Robert D. Thompson 
On the heels of their latest album A young man Jamestown Revival played a two-night Belly Up adventure. Audiences had no problem with the band scouring the new album from top to bottom.
Filling the eight-piece stage, the Texas-born California band conjured up a sound that stretches back to Hot Tuna, acoustic Dead, country Jerry Garcia, with dollops of David Bromberg, Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt sprinkled in.
The band is actually the duo of Zach Chance and Jonathan Clay, and the second half of their band name is a tribute to CCR. (Another hint of their awareness of their excellent roots, their boardwalk song was “Black Water”). During the current tour, the duo brought in renowned musicians: Ed Benrock (drums/percussion), Nick Bearden (bass); Robert Ellis (guitars, keyboards, backing vocals and producer of the new album), Ross Holmes (violin), Will Van Horn (pedalist) and Dan Reckard (keyboards, accordion).
After a series of more pumped-up album releases, Jamestown Revival recently shunned electric instruments and made a The worker is dead pivot for the new album.
A slower pace and solid harmonies intertwine with plenty of fretted instruments and steel guitar.
The first song of the evening (and the main track from the new album) was “Coyote”. Although lyrically uncomplicated, the composition unfolds like a sunset over the high desert. “One Step Forward” and “Slow It Down” paired well live, as they do halfway through the new album. “Way It Was” was thoughtfully written about the demise of Austin, where friendly nightclubs give way to shiny high-rise condos.
The closer album “Working on Love” was a somewhat unexpected addition to the album. Working on love is like working on the earth, both require all kinds of attention.
Chance said they had never played an entire album throughout the live before, and the band seemed genuinely excited to present their latest work intact. Who said the album was dead?
Jamestown Revival would have been at home playing Palomino’s in North Hollywood when Gram Parsons was breaking into American music. But Jamestown Revival is not in amber, it is a freshness in an often vague genre.
pictures of Brad Auerbach
