Live music review: Melvin Seals and JGB return to Austin 37 years later
When it was announced that Melvin Seals and JGB (Jerry Garcia Band) was booked by Deadeye the top Dead cover band in Austin for their annual Jerryfest celebration (Garcia’s 77th birthday was last Thursday) for two nights at The Mohawk last weekend, we scratched our heads. Not because the booking was strange, many a jam band has graced the outdoor stage at Red River’s popular venue. But because the group had not played Austin in so long. It had been 37 years according to local Dead fans who corroborated the claim with a set list found online from that performance at the old Austin Opry House. Seals people later confirmed via Facebook.
You can imagine then, the emotions that surfaced when we realized it had been over 22 years since we’d seen the Garcia side project-turned independent touring act which was now experiencing their own modest success story. The mostly sold-out two night stand in Austin is a testament to their longevity and talent.
Seals might look a tad slower getting across the stage with a few more wrinkles on his brow, but that’s all forgotten when the gifted keyboardist sits down at his vintage Hammond B-3 organ, ready to slay yet another audience with his dexterity and soul. A Melvin Seals show is a truly religious experience in the purest sense of the word. Like going to the best feel-good church service ever. Hammond bubbling up impossible solos the entire two set performance.
In addition to Seals, Dave Hebert took over guitar duties for Zack Nugent who recently stepped off tour permanently to pursue his solo career. Hebert and John Kadlecik will share touring guitar duties the remainder of this tour. Backup singers, Lady Chi and Sunshine Becker were up front and center, providing luscious harmonies behind the band’s lock-tight, tour-sharpened set. Pete Lavezzoli and Jean-Paul McLean rounded out the group on drums and bass guitar. It is an impressive, synchronous unit altogether.
Kicking off with “That’s What Love Will Make You Do” as if the band was going to play that old album recorded at the Warfield in its entirety. That didn’t happen but the show was momentous despite the crippling Austin summer heat. The heat combined with the humid air meant fans were gulping water from stations set up outside and inside the bar, that kept running dry before staff could refill them. At some point Melvin’s spellbinding organ playing made us forget everything but the master-class in organ performance Seals was putting on while his band kept the pace, each member contributing stand-out parts.
Garcia’s “Tore Up Over You” stood out with his classic Blue’s beat and sound which provided the perfect backdrop for mind-blowing solos by Hebert and Seals with Lavezzoli and McLean chugging along behind everyone, driving that train further. The band’s cover of The Grateful Dead’s “Deal” later in the show after set break made it appear all hell broke lose, with hippies dancing, throwing up their hands in triumph at the popular Dead tune.
The set got “churchy” again with “My Sister and My Brothers” featuring the Starks and Rucker on vocals. The gospel tune fits in well with JGB’s repertoire, highlighting the strengths of the group. The feel-good tune always puts a smile on our face, that’s for sure. Just like the affable Seals always puts a smile on his fans faces. The dude is just righteous.
See remaining Melvin Seals and JGB tour dates here.
All photos by Mike Cosmic
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