Oteil and Friends performed at The Cabot in Beverly, Massachusetts on Thursday, October 2, as part of their 2025 fall tour. The band is Oteil Burbridge on six string electric bass guitar and vocals, keyboardist Melvin Seals, vocalist Lamar Williams Jr, guitarist Steve Kimock, multi-instrumentalist Jason Crosby, guitarist Tom Guarna, and drummer Johnny Kimock.
Review and photographs provided by Scott Kepnes.
SET ONE
Oteil and Friends treated an eager and welcoming audience to a stellar performance of original songs and covers. The music flowed smoothly through funk, soul, rock, jazz and gospel, included extended jams and intertwining solos of the musicians. The show began with Lamar Williams Jr. on vocals debuting the soulful, “If You See Their Lips Moving” followed by “Every Day is a Blessing”. The first set included the songs, “Hillbillies on PCP” (Steve Kimock), “Love and War” (Lamar Williams Jr.) and “First Born”. Also debuted was a surprise “mash-up” of songs with Oteil and Friends breaking into “Tweezer Reprise” (Phish), combining the lyrics from “I Know You Rider” (Traditional). And following up with Dark Side of the Moon’s “Eclipse” (Pink Floyd) with the lyrics from “Casey Jones” (Grateful Dead). A rocking “Whipping Post” (Allman Brothers) closed the first set.
SET TWO
The second set opened with “The Way We Rise” and included “Mother’s Song” (John Kimock), “Sitting in Limbo” (Jimmy Cliff) and “Cats Under the Stars” (Jerry Garcia Band). For an encore the band played a funky gospel version of Mighty High (Mighty Clouds of Joy) featuring a captivating Hammond organ solo by Melvin Seals to complete the evening.
For those interested, you can find the complete setlist and a recording of the night t=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>here.
Oteil Burbridge is the bass player for Dead and Company. He was the bass player with the Allman Brothers 1997 until the band’s retirement in 2014. He played bass with Tedeschi Trucks Band and has toured as Oteil and the Peacemakers. In the early to mid-90s Oteil toured with Colonel Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit.
KEEPING UP WITH OTEIL AND FRIENDS
Oteil and Friends fall tour continues through October with stops in Port Chester, NY, Harrisburg, PA, Charlotte, NC, Charleston, SC and headlining October 10 at Suwannee Roots Revival, Live Oak, FL. Oteil Burbridge joins an all-star group of musicians including Taj Majal, Amy Helm, Eric Krasno, Ivan Neville, Irma Thomas, George Porter Jr. and more at “The Tipping Point” the 9th annual Tulane University fundraising concert, benefiting student scholarships, November 14, 2025, The Orpheum, New Orleans, LA. They have also announced their plans for New Years Eve. They are set to perform at The Parker in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on December 31, 2025. For all the latest news and announcements, head to the links provided below!
OTEIL AND FRIENDS – WEBSITE – YOUTUBE – FACEBOOK – INSTAGRAM
THE CABOT – WEBSITE – FACEBOOK – INSTAGRAM – X
SCOTT KEPNES – WEBSITE – INSTAGRAM
DANCE YOUR FACE OFF – WEBSITE – INSTAGRAM – FACEBOOK – X – YOUTUBE
