Concert Review: Melvin Seals & JGB Deliver a Powerful Tribute to Jerry Garcia in Nashua
An outstanding night of live music! On October 22, 2026, Melvin Seals and JGB drew several hundred fans to the Nashua Center for the Arts. Live music enthusiasts, especially fans of the late Jerry Garcia, enjoyed gathering at the modern, intimate 750-to-1000-seat venue at 201 Main Street in Nashua, New Hampshire.
Seals, a core member of the Jerry Garcia Band, formed Melvin Seals & JGB after Garcia’s death in 1995 to carry on the band’s music.
As the Jerry Garcia Band, Melvin Seals & JGB's musical style is varied, and this is reflected in the diverse music played by the band. The group played rock music that is influenced by blues, folk, country, and jazz in an improvisatory manner that is largely dominated by Seals’ solos. Rock versions of contemporary Americana are also prominent. The relatively languorous tempos are dictated by Melvin Seals and John Kadlecik.
As of 2026, the current lineup is Melvin Seals on keyboards, John Kadlecik on guitar and vocals, John-Paul McLean on bass, and Jeremy Hoenig on drums.
With a set list focused on Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead songs, the emotions were high at the Nashua Center for the Arts.
Seals & JGB covered many songs from Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead with the following setlist: Lay Down Sally, They Love Each Other, You Never Can Tell, Ain’t No Bread in the Breadbox, The Way You Do the Things You Do, Hey Pocky Way, Drum World, The Other One, Stella Blue, Let the Good Times Roll, Tears of Rage, Rosalee McFall, Money Honey, Mystery Train, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Dear Prudence, Sisters and Brothers, and Deal.
“A Melvin Seals show is a truly religious experience in the purest sense of the word. It’s like going to the best feel-good church service ever.” Those remarks were verified during Melvin Seals & JGB's performance in Nashua during the weekend.
Melvin Seals & JGB has proved once again that the group is one of the most complete tribute bands that carry the legacy of Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead.
ABOUT
In 1980, Melvin Seals joined the Jerry Garcia Band and remained a member until Garcia’s death in 1995. He has the third-longest tenure in the band, next to Garcia and bassist John Kahn. Seals played a few concerts with other former members of the Grateful Dead. Their idea was to continue playing the same music with everyone except Garcia himself.
However, Kahn died on May 30, 1996, and Seals became the bandleader. He formed JGB to continue the Jerry Garcia Band’s legacy.
Born in San Francisco, Melvin Seals began playing piano at age eight and began his musical adventure playing gospel music for his local church. Over the next several years, he joined a few different bands in San Francisco in which he played keyboards, particularly the electric organ. He went on to record and perform with artists such as Charlie Daniels, Elvin Bishop, and Chuck Berry.
On July 30, 2004, he was the first Jerry Garcia Band member to headline an outdoor music and camping festival named in honor of Jerry Garcia, called Grateful Garcia Gathering.
“As noted in Rolling Stone, when Garcia died in 1995 and the Grateful Dead went on hiatus, Seals took charge. Under his leadership, the slightly renamed ‘JGB Band’ pays tribute to Garcia by performing his songs and remaining faithful to his style.”
Comments