Neighbor Plays Dead & Delivers ‘Silver’ Rock Opera In Reverse At Soundcheck Studios Residency

Neighbor resumed a weekly residency at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke, Massachusetts on Tuesday (March 5) commemorating the band’s fifth anniversary. The Boston-based quartet’s “New Orleans Night” featured guest appearances from members of Playing Dead on a Grateful Dead cover debut and more as well as a sit in from one of bassist Dan Kelly’s The New Motif bandmates during a show that included a performance of Neighbor’s “Silver” rock odyssey played in inverse order.

Fittingly, the Big Easy-themed concert began with original “New Orleans.” The opener bled into a cover of Little Feat’s “Skin It Back.” Neighbor — Kelly, drummer Dean Johnston, guitarist Lyle Brewer and keyboardist Richard James — then played the bluesy “Dark Eyed Junco” before drummer Sean Bell replaced Johnston on “City Cituation.” Dan Kelly and Sean Bell are members of The New Motif, a Massachusetts-based band that also features current Spafford keyboardist Cory Schectman. Neighbor had only performed The New Motif original “City Cituation” three times previously. Multiple “City Cituation” were fit into the rest of the show.

Dean Johnston was back behind the kit as Neighbor continued on by linking jam-infused staples “The Weeds” and “Lonely Rider.” After the James-penned original “Chickens,” the quartet brought out Playing Dead keyboardist Mark Munzer and guitarist Vic DeRobertis for the final two songs of the set. Playing Dead are a Grateful Dead tribute act that plays Soundcheck Studios regularly. Munzer and DeRobertis contributed to Neighbor original “Sail On” and the band’s first-ever cover of the GD ballad “Ship Of Fools.” Vic DeRobertis handled lead vocals on the Hunter/Garcia-penned favorite.

Neighbor devoted the vast majority of Tuesday’s second set to a complete rendering of their “Silver” rock opera. However, unlike past performances of the “rock odyssey” the band played the 10-song suite in reverse order. Usual closer “We Need You” started “Silver” at Soundcheck Studios ahead of such songs as “Planet Silver,” “Silver III,” “Ulsa” and “Magic Marble Crew.” The penultimate number of the frame was “Silver” opener “Milwaukee Talkie.”

Richard James stayed on stage after “Milwaukee Talkie” as he bandmates departed. James delivered a solo rendition of “White Flag” to end the night sans encore. After a lengthy intro, Ricky asked the crowd to sing along with the “cathartic” song and fans complied in full force. While the residency is scheduled for five weeks, the keyboardist hinted at a sixth show being added to the celebratory run before leaving the stage.

Watch full-show video and stream an audience recording taped by Mike Bogigian below:

Setlist (via NeighborTunes.net)

Set One: New Orleans[1] -> Skin It Back, Dark Eyed Junco, City Cituation[2], The Weeds > Lonely Rider[3], Chickens[4], Sail On[5], Ship of Fools[6]

Set Two: We Need You, Planet Silver > Silver III > The Comet > Ulsa[7] > Silver II > Magna Zero, Silver I > Magic Marble Crew[8] > Milwaukee Talkie, White Flag[9]

Footnotes:

• [1] City Cituation (The New Motif) and Pine Tree teases.
• [2] Sean Ball (The New Motif) on drums.
• [3] Taxman (The Beatles) and City Cituation (The New Motif) teases.
• [4] Tweezer (Phish) tease.
• [5] Mark Munzer (Playing Dead) on keys and Vic DeRobertis (Playing Dead) on guitar.
• [6] First time played (The Grateful Dead). Mark Munzer (Playing Dead) on keys and Vic DeRobertis (Playing Dead) on guitar and vocals.
• [7] Crashing Down tease.
• [8] City Cituation (The New Motif) tease.
• [9] Ricky solo. Extended instrumental intro.