Lake Tahoe Action November 2012
CRYSTAL BAY, Nev. — If you ever doubted that the Crystal Bay Casino has become a year-round music fix for the Lake Tahoe Basin, the recent two-band gig in the Crown Room would purge that little notion.
Reno’s quality quartet Jelly Bread opened the night, diving right in to its unique micro-climate of play. Six-string expert Dave Berry announced, “We’ve got some buddies from a couple different bands up here.” And just like that, they also had a horn section.
The rambunctious hourlong set included a handful off Jelly Bread’s new release, “No Dress Code,” which backs up its recent win as Best Album of Northern Nevada by the Reno News & Review. Joining Berry’s guitar work and vocals, Cliff Porter mans a red eight-piece drum kit with perfection and sass. Elegant Brady Carthen blends bass and vocals, while Eric Matlock is their most recent keyboardist, dapper in his dark suit and fedora. And in a fashion note, vests apparently are back.
When Porter asked the gathering crowd, “Any slide guitar fans up here in Tahoe?” If you weren’t before, you became a devotee after their sashay through “Laid Out,” which featured Berry’s adept lap steel work. Their closing play on “Infectious Grooves” melted into “Higher Ground,” and could’ve gotten Elaine Benes dancing like a sista.
It’s fine entertainment when the typical elements of guitar, drums, bass and keyboards offer up something completely new, yet somehow also hint of oft-played old friends. Jelly Bread can’t be plopped into any one music category, but shares playful bloodlines with Tower of Power and Stevie Wonder, with undercurrents of rock and country.
And if Jelly Bread is in its own micro category, headliner Tea Leaf Green takes the ideal of jam band to a macrocosm. To date, the Bay Area band has made seven studio and five live albums, but the two styles are massively different. The studio recordings are lovely, precise, orchestral — but the tail that wags this dog is seeing them in person.
A decade of touring showcases the tight playing — and lead guitarist Josh Clark has come around to accepting the jam title. Special hint: if your opening tune is 15 minutes long and morphs into the next with no discernable break, you may just be a true jam band.
Not that this is a bad thing.
Tea Leaf Green focuses on long-running, sassy guitar licks and spotlighted piano styling, while the synthy bass brings in some wah-wah on their mostly original songs. Keyboardist and lead vocalist Trevor Garrod, has his own inimitable style; a burst of alt-sunshine with a touch of Robert Plant’s ease and a hint of old Hughie Thomasson, maybe a pinch of Woody Guthrie. Yet with the overall group sound, you can’t get away from Jerry Garcia stomping around in the background.
Tea Leaf Green played with nary a gap for a steady two hours, rollicking through mostly old favorites, rather than hitting on the new studio LP.
To single out Clark’s hotshot guitar work threatens to rudely ignore the masterful work of the other band members; but when they unleash him on a tune, Clark is, well, a rock star.
He and Garrod switch off on vocals, with an assist by bassist, Reed Mathis, who injects a wisp of jazz funkability. Drums and percussion are manned by band founder Scott Rager and newcomer Cochrane McMillan.
The set included two covers, and you can’t belt out the lyrics of “Ooh La La” unless you’re Rod Stewart or Garrod — warmed up and having a grand time. And from the recent album, the tune “Honey Bee,” went through a metamorphosis from Muddy Waters’ original version, changing yet again from the CD version. Live, it became a highly electric, speedy gallop with three-part vocalization.
The casual comfort these guys have onstage makes you feel like we’ve all shown up to their backyard for a lively evening among pals. With their canny vocals, gifted original tunes and solid play, the thought remains the same: You’ve just got to see them live.