If there was any doubt that Portland, OR remains a Deadhead stronghold, Melvin Seals & JGB put those concerns to rest on Friday night, drawing a packed, tie-dye-clad crowd to the historic McMenamins Crystal Ballroom to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jerry Garcia Band. The storied 1,550-capacity venue—where the Grateful Dead themselves played in the ’60s—was filled to the brim as fans lined up around the block, a sea of colorful spirals and lightning bolts eager to welcome the spirit of Jerry Garcia back to town.
After a short acoustic opening set by local Dead tribute Garcia Birthday Band that many fans missed while still waiting in line, the floorboards were already bouncing when JGB kicked off the night with “I Second That Emotion”. The familiar Motown groove set the tone for a night rooted in soul, gospel, and improvisation, with longtime Jerry Garcia Band keyboardist Melvin Seals and guitarist/vocalist John Kadlecik steering the ship.
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A jaunty “Bright Side of the Road” carried a down-home country flavor, with Kadlecik and Seals playing off each other with natural chemistry. The band then slipped into the reggae sway of Bob Marley & The Wailers‘ “Stop That Train”, where Seals took center stage. His organ solo was a master class in storytelling, beginning with a simple, lyrical phrase before gradually swelling into a swirling peak that had the crowd screaming in awe, only to melt seamlessly back into the chorus.
Photo: Stu Levy – John Kadlecik, 9/5/25
The energy spiked with a brisk take on Elvis Presley’s “That’s Alright Mama”, driven by drummer Jeremy Hoenig’s locomotive snare pattern, before cooling off into the sultry ballad “Love In The Afternoon”. The first set climaxed with a particularly exploratory “Eyes of the World”. Kadlecik led the charge with fiery solos between every verse, before the rhythm section broke things down into a psychedelic drums-and-bass excursion. With Hoenig triggering electronic pads and Kadlecik using MIDI guitar textures, the improvisation took on a trance-inducing quality reminiscent of Mickey Hart’s Sphere experiments—albeit with the full band onstage and no visual frills. JGB then snapped the crowd back into party mode with a New Orleans romp through The Meters‘ “Hey Pocky A-Way”, complete with second-line stomp that made the old ballroom’s floorboards quake once again.
Melvin Seals & JGB – “That’s Alright Mama” (Elvis Presley) – 9/5/25
[Video: Johnnie Johnston]
Melvin Seals & JGB – “Hey Pocky A-Way” (The Meters) – 9/5/25
[Video: goldiecob]
Following set break, the band returned with a rocking instrumental jam before easing into a stirring rendition of Bob Dylan’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece”, sung with conviction by bassist John-Paul McLean. Melvin then took a turn at the mic for a soulful “That’s What Love Will Make You Do”, capped with a sizzling organ solo. Kadlecik followed with another Dylan cover, “Tangled Up In Blue”, which blossomed into one of the night’s most free-flowing jams. The interplay between his liquid lead lines and McLean’s playful bass runs recalled classic Grateful Dead, complete with subtle “China Cat Sunflower” teases and a deft key change to close.
Melvin Seals & JGB – “That’s What Love Will Make You Do” (Little Milton) – 9/5/25
[Video: J4LM]
The gospel-tinged “Sisters & Brothers” offered a communal moment of reflection before JGB revived the dance floor with “Let’s Spend The Night Together”. What began as a rollicking R&B workout evolved into a soaring jam that dissolved down to an a cappella section, highlighting the group’s crisp three-part harmonies. The band closed with a jubilant “I Was Made To Love Her”, leaving fans clamoring for more. Though the crowd cheered for an encore, Seals—ever the charismatic bandleader—smiled, blew a kiss, and hobbled offstage, signaling the end of the night.
As the tie-dye tide flowed back out onto West Burnside, the message was clear: Jerry’s spirit is alive and well, and Portland remains a city where it will always find a home.
Check out film photos from Melvin Seals & JGB at Portland’s Crystal Ballroom courtesy of Cosmic Aubservations, and click below to view a gallery of shots by photographer Stu Levy.
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Setlist: Melvin Seals & JGB | Crystal Ballroom | Portland, OR | 9/5/25
Set 1: I Second That Emotion, Bright Side Of The Road, Stop That Train, That’s Alright Mama, Love In The Afternoon, Eyes Of The World > Drum World > Hey Pocky Way
Set 2: We Be Jammin, When I Paint My Masterpiece, That’s What Love Will Make You Do, Tangled Up In Blue, Sisters & Brothers, Let’s Spend The Night Together, I Was Made To Love Her
