Soulive Continues Bowlive With Oteil Burbridge, John Scofield & More At Brooklyn Bowl

Soulive‘s Bowlive VIII residency at Brooklyn Bowl in New York City rolled on Friday and Saturday. Friday’s concert featured special guests Oteil Burbridge, Victoria Canal and Elliot Skinner, while John Scofield and Avery Sunshine sat-in with Soulive on Saturday.

The trio of guitarist Eric Krasno, keyboardist Neal Evans and drummer Alan Evans kicked off Friday’s performance with a series of old favorites including “El Ron” and “Aladdin” off 2003’s Soulive, “Azucar” from 2002’s Turn In Out, “Outrage” from 2007’s No Place Like Soul and the recently debuted “Waves.” Soulive then brought out vocalist Elliot Skinner for a cover of The Beatles’ “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” to close out the first set.

Bassist Oteil Burbridge joined Soulive for their second set on Friday. Soulive and their old friend went with Burbridge’s “Butter Biscuit” to open the frame and then plucked “Hat Trick” from 2009’s Up Here. A cover of Bob Marley’s “Natural Mystic” was followed by Up Here’s “Backwards Jack” and a cover of Aretha Franklin’s “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” featuring both Skinner and Victoria Canal, who Krasno noted were his favorite singers. Oteil and Soulive closed out the set with renditions of The Beatles’ “Get Back” and “Manic Depression” by Jimi Hendrix before treating the crowd to an encore of the Grateful Dead’s “Fire On The Mountain.”

Satuday’s concert began with the eponymous “So Live” and early favorite “Cannonball.” After rolling through “Bubble” and “One In Seven,” Kraz was showcased on covers of Hendrix’s “Third Stone From The Sun” and Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Lenny.” The trio closed out the set with “Tuesday Night Squad.” Scofield was on hand for Saturday’s second set and led the band through his own “Kelpers,” “Boozer” and “Hottentot” as part of the action. In addition, Sco joined Soulive for their original “Nealization” and covers of The Allman Brothers Band’s “In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed” and the Ray Charles-popularized number “I Don’t Need No Doctor.” The last number also featured vocalist Avery Sunshine, who returned for the “We’re A Winner” (The Impressions) encore.

Three Bowlive VIII concerts remain. Marcus King guests with Soulive on Thursday, George Porter Jr. augments the trio on Friday and Sam Kininger is aboard for Saturday’s finale.

Setlists & Pro-Shot Full Show Videos (via Relix)

Friday, July 12

Set One: El Ron, Aladdin, Azucar, Outrage, Waves, Fire Eater, I Want You (She’s So Heavy)^

Set Two: Butter Biscuit*, Hat Trick*, Natural Mystic*, Backwards Jack*, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman*+, Get Back*, Manic Depression*

Encore: Fire On The Mountain*

• ^ w/ Elliott Skinner
• * w/ Oteil Burbridge
• + w/ Victoria Canal and Elliott Skinner

Saturday, July 13

Set One: So Live > Cannonball, Bubble, One In Seven, Third Stone From The Sun, Lenny, Tuesday Night Squad

Set Two (w/ John Scofield): Kelpers, Nealization, In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed, Boozer, Hottentot, I Don’t Need No Doctor (w/ Avery Sunshine)

Encore: We’re A Winner (w/ Avery Sunshine)