This past weekend, Oteil & Friends made their way through the Northeast. After spending Thursday evening on the Brooklyn Bowl stage, the ensemble continued down the highway, arriving at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, N.Y. on Friday, May 15, where they welcomed special guest Leslie Mendelson. The group followed suit on Saturday, May 16, by bringing out Jaimoe, a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, for select songs during their performance at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.
Friday’s concert featured an assortment of highlights that drew from material originated or made famous by Jerry Garcia, the Grateful Dead, and The Allman Brothers Band, as well as new cuts from the bandleader and Lamar Williams Jr.’s newly released album, The Offering, which arrived on May 1 via Folki Studios. Mendelson filled the evening’s guest slot, lending her vocals to select numbers such as the first set “My Sisters and Brothers” and the second set’s “Deep Elem Blues.”
The group maintained their momentum at Saturday’s gig. During the event’s initial batch of songs, the band built toward Jaimoe’s arrival. After providing the audience with their take on “Rubin and Cherise,” the percussionist took a seat behind the kit and announced his entry via The Allman Brothers Band’s “Dreams” and the ensuing “Every Hungry Woman.”
Following a familiar pattern, the band locked into “Cats Under the Stars” during the tail end of the second set, with Jaimoe returning to help the group on Mighty Clouds of Joy’s “Mighty High.” Taking the evening’s encore slot was one final Allman Brothers cover, “Whipping Post,” which kept Jaimoe occupied behind the kit.
In a post thanking Jaimoe and tying some ABB strings, Oteil Burbridge shared:
We were so blessed to have Jaimoe play with us last night at the Mohegan Sun. It’s lifted everyone in the band’s spirits so much. Jaimoe probably had something to do with that! He played the entire second set with us after his first set sit in. Having him and Lamar Jr together is always so meaningful for me since Jaimoe is the one that brought Lamar’s dad into the Allman Brothers Band after Berry Oakley passed.
After completing their run in the Northeast, which also included a Sunday evening performance in Boston, the band will take a brief pause from the road. Following this weekend’s full slate of performances, Oteil & Friends will resume their touring schedule on Thursday, May 28, at the Iroquois Amphitheater in Louisville, Ky.