Saturday, March 21, 2020

Jerry Garcia Band: “Electric On The Eel: August 10th, 1991” (2019) Vinyl Review

In March of 2019, a Jerry Garcia Band box set titled Electric On The Eel was released. It contained three complete concerts the Garcia Band had performed at the same venue in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Then in April for Record Store Day, one of those shows, the one from August 10, 1991, was released on vinyl. The artwork on the cover was in green and purple. Then, in August, there was another pressing of that four-LP set, this time with a different cover, in orange and blue on a brown cardboard box. That’s the vinyl version I ended up getting. This record set contains a truly excellent concert, one that even casual fans will be able to appreciate.

Side A

Jerry Garcia opens the first set with “The Way You Do The Things You Do,” and right away his sweet vocals work to raise my spirits. This is a slightly mellow version, feeling just a bit slow, but I’m digging it. Its pace and vibe might help us ease into a better place, a place that might be nearby, but is normally hidden from view by daily worries and troubles. It takes a certain dose of magic to reveal it, and Jerry’s guitar is often just the thing. The jam is fairly loose, and Melvin Seals delivers some cool work on keys. There isn’t any real exploration in the jam; it’s more about letting the groove carry you. And as they finish the song, Jerry, Gloria Jones and Jacklyn LaBranch give us a beautiful vocal section. They follow that with a gorgeous and moving rendition of Van Morrison’s “And It Stoned Me,” with an easygoing vibe that should have you smiling before long. Everything about this is comforting, Jerry’s guitar like a beacon guiding us home. This is just what I needed, possibly what a lot of folks need now. Jerry’s voice sounds so good here, and accompanied by those soulful backing vocals, the song edges closer to a spiritual experience. And when Jerry starts to belt the lyrics out at the end, the universe feels all right. You know?

Side B

The Jerry Garcia Band turns to rock and roll with a cover of Chuck Berry’s “You Never Can Tell.” This is a delight, with that innocence, that sense of fun that Jerry is able to tap into with ease. His approach to Chuck Berry’s material is about the soul, the groove, the joy of it. The band jams on this one a bit, and it’s wonderful. Every second of this track is a joy. And Melvin Seals delivers some great stuff here. I wouldn’t have expected this particular song to be a highlight of this show, but there it is. They follow that with Bruce Cockburn’s “Waiting For A Miracle.” It may feel like we’re all waiting for a miracle these days, one that refuses to come, but listening to this music gives us a certain strength, the feeling that we are able to handle whatever problems may come. The band then dips into reggae with a cover of Jimmy Cliff’s “Struggling Man,” a song I’ve always loved. The first reggae album I ever bought was not Bob Marley’s Legend, but rather a live Jimmy Cliff album, and I listened to that thing over and over. This song was on it. David Kemper in no way dilutes that reggae rhythm, but fully embraces it, and that is part of what makes this such a joyous and vibrant rendition. There is a great happiness to this track.

Side C

“My Sisters And Brothers” feels like a perfect song for right now (and I suppose it always does), with lines like “Through this world of trouble/We’ve got to love one another.” This has such a positive sound, I can’t help but feel optimistic. I’m not into religion, but sometimes a touch of gospel music is just exactly the thing to raise our spirits and ease our minds. No way to deny that. And Jerry delivers it with a passion, making believers of us all. The first set then concludes with a rousing rendition of “Deal.” This is usually not one of my favorites, partly because it was played so often, and seemingly always as a Set I closer, but I have to say I am seriously digging this rendition. I think it’s because of the joy in the playing by the entire band. And the energy toward the end is tremendous.

Side D

The second set eases in with “Shining Star.” Jerry was on this night, especially vocally, and here he delivers a passionate and pretty rendition of the song made famous by The Manhattans. Jerry can deliver an earnest love song like the best of them. The jam is pretty too. It has a gentle ending, which works really well. Things then get fun with a groovy, delicious version of “Think.” The jam here is great, with a glorious energy, particularly from Melvin Seals. Holy moly, he really delivers here, helping to make this another surprising highlight of the show.

Side E

Things are hopping with the version of “Lay Down Sally” that opens the album’s fifth side. It has a cheerful groove that should keep you smiling. Honestly, it seems this entire concert is designed to raise our spirits. What better choice of music could there be today? The band jams on this one, while John Kahn maintains that delicious groove on bass. That’s followed by “Twilight,” a rare treat. This is a mellower, more soulful, more thoughtful number, written by Robbie Robertson and originally recorded by The Band. This version by Jerry Garcia Band is much better than the original, much more moving, and includes a sweet jam. Jerry really shines on these slower numbers “Don’t leave me alone in the twilight/Because twilight is the loneliest time of day.”

Side F

Jerry Garcia delivers another soulful and passionate vocal performance on “See What Love Can Do,” which was also a rarity. This is a song I just want to wrap myself up in, let it keep the troubles of the world at bay. “I want to see a smile on every face/When you tell your story/Be sure that it’s right/Every single word is true/See what love can do.” The band then eases into “Lazy Bones,” and I love Jerry’s intimate vocal performance right from the start. It is absolutely gorgeous. This is Jerry at his best. There is something gentle and soothing about this track, which is another highlight for me. It is a seriously beautiful performance.

Side G

The show then concludes with a fun and kind of sweet rendition of “Everybody Needs Somebody To Love.” Jerry’s take on this song is quite a bit different from the version most of us know by The Blues Brothers. This has a more relaxed tempo, but still with a bright energy. And the band lets loose during the jam. The eighth side of this album, by the way, contains no music, but has an etching in the vinyl which reads, “Jerry Garcia Band, Electric On The Eel.”

Record Track List

Side A
  1. The Way You Do The Things You Do
  2. And It Stoned Me
Side B
  1. You Never Can Tell (C’Est La Vie)
  2. Waiting For A Miracle
  3. Struggling Man 
Side C
  1. My Sisters And Brothers
  2. Deal
Side D
  1. Shining Star
  2. Think
Side E
  1. Lay Down Sally
  2. Twilight
Side F
  1. See What Love Can Do
  2. Lazy Bones
Side G
  1. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love
This vinyl edition of Electric On The Eel: August 10th, 1991 was released on August 2, 2019.

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