the Rex Foundation presents Let it Rock, a benefit featuring Chris Robinson Brotherhood, co-headlining with Melvin Seals & JGB featuring John Kadlecik
2015-06-26
the Warfield
982 Market Street, San Francisco, CA
8:00 PM, Friday, June 26, 2015

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2015 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2015 event list! ☸ On to the next event!

[8:01 PM lights down, announcements from Cameron Sears; Melvin relates that today is 34 yrs since his 1st appearance at the Warfield with Jerry]

1. [8:06 PM] I'll Take a Melody
2. [8:16 PM] How Sweet It Is!
3. [8:23 PM] They Love Each Other
4. [8:30 PM] Mississippi Moon
5. [8:40 PM] Tangled Up in Blue
6. [8:53 PM] Mission in the Rain
7. [9:02 PM] the Harder They Come
8. [9:12 PM] Knockin' on Heaven's Door
9. [9:21 PM] Dear Prudence
10. [9:29 PM] Midnight Moonlight
    [set ends 9:34 PM]

[10:03 PM lights down, announcements]

1. [10:05 PM] Boppin' the Blues
2. [10:11 PM] Roan County Banjo
3. [10:19 PM] Badlands Here We Come
4. [10:26 PM] I'm a Hog for You Baby
5. [10:36 PM] Jump the Turnstile
6. [10:45 PM] Star or Stone
7. [10:56 PM] Meanwhile in the Gods… »
8. [11:03 PM] jam »
9. [11:13 PM] Tulsa Yesterday
10. [11:26 PM] 100 Days of Rain
11. [11:37 PM] Beggar's Moon
12. [11:46 PM] Shore Power
13. [11:52 PM] Got Love If You Want It
    [set ends 12:02 AM]
     
    Encore
14. [12:03 AM] Big River
15. [12:10 AM] Catfish John
    [show ends 12:17 AM]

• Neal Casal: guitar, slide guitar, acoustic guitar, harmony vox;
• Mark “Muddy” Dutton: bass, harmony vox;
• Adam MacDougall: keyboards, harmony vox;
• Chris Robinson: guitar, lead vox;
• Tony Leone: drums.

Melvin Seals & JGB

• Jimmy Hubbard: bass;
• John Kadlecik: guitar, vox;
• Peter Lavezzoli: drums;
• Cheryl Rucker: harmony vox;
• Melvin Seals: Hammond B-3 organ, Roland RD700 keyboard;
• Shirley Starks: harmony vox.

Being a wise old head, I'd figured that attending a show on the eve of the weekend's long-awaited Fare Thee Well celebrations would be a bad idea, but Ting had other ideas, so we got our act together and made plans for a rockin' time at the Warfield.

First up for the evening was a 5:30 PM dinner with Maryanne Asta at Ananda Fuara, a few blocks away up Market Street. Yum! Maryanne was a key instigator – letting Ting in on a pair of extras – woo hoo!

Because we had such an early dinner, we arrived at the Warfield just as the line was starting to move, so while I walked back to the car to drop off some extra clothing and stuff, Ting worked her charm and eased into a prime spot on the drink rail. Just exactly perfect!!

The opening set from Melvin Seals and JGB was super fun. I love dancing to those tunes, and while the players may change from time to time, I'm really happy that Melvin has soldiered on, keeping the repertoire alive. Before launching into tonight's set, Melvin took pains to point out that tonight marked the 34th anniversary of his first Warfield show with the Jerry Garcia Band – and that they were going to play the same setlist as that 1981 show. The 1981 show was released as a digital download (for only a week!?) in 2013, entitled, appropriately enough, June 26, 1981, Warfield Theatre, San Francisco, CA. And it looks like Melvin is selling digital downloads of the show from his website, in case you're inclined to listen to the recreation.

Break offered a chance for folks to move around or seek fresh air – I used it as an opportunity to rest up for the coming CRB set, lounging on the floor and chit-chatting with neighbors!

Soon enough the smell of incense began to wash over us from the many sticks being burned onstage, and shortly thereafter, the mighty Chris Robinson Band hit the stage. Bursting forth with a fine take on Carl Perkin's 1956 classic, Boppin' the Blues, the set started out on a high note and simply kept on a-climbing as they went. The band revisited I'm a Hog for You, Baby, written in 1958 by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, recorded by the Coasters for a 1959 single, and covered a few times by the early Grateful Dead, then moved on through a solid half-dozen originals before ending the set with Slim Harpo's 1957 breakout, Got Love If You Want It. Heck yeah!

By this time, the crowd had thinned considerably, but those of us who stayed were treated to a sweet double encore before being sent out into a surprisingly warm San Francisco night. Good thing we made it!

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2015 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2015 event list! ☸ On to the next event!