Article Contributed by Cameron Shepherd
Published on 2026-03-08
Melvin Seals & JGB | Port Chester, NY | February 28, 2026 | Photos by Jamie Huenefeld/Killahwave and Videos by Vinny Vallely
Melvin Seals & JGB returned to The Capitol Theatre on February 28, 2026 with special guest Robert Randolph, following an opening set from One-Eyed Jack. From the start, the night felt like a release and a reset. The kind of show defined by a deep need for the music.
As the lights went down, the room filled quickly. One-Eyed Jack hit their first notes and people followed the groove instinctively as attention shifted toward the stage. Big opening chords rang out, the rhythm settled in, and suddenly the night began.
“Breathe In” shifted something in the room. Adam Riley stepped into the lead vocals alongside vocalist Rosie Lazroe as the song gradually swelled into a full-band harmony. Gary Gallagher took the spotlight with a sharp guitar solo while Pete Tonti cut through the mix and Vincent Smith held everything steady on drums. The section slowed, stretched, and rebuilt until everything rose together again.
Later, their cover of “Up on Cripple Creek” by The Band carried a different kind of excitement. As a Zoomer, hearing songs like this live hits differently. These are classics I’ve known through recordings rather than lived experience, so when they’re performed with care, their impact is unmistakable. Joe Biglin stepped into the lead vocal, with Lazroe and Tonti backing him in tight harmony. Every piano strike landed clean and when the chorus rolled in, hands went up without hesitation.
What made this resonate wasn’t just the execution, but rather the joy and pure passion on Biglin’s face as he played. His deep connection to the song was evident. The performance felt more like an act of reverence than a simple rendition. That same sense of care carried through the entire set.
Along with the music, Melvin Seals & JGB created a visual experience that transformed the room. Live video from the band performing on stage washed across the walls of The Capitol Theatre with different colors and lights layered into psychedelic designs. Within the venue, the walls themselves became part of the show, creating a fully immersive experience.
As the night’s special guest, Robert Randolph’s presence was immediate with his sit-down slide steel guitar adding a unique layer to the mix. From the first stretch of notes during “Lay Down Sally” by Eric Clapton, it was clear he was fully part of the conversation and wasn’t just sitting in. The energy between him and the band made it exciting to see where the night would go. Check a montage of this tune by videographer Vinny Vallely.
“Stop That Train” by Bob Marley and the Wailers settled into a natural bounce, while “Ain’t No Bread in the Breadbox” by Norton Buffalo dug into a grittier pocket with guitar and bass trading weight. “Dancing in the Street” by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas lifted the room as the groove tightened and the crowd moved together. Melvin held it all steady, his Hammond B-3 grounding every turn.
The set shifted during the transition from “New Speedway Boogie” by the Grateful Dead into “Drum World”. What began unfinished opened into a fully immersive groove led by drummer Jeremy Hoenig, who layered percussion with synth textures, heavy beats, bongos, and unexpected sounds. The experience resembled stepping inside his creative mind, with his vision fully realized and guiding the direction of the room.
That energy carried straight into The Grateful Dead’s “The Other One”. Hearing these covers live for the first time hit me deeply. Growing up with these songs through recordings, experiencing them in the room felt like an honor.
That momentum flowed into Bob Marley and the Wailers’ “No Woman, No Cry”, where Randolph delivered one of the night’s defining moments. His handheld slide solo didn’t just follow the melody, it sang it. The lyrics could be heard in every bend and sustain, clear enough that the crowd could mouth the words even without a vocal line. The passage was entirely instrumental, yet unmistakable. This was no surprise coming from a musician fresh off his first Grammy win for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Randolph played with authority, fully present and deeply connected to the band.
As the final notes faded before set break, Melvin said directly to the crowd, “Everything’s going to be alright.” The words felt grounding rather than dramatic. The connection and love between the band and the crowd felt clear in that moment, and was the perfect way to send everyone into set break.
Set two arrived with the final Bob Marley and the Wailers’ tune, “Stir It Up.” This tune was delivered with warmth and ease, reminding everyone how powerful timeless songs can sound when played with care in such a historical room. For those who never had the chance to hear these songs live in their original era, Melvin Seals & JGB offered something remarkably close with music that carried history. Our videographer Vinny Vallely captured this perfectly in this short video.
“Money Honey” by Clyde McPhatter & the Drifters kept the momentum rolling into the final Grateful Dead tune of the night, “Friend of the Devil.” Bassist John-Paul McLean stepped into the spotlight on lead vocals during this classic song.
Rather than chasing peaks, the second set settled into flow, extended grooves, shared space, and a room fully committed to the ride. The night closed with a powerful jam during “Mystery Train” by Little Junior’s Blue Flames, where Randolph shined once again as the band pushed the groove further and further. Each member leaned fully into the jam. The room turned electric as the jam stretched out.
As the final notes faded, no one rushed for the exits. The night spilled naturally into Garcia’s, where the lobby buzzed with conversation and the music carried on courtesy of The Band Memo. In the middle of a long winter, this show served as a reminder of why nights like this matter, offering music as comfort, connection, and something that lingers long after the lights come up.
Melvin Seals & JGB are back in action on March 13 at The Palace in St. Louis, MO. A two night stand in Colorado follows, with shows at the Belly Up in Aspen, CO on March 27 and The Fillmore in Denver, CO on March 28. Next, they head to the other Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA on March 29, followed by the Regent Theater in Los Angeles on March 30. In April, they will do a three night mid-western run, starting with the Park West in Chicago on April 17. Afterwards, they head to Milwaukee, WI for a show at The Cooperage Milwaukee on April 18, followed by the Majestic Theater in Madison, WI on April 19. On May 1 and 2, they will perform at Cafe Istanbul as part of Jazz Fest in New Orleans, LA. They will make a festival appearance at Dark Star Jubilee, which is being held on May 22-24. Head on over to their tour page for more details about these shows, and other dates on their ledger.
Check out more photos of Melvin Seals and JGB, as well as One-Eyed Jack.
Date: February 28, 2026
Venue: Capitol Theatre
Location: Port Chester, NY
Band: One-Eyed Jack
Set: Euria, Back Home, Breathe In, Grindstone, Cripple Creek, Scarlett, Fog and Fire
Band: Melvin Seals & Jerry Garcia Band with Robert Randolph
Set One: Lay Down Sally, Stop That Train, Ain’t No Bread in the Breadbox, That’s All Right, And It Stoned Me, Dancing in the Streets, New Speedway Boogie > Drums > The Other One, No Woman, No Cry
Set Two: Hey Pocky Way, Stir It Up, Money Honey, Friend of the Devil, Mystery Train, I Was Made to Love Her
