Always vibey and fun and it just feels like home, I had a new experience at the Brooklyn Bowl last night as, for the first time ever, I got a media pass at the door as this review will be the first published work of my lifetime. Writing is, for me, a labor of love. While I’ve always been happy to share my work, I never dreamed that my words would literally open doors. I am forever grateful to the Freaks List for reuniting me with my passion, and giving me the forum that led this amazing opportunity.
2019/10/11 Melvin Seals and JGB feat. John Kadlecik (George Porter Trio opened)
@ Brooklyn Bowl
The Brooklyn Bowl was treated to a nice double bill last night as George Porter Jr. and his trio opened for Melvin Seals and JGB feat. John Kadlecik. Along with Michael Lemmler on keyboards and Terrence Houston on drums, the ageless and eponymous GPJ’s bass and vocals led the way for a 75 minute opening set of NOLA funk. Cissy Strut, something of a New Orleans anthem thanks to The Meters, was an authentic offering with signature bass lines and what sounded like a beautiful jazz bar piano interlude thanks to Lemmler’s keyboards. Terrence Houston is an eye catching drummer, delicate when necessary, but constantly energetic, somewhere at the nexus of jazz and funk. And for a band that improvises to the point of not even writing setlists, They Love Each Other, led by Porter’s bass solos and deep gravelly voice, was the perfect choice to get the crowd ready for Melvin, a perfect funk salad of Jerry tunes whetting our collective palate for the main course.
Taking the stage promptly at 9:30, Melvin Seals and JGB feat. John Kadlecik opened with a gorgeous How Sweet It Is. John-Paul McLean is a worthy bassist with the chops to take impressive solos and the rhythm section of he and Pete Lavezzoli impressed all night. Vocalists Mary eL and Lady Chi lit up the stage and their playful back and forth with Melvin is fun to watch. But there’s a reason the big man on the keys and organ gets his name on the marquee, lighting up the Brooklyn Bowl with joy every time he took a solo on the Hammond B3. Largely due to the 18 years he spent playing with the Jerry Garcia Band, his playing just feels so familiar and authentic, bringing joy in spades, spread in a wide arc from the huge smile he always wears. A tasty After Midnight > Eleanor Rigby > After Midnight sandwich, made famous by the JGB release of the Kean College show from 2/28/80, highlighted why John Kadlecik’s name now shares said marquee with Melvin. To think that earlier in the night someone was overheard saying Kadlecik’s voice is okay but he can’t play guitar…um, yeah, no. Wonderful World ensued and the love fest was on, at least until Get Out Of My Life Woman conflicted the love story woven through the early part of the setlist. Melvin really shone on that one, not to be outdone by a gorgeous bass solo from McLean. I’ll Take A Melody again gave the spotlight back to Kadlecik before a rollicking Cumberland Blues.
Melvin took lead vocals for the only time of the night on Bob Dylan’s Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door followed by Lonesome and a Long Way From Home, the second Eric Clapton song of the evening (if you count After Midnight, a song popularized by Clapton but written by JJ Cale) Lucky Old Sun provided a nice bathroom break, an idea apparently shared by most of the sold-out but comfortably crowded venue, and gave me a chance to relocate stage right to enjoy the rest of the show from right under Melvin’s Hammond. Sisters and Brothers dutifully brought the dance party back before the set closing sequence of Help on the Way > Slipknot! > Terrapin Jam > Midnight Moonlight, which inspired some hair raising goosebumps and left the crowd feeling jubilant.
All these cats can really play…what a pleasure it was to join them and dance it up (16,854 steps) as they took a really fun catalog out for a two-hour stroll through the Brooklyn Bowl!
Link to NYSMusic published review…
