Photos and Review by Stephen Bloch

All-star band, supergroup, ensemble, “and friends” are all thrown around a lot in the music world when describing a newly formed band of varied musicians. This happens in the jam band community regularly.  Some bands purposely have a rotation of characters to breathe new life to their music. Some artists go in different directions, do their own thing, or take a break. On Sunday, at the historic Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, Oteil & Friends, which is composed of half new and half old members, treated patrons to an expansive set of tunes from varying genres.  The bulk of the audience was clearly there for the music of the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia but they got so much more.  This iteration of his band is composed of two long time members, Steve Kimock and Johnny Kimock, as well as newcomers Jason Crosby, Tom Guarna & Lamar Williams Jr.  New cast, new sound.  Lots of soul to be had.  The same killer jams.

The highlight from Sunday was without a doubt the first set closer, Jerry Garcia’s Cats Down Under the Stars and then the triple play of The Allman Brothers “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed”, the Grateful Dead’s “Scarlet Begonias”, and “My Sisters and Brothers” by The Sensational Nightingales.

Oteil & Friends turned the Pabst Theater into a celebration of musical fellowship, with both warmth and spontaneity that defines the best jam-band experiences. By the final notes, it was clear that this wasn’t just a concert—it was a reminder of how deeply this music continues to connect generations of fans and musicians alike.