TOMORROW · Multiple times
Melvin Seals & JGB
Boulder Theater · Downtown
SAT · Multiple times
Melvin Seals & JGB
Saturday, October 31 at Boulder Theater, Boulder
About this event
Melvin Seals is a powerhouse Hammond B-3 organist, producer and arranger whose sound has become inseparable from the spirit of the jam band world. He spent 15 years as a core member of the Jerry Garcia Band, joining in 1980 and helping define its soulful, genre-blending style. With his deep roots in gospel, blues, and R&B, Seals brought a warmth and groove that gave the band its unmistakable feel, locking in with Garcia night after night and elevating the music with rich textures and expressive improvisation. After Garcia’s passing in 1995, Seals stepped naturally into the role of bandleader, forming Melvin Seals & JGB and continuing to carry that music forward. Rather than treating it as a tribute, he’s kept it alive - stretching it, reshaping it, and bringing his own voice into the mix while staying true to the spirit of the original band. Decades into his career, Seals is still out on the road, delivering high-energy shows that pull from the same well of soul, spontaneity, and connection that made the Jerry Garcia Band so special. His playing isn’t just part of that legacy - it’s one of the reasons it still resonates today.
Who's playing
Seals joined the Jerry Garcia Band in 1980. He brought gospel, blues and R&B roots to its sound. After Garcia died in 1995, he formed Melvin Seals & JGB and became its bandleader. The group's bio lists John Kadlecik on lead guitar and vocals, with bass, drums and two backup vocalists alongside Seals on organ and keyboards.
What to expect
Long, loose, groove-heavy sets that stretch and reshape the songs rather than replaying them note for note. Expect plenty of Hammond B-3 and improvisation, with soul and blues running through the material. Boulder Theater has a tiered floor and a balcony, so the room works for dancing or for settling in to listen.
Why go
Seals was in the room with Garcia night after night, and he is still touring this music decades later. Boulder Theater is a good fit for it. It is a 1936 landmark with an ornate interior and a capacity of about 850 to 1,000, so the band plays to a crowd that has come for the music.
Where
Boulder Theater · 2032 14th Street · Downtown, Boulder CODirections
