Melvin Seals Joins Joe Marcinek Band For Dead Funk Summit In Chicago – Review & Videos

Words by: Kevin Kaufmann

Joe Marcinek Band :: 12.9.17 :: Martyrs’ :: Chicago, IL

The Joe Marcinek Band (JMB) played their Dead Funk Summit on Saturday at a packed Martyrs’. As is standard for JMB, this iteration of the lineup featured a strong collection of musicians who provided a funky, bluesy, Dead-infused show that lasted well into Sunday morning at the renowned Chicago North Side venue.

Many in the audience were on hand to see Melvin Seals, the legendary keyboardist for the Jerry Garcia Band but the rest of the group wasn’t a B-squad. Playing alongside guitarist Marcinek this night was Alan Evans from Soulive on drums and Tony Hall from Dumpstaphunk on bass and vocals. Though billed as a quartet, the JMB experience felt like a P-Funk All-Stars show at points with various musicians rotating in and out throughout the night. Rick King, who played drums for the opening act, provided additional percussion making JMB a quintet for the evening.

The band started off with a slick, almost smooth song, “Movin’ and Groovin’.” It provided an introduction to how deft Marcinek is, slipping in and out of different styles and genres. For “Movin’” Marcinek channeled George Benson while welcoming the audience. The Temptations cover “Shakey Ground” followed, bringing a funky swagger. It was also the first opportunity, but not the last, to feature Evans and Hall with strong bass and drum solos. Evans’ jazz inspiration was especially on display, creating a solo rich in texture and diversity, as opposed to the more standard rock drum solo. Marcinek took the closing jam to a darker, spacey place that provided a counterpoint to the deep funk.

The Marcinek original “Holtsford” from 2016’s Slink demonstrated Marcinek’s ability as a composer and also gave Seals his first turn in the spotlight. Throughout the performance the audience called out to Seals, and he consistently interacted with the crowd’s good cheer.

[Fire On The Mountain | Captured by John “Nunu” Zomot]

But folks wanted the Dead part of the summit, make no mistake. The second guest appearance of the night, Doug Hagman from Terrapin Flyer came on to add vocals on “Scarlet Begonias,” which got the crowd amped but it was the segue into “Fire on the Mountain” that brought the night to a climax. Making this an extraordinary cover was that it played to the strengths of the band assembled, namely it was a much more funky version of “Scarlet/Fire” than one might find from a Grateful Dead performance. The only unfortunate moment came when Hall messed up the lyrics of “Fire.” Marcinek stepped in for the second and third verses, getting things back on track.

Seals took the lead on vocals for “That’s What Love Will Make You Do” a carry over from the Jerry Garcia Band which was followed by “Dreams” bringing Hall back to lead vocals. The third special guest of the night, Alex Wasily brought his trombone out to play a strong solo. Marcinek then went into yet another mode of guitar virtuoso, playing an almost psychedelic slide solo.

Another cut from Slink, “Soffa” brought things back to a funky place, but it was the set closer, “Red Hot Mama” that invoked the spirit of Parliament. Wasily was joined on saxophone by Stephen Burrtee to provide an impromptu horn section and Marty Sammon sat-in with Seals on keyboards. What started as a quartet finished the night in raucous fashion as an octet.

[Shakedown Street | Captured by John “Nunu” Zomot]

After a cake was presented to Hall for his birthday, the band tore into “Shakedown Street” for an encore that felt more like an opening of a second set than a way to finish off the night.

Sammon and his band (featuring King) were the opening act. A veteran of 14 years touring with blues legend Buddy Guy, Sammon got the night rolling with an hour long set. The quartet provided a perfect bluesy, funky warm up to the Joe Marcinek Band.