Melvin Seals Talks The Warfield 96th Anniversary Concert

Keyboardist Melvin Seals is no stranger to the stage at The Warfield in San Francisco, having performed at the historic theater many times. His next visit to the venue will be a special one as Melvin Seals & JGB will headline The Warfield’s 96th Anniversary Celebration on May 5.

Not only will Melvin Seals & JGB re-create a show that took place at The Warfield in 1988, but the night will begin with a tribute set in honor Jerry Garcia. Melvin will be joined by bassist Oteil Burbridge, drummer Rodney Holmes, guitarist Stanley Jordan and saxophonist Dave Ellis for the Garcia tribute set at The Warfield. Then, longtime Jerry Garcia Band vocalists Gloria Jones and Jaclyn LaBranch will augment Melvin Seals & JGB for the re-creation.

The theater holds a dear place in Melvin’s heart, “The Warfield is special to me because of many fond memories I hold with Jerry backstage and in the dressing room and because the fans always expressed how the Warfield shows were their church.” When asked about how he decided which show to recreate, Melvin said, “It was a conglomeration between the Warfield and the fans and myself looking for the best show to recreate and this is just one of them.”

The last Jerry Garcia Band shows at The Warfield took place April 21 – 23, 1995; just months before Garcia’s death on August 9, 1995. When thinking about those performances, there is one aspect Seals recalls in particular, “The jokes that Jerry and [Jerry Garcia Band bassist] John [Kahn] told at the dinner table downstairs always had us busting up laughing.” Melvin has a specific aim with the setlist for the Garcia tribute set, “To take you back to church. Some of Jerry’s favorite songs were selected to recreate that same electrifying energy that came through the music.” The B3 wiz is excited to perform with Jones and Labranch, whom he’s kept in touch with after all these years as “there is a bond with the surviving members [of the Jerry Garcia Band].”

Tickets for the show are on sale now via AXS.com.