Chris Robinson Brotherhood- Turner Hall Ballroom, 6/18/14

The Chris Robinson Brotherhood may be the most organic jam band on the scene today.  While fronted by the same person of The Black Crowes fame, there are more differences than similarities between these two acts. The Chris Robinson Brotherhood perhaps evokes the spirit of the Grateful Dead more than any other currently touring act.  They are mellow and BIG on jamming and improvisation with most of their tunes clocking in at 8:00 minutes or longer.  Backed by top-notch musicians, Robinson and his band mates deliver a show with sweeping, mellow soundscapes and jams that could be relevant in 2014 or in the 1974.  Their timeless sound drew about twice as many people as attended their show last time at Turner Hall a couple of years ago.  In that time, the side-project has released three additional albums (a live one and two studio records) since their debut Big Moon Ritual from 2012.  While I was not as familiar with the band's more recent work, I found the first set closer, a cover of the Black Crowes "Roll Old Jeremiah" to be stellar.  As far as guitar work, Neal Casal did a fabulous job anchoring the Brotherhood with melodic riffs and jams.

copyright Benjamin E. Wick