, Folsom Prison Blues, Rock Island Line.

workin man blues.

workin man blues.

Thats freaky. I was inspired by this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=C8jmcwkC0DY

And had decided to do it, got the chords and words ready for the other guys, then logged on here and lo and behold....
Getbent and I are thinking alike? Oh no...
:)
Great suggestions guys...

Some of that Stax/Memphis R&B works pretty well...

"You Left the Water Running"

R&B and Country arent too different...

"That Was Your Mother" Simon

You ever hear the Meter's version of Jambalaya? It's a good one to jam on and fulfills the funky/soulful/country requirement in my book.

http://grooveshark.com/#!/s/Jambalaya/37jsJc?src=5

Eleven Months and Twenty Nine Days - Paycheck

Awesome guys!

Jamfest is done, "Workin man Blues" was a real hit... must say its interesting, alot of these guys at the jam had a punk/alternative background. I could not for the life of me get anyone to trade licks during the breaks....and i ain't that great!!!
The B bender intimdates them
.. :)
I'll post vids soon...

Six Days On The Road, Tear Stained Letter, She Caught The Katy,

Another fun thing we did is take any good driving song and put a reggae beat to it. I found these punk/ska guys love the "and" reggae 32th note chop (as in one AND two AND three AND four AND etc.) Its easier than trying to show them how to comp or do a snappy, pluckin-chicken twang rhythm thing....(people are like, shut up and play....)
P.S. Don't ask a punk drummer to do a "train" beat. You'll stand there making train choochoo noises for a minute to try to describe it and then only get a blank stare for your trouble ....