Relisten

View NotesThe JLB is back! With the inaugural show on the their unprecented JLB2020 run which features the band playing live on the first Tuesday of each month, all year long in 2020! 

Everyone was excited when JLB announced the run (see the announcement video here: https://youtu.be/57Q3IV2Wf-M), so the energy was already off the hook before the evening began and the show plays like a campaign rally, full of fervor and excitement for the JLB!

The show opens with "Road Trip" and the fans were calling it out from the opening notes. The Mark Gutenplan original seems like the perfect opener for a JLB2020 tour and it sets a cool vibe right off the bat. The sound is crisp and the vocals sound great. The energy builds with the funky "Sugar Pop" next, with it's usual fiery solo section, but lacking any extended jam. The band implores everyone to 'Make America Jam Again," before they launch into the Phish jam vehicle "Sand," paired here with possibly their most 'political' song, "Ozone Blues." The band reflects on their Election Day past and future before launching into the pop rocker "Still In Luv With U," which is a nice extended version here, followed by the bouncy "Used To Feel Good," to close out a short first set.

Second set is a bit longer and delivers some juicy jams, intersting pairings and fun teases. It opens with the band's classic second set opener and jam vehicle, "Victim Of The Rhythm," which has a nice intro and spawns the longest jam of the night, featuring some nice guitar work from Mark and some fun teases of "Tweezer" and "Riders on The Storm" from Jed and Ken. It escalates before an abrupt transition into "Far Gone Blues." Kenny Kaufman takes the spolight next for a trip down the "Saw Mill River," which is interrupted mid-jam by "The Freeze." It's an interesting placement, and a good version of the Jed Luckless original, but it kind of disrupts what is normally a rockin SMR jam. The SMR Reprise is followed by the first cover song of the night, Cailidgh Spires' "The Song With Words And Stuff," which is longer than usual featuring some nice solo work from Jed. A two song encore features another cover, "Quinn The Eskimo" by Bob Dylan, followed by a surprise spin in JLB's "Maserati" with Pete Martine driving the beat and closing the show on an energetic note.

This a great show to kick off what is sure to be an historic run for JLB in 2020. It features an awesome setlist full of originals, a few nice jams and a positive and confident vibe throughout. If all twelve shows are going to be this hot, there is hope for the future of our nation! Make America Jam Again with JLB and enjoy!