Patrick McLemore runs visuals for Jambi, Echo Play Live's TOOL tribute. He's the only non-musician with a seat at the table, and the band would tell you that isn't a technicality. The video ensembles behind Jambi's set are not playback. They are built song by song, watched and timed against the band like another instrument, and they are a real part of why a Jambi show lands the way a TOOL show is supposed to land. Patrick got there through a friend named Cody, who handed him a TOOL record and pulled him into the local scene watching his old band Disavow at places like Broncos. He stayed in that orbit long enough that when Jambi needed a video guy, the seat was already his.
What Patrick brings is an analytical eye and a producer's instinct for the moment a song is supposed to hit. He talks about live shows the way he talks about handing a friend a great movie — watching their face during the big part to make sure it landed. That is the test he runs every show. When he's asked what makes a great tribute performance, his answer is direct: sound like the band. When he's asked what's hardest about his job, the answer is just as honest — improvising when the guys decide to take a song somewhere he didn't build a cue for. He's dry, self-aware, and quick to deflect credit. But his clearest line on what Jambi is doing isn't about him at all. It's about the show as a whole: if he saw it at a TOOL show, he wouldn't be bummed.
Read the full interview with Patrick
What first pulled you into music?
Mostly, it was my friend Cody. When I met him at Five Star Ford, he introduced me to TOOL, which kind of set me down this path. Then I went and saw his old band Disavow quite a bit at places like Broncos and was part of that music scene watching them. So when John came around and there was a spot for a video guy, I was obviously interested — they asked me, and that's what got me here.
What has music given you that nothing else really has?
I always wanted to be part of the bands whenever I was watching the guys. It always looked fun. It's cool to be a friend and you're there, but when you're part of the click, it's more fun. And now I get to be.
What do you feel like you bring to the band?
A really analytical style. I think of things a lot of people don't think of — at least before Evan was here. Now we just think of the same things. *[laughter]* But I also bring in the social media side, because I do that for my day job too.
What do you care about most when you're performing live?
It's kind of similar to when you're showing somebody a movie for the first time, and you're watching them during the big parts to make sure they react correctly. I'm watching people during the big parts of the video ensembles I put together — to make sure they hit just right, and that the crowd had the most tingly, happy feeling they could've had.
What do you want the crowd to feel when they watch you perform?
*That last answer pretty much covered this, but* — I want it to be immersive. I want them to feel like, "Oh, this isn't a tribute band trying to do it. This is how it should be." Like, if I saw this at a TOOL show, I wouldn't be bummed.
What is one song you always look forward to playing live, and why?
"Lateralus." I spent a lot of time on that one — watching TOOL play it live in several different versions, imagining how I'd build it probably before I was even in the band. So when it finally came around for the band to play it, I was super excited to build it. And I think I did a pretty good job with it.
What separates a decent show from a great show?
The crowd has a lot to do with it. If they're willing to scream and shout — because honestly, John pretty much nails it every time, so it's going to be a good show — then if the crowd's really into it and making some noise, that fires Josh up too. He'll start making a little noise, and that'll bring the energy for sure.
What makes a great cover or tribute performance?
The most important thing is that you sound like the band, which John pulls off excellently. We're not one of those tribute bands that goes all out completely imitating the band. We do a little bit here and there, but I think sounding like the band is the biggest thing.
And for a band like Jambi covering TOOL, everybody's going to wonder, "What's the Maynard like? What's the Danny like?" Those are the big ones for us. Nobody cares about Kevin or Evan on that one. *[laughter]*
What is harder than people realize about playing this kind of music well?
For me, it's whenever the guys are improvising and start doing crazy shit, and I don't have video for it. So I'm just sitting there like, "Oh, I guess I'll slow the video down to half speed and hope we get back to it eventually." For them, it's got to be the weird timing changes and all that. But for me, yeah — it's improvising when something goes wrong.
What does being part of Echo Play Live mean to you?
I feel really happy to be a part of it and to be a valued member of the team for the things I can bring. Even though I'm not a musician — I can't sing or play an instrument — it's really great to be part of an organized, well-run, focused group of guys my age doing this.
What can people expect when they come to one of our shows?
They're going to get guys who have put a lot of time, effort, and practice into bringing them the best show they can. We've been in front of tiny crowds, we've been in front of big crowds, and I don't really see that much of a difference in how the band performs — as far as putting out the best music they can. Obviously the energy is greater with bigger crowds, but the music is always there.
What would you say to someone who has never seen one of our shows before?
Find the nearest show to you. It'd be great if it's a bigger show — like a Granada or something, where the sound is amazing — and give it a chance. I think you'll find out you like it pretty quickly. It won't take you very long to realize, "Oh, these guys are for real. We're going to have a good time."