Concert Review: Oteil & Friends at The Royale in Boston, MA

The Royale, a nightclub on Tremont Street in Boston, MA, welcomed Oteil & Friends—headed by Oteil Burbridge—on May 17, 2026. The sold-out show was exceptional, and a man sitting next to me remarked that this was an extraordinary group of musicians playing unique jams, and that we were all so lucky to hear it. I completely agreed. The group transformed the Tremont Street Royale nightclub, already known as a vibrant top dance club with a high-level sound system and energetic atmosphere, into an unforgettable live jam band experience.

The fans, most of them from the “Baby Boomer” generation along with older “Deadheads,” were thrilled to listen to this supergroup of talented musicians perform songs by the Grateful Dead, along with a few from other bands. The music may have been covers, but the jams were entirely their own, and they were masterful. More than anything, the show felt completely natural. Instead of simply recreating songs, Oteil & Friends focused on the spirit of improvisation and musical connection.

The three-and-a-half-hour show featured an incredible mix of songs, including Grateful Dead favorites (Run for the Roses, Scarlet Begonias) and high-energy jam pieces (Morning Dew, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, The Way We Rise, Midnight Moonlight, and other incredible songs). With a talented lineup including Steve Kimock (lead guitar), Jason Crosby (multi-instrumentalist), Johnny Kimock (drums), Tom Guarna (guitar), Melvin Seals (keyboard and organ), Lamar Williams Jr. (vocals), and two-time Grammy Award–winning musician Oteil Burbridge (bass), Oteil & Friends is one of the most successful projects in the jam world. The Royale nightclub in Boston proved to be the perfect venue to host such a magical concert.

Setlist

1-Lucky Strike

2-Love and War (Lamar Williams Jr. cover)

3-Run for the Roses (Jerry Garcia cover)

4-Midnight Moonlight (Old & In The Way cover)

5-Morning Dew (Bennie Dobson cover often played by Jerry Garcia)

6-In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (The Allman Brothers Band cover)

7-Scarlet Begonias (Grateful Dead cover)

Set 2:

8-Just Around The Corner (Tom Guama cover)

9-Estimated Prophet/Money (Get Up Stand Up’ tease at the end)

10-The Way We Rise

11-Mother’s Song (John Kimock cover)

12- Hillbillies on PCP (Steve Kimock cover)

13- Time for the Sun to Rise (Earl King cover)

14-Every day is a Blessing

15-Turn On Your Love Light (Bobby “Blue”

Band cover often played By Grateful Dead)

16-If You See Their Lips Moving

17-That’s What Love Will Make You Do (Little Milton cover)