A rainy Thursday evening in early March set the background to a time machine concert at Nietzsche's. Melvin Seals & The Jerry Garcia Band brought their act to Allen Street, and I am sure glad they did, because the band channeled Jerry with keen ability.
I didn't recognize many songs by name (I'm a "casual plus" Grateful Dead fan and I don't know much of Jerry Garcia's solo material) but I'll be damned if there wasn't a single song that didn't have everyone around me singing along... I suppose if you're going to pay $26 to go to a show at Nietzsche's than there's a good chance you know the words to some of the songs that will be played.
The concert featured all the shiny, uplifting guitar solos and gospel choir vocals you would expect from a band bearing Jerry Garcia's name. Melvin Seals sat at the helm of his Hammond B3 organ and tickled the keys with all the tact of someone who has not only seen, but performed in, many rodeos. Dave Hebert of Dark Star Orchestra fame put on a master class in guitar playing throughout the night, always seeming at home with his instrument whether he was providing soulful bends or soaring leads (bonus points for him playing almost an exact replica of one of Jerry's main guitars).
The show started promptly at 9:00PM and the first set provided light and atmospheric jams with bright guitar solos and vocal harmonies. The second set started around 10:30PM and that is when the band brought all the energy of a runaway freight train. The band had all of Nietzsche's dancing, swaying, and singing by 11:00PM. The crowd was lost in a sea of heavy jams that ranged from heavily phased guitar solos to dreamy and atmospheric grooves.
There aren't many venues in Buffalo I can say what I'm about to say for, but after last night I don't think I will ever see a more talented group of musicians grace the stage of Nietzsches. The band nailed every song with effortless precision. I consider myself fortunate just to have played on the same stage as the JGB did last night.
Melvin Seals & The Jerry Garcia Band will be tearing the roof of Nietzsches once again this evening. Doors are at 8:00PM and openers Sonic Garden go on at 9:30PM. Melvin and company take the stage promptly at 11PM.
If you aren't going to see Van Halen at the First Niagara Center tonight then you better make your way to Nietzsches for JGB. Hell, I AM going to Van Halen and I might try to get to Nietzsches afterward depending on what time VH ends.
The following clip is from last night's show and will give you a good idea of what you're in for tonight:
