Leslie Mendelson & Miles Kimock Among Steve Kimock & Friends Guests In Fayetteville

Guitarist Steve Kimock celebrated the 25th anniversary of his Steve Kimock & Friends project and his 64th birthday over the course of a three-night stand at George’s Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville, Arkansas over the weekend. Steve, bassist Reed Mathis, keyboardist Jeff Chimenti and drummer John Kimock were joined by a number of guests in Fayetteville including Leslie Mendelson and Miles Kimock.

The run started on Friday with a show that included such Kimock repertoire classics as “It’s Up To You,” “Why Can’t We All Just Samba,” “Nana’s Chalk Pipe” and “Philadelphia Mambo.” Tanya Shylock of opening act Mountain of Venus emerged during the second set to lead the group through a take on Kris Kristofferson’s “Me & Bobby McGee” that also featured Miles Kimock on guitar. Steve Kimock & Friends ended the night by pairing Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” with the Grateful Dead’s “Terrapin Station.”

Saturday’s celebratory concert came on Steve Kimock’s birthday. The quartet followed the “Ice Cream” opener by working both “The Other One” and the “James Bond Theme” into an instrumental “Bird Song.” Leslie Mendelson then came out to add piano and vocals to a cover of George Harrison’s “I’d Have You Anytime” and the Kimock original “Mother’s Song.” Miles Kimock joined the quartet to close the first set on Saturday with “Golden Road” from Steve’s Zero days.

Steve Kimock & Friends kicked off Saturday’s second set with the beloved “Tongue N’ Groove” and the Grateful Dead’s “Help On The Way” > “Slipknot!” Mendelson returned to the stage for a take on Daniel Lanois’ “The Maker” and Miles Kimock then added to “Five Before Funk” ahead of the “Many Rivers To Cross” closer.

The guest action on Sunday began towards the end of the first set when Mendelson, Shylock and legendary guitarist Earl Cate emerged for the Jerry Garcia Band repertoire staple “My Sisters & Brothers.” Mendelson stuck around for covers of John Anderson’s “Mississippi Moon” and Bruce Cockburn’s “Waiting For Miracle.” The latter also featured Shylock on vocals. Steve Kimock went on to dedicate the second set to Ginger Baker, who died earlier in the day. Leslie came back out for a run of “Crazy Fingers” and “Satellite City” before Cate, Shylock and guitarist Mike Pascale augmented the quartet on a version of “You’re The One” featuring a bit of “Pusherman” within. The core Steve Kimock & Friends quartet ended the run with an instrumental rendition of the Grateful Dead’s “Stella Blue.”

Setlists & Full Show Audio Taped by Fred Nicolois

Friday, October 4

Set One: It’s Up To You > Dark Star, High & Lonesome, Anorexia, Why Can’t We All Just Samba

Set Two: Nana’s Chalk Pipe, Philadelphia Mambo, Me & Bobby McGee (w/ Tanya Shylock on vocals and Miles Kimock on guitar), Little Wing > Terrapin Station

Saturday, October 5

Set One: Ice Cream, Bird Song > The Other One > James Bond Theme > Bird Song, I’d Have You Anytime (w/ Leslie Mendelson on vocals & piano), Mother’s Song (w/ Leslie Mendelson on vocals & piano), Golden Road (w/ Leslie Mendelson on vocals & piano & Miles Kimock on guitar)

Set Two: Tongue N’ Groove, Help On The Way > Slipknot!, The Maker (w/ Leslie Mendelson on vocals & piano), Five Before Funk (w/ Leslie Mendelson on vocals & piano & Miles Kimock on guitar), Many Rivers To Cross

Sunday, October 6

Set One: Point Of No Return, New Africa, Gomorrah, My Sisters & Brothers (w/ Leslie Mendelson on piano and vocals, Tanya Shylock on vocals and Earl Cate on guitar), Mississippi Moon (w/ Leslie Mendelson on vocals & piano), Waiting For A Miracle (w/ Leslie Mendelson on vocals & piano and Tanya Shylock on vocals)

Set Two: Butter > Bad Hair > Butter, Tangled Hangers, Crazy Fingers (w/ Leslie Mendelson on vocals & piano), Satellite City (w/ Leslie Mendelson on vocals & piano), You’re The One (w/ Earl Cate on guitar, Mike Pascale on guitar and Miles Kimock on guitar), Stella Blue