Chuck Teed fires up music from our backyards

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Garcia revisited

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JGB and Melvin Seals

When Melvin Seals hits the Kent Theatre Stage with The JGB October 3 and 4, expect nothing less than a transcendental experience.

"I'm very confident I can deliver the best version of JGB you've ever heard," says Seals during a recent interview with Wilfred Langmaid. "You'll be able to close your eyes and hear Stu [Allen, JGB front man] sing and play, and you'll see Jerry."

If anyone knows Jerry Garcia, it's Seals. A Hammond Organ wizard, Seals shared the stage with the Grateful Dead front man from 1981 until his death in 1995. Since that time Seals has maintained Garcia's legacy by performing his material far and wide.

The addition of Allen to the JGB lineup in 2004 has definitely upped the ante for those looking for an authentic, Garcia-worthy experience. A founding member of Grateful Dead tribute band The Jones Gang, Allen is by all accounts a dead ringer for Garcia, both in appearance and performance. Salty Jam musical director Brent Mason was duly impressed when he booked the band at the festival last year.

"I brought them in because I thought the Deadheads would come, but I spent half the show with my jaw on the floor because of how incredible it was," he says, laughing. "Melvin Seals is a monster on the B3 Organ, but guitarist Stu Allen is a dead ringer for Jerry." Seals agrees, claiming that the current incarnation of the JGB is the best yet. Considering the stellar talent he's performed with over the years, that's saying something.

"I know I have the closest thing I've ever had to emulating the sound of the Jerry Garcia Band," he says. "If Stu stays on track, he'll do great things."

Tickets for the event are $30 in advance ($40 at the door) and are available at Backstreet Records in Saint John and Fredericton.

Touring Grant

P.E.I. born, Halifax based songwriter Jenn Grant will be sporting some new tunes when she performs at A Khord October 2, and Sackville's Music Hall the following day. The award-winning artist recently finished her new disc at Puck's Farm in Ontario, and expects it to see the light of day early next year.

"We will be having our CD release in February," she says. "It's a valentine from me to you." Until then, Grant will work on her road chops. She recently finished a string of dates with former Rheostatic Martin Tielli, and will share the stage with Amelia Curran for a handful of Maritime shows. So far, she's enjoying her performance partners.

"I've known Amelia for years and am such a huge fan of hers," says Grant, who has performed alongside The Weakerthans and Feist, among others. "I'm just getting to know Martin, but I'm blown away by his performance, songwriting and arrangements. I'm very lucky to be playing with both of them." Grant will also share the stage with cousins Andrew and Robert MacIsaac during the East Coast leg of her current tour. She performed with the duo in her first band Navi, and looks forward to performing with them once again.

"It's going to be a little bit amazing," she says. "They've always been like brothers to me, so this will be a special tour."

Sproll for All

Moncton favourites Sproll are making the transition to the big stage, performing at UNB venue Memorial Hall October 4. Tickets for the show are $12, and are available at Backstreet Records and The Paper Trail in Fredericton. The band recently turned heads at The Atlantic Film Festival, where they showcased and shot a brand new video. Expect to hear more about these guys in this column soon.