Washington, D.C., awoke on November 22, 2024, to a peculiar sight: a dusting of snow and sleet, the season's first flirtation with winter. Though the frosty precipitation failed to linger on the pavement, the biting cold was unmistakable, a brisk punctuation to the end of fall.

But as night fell, the chill outside became irrelevant to those stepping into The Atlantis.  Inside, the room buzzed with the warmth of reunion and the hum of anticipation. Cris Jacobs, nearing the end of his One Of These Days Fall tour, was back, and the crowd—friends, fans, and fellow Marylanders—gathered like parishioners at the altar of roots rock.

Opening Act: Magnolia Boulevard

The evening began with an acoustic set by Magnolia Boulevard, stripped down to a three-piece arrangement that turned The Atlantis into a cozy fireside jam. Magnolia Boulevard regularly performs as a five-piece band, but tonight, by special request by Jacob's, the band stripped down to a lovely three-piece acoustic configuration. Guitar, bass, and rich harmonies filled the room like golden light, the songs swaying between Appalachian folk and bluesy Americana. 

Their sound was intimate yet robust, a perfect match for the audience eager to settle in and let the music thaw the cold from their bones.  Each note felt handcrafted as if they had whittled the wood themselves.  Maggie Noelle delivered her heartfelt lyrics and majestically delivered the songs with powerful emotions. Noelle proudly stands at the Americana crossroads where Alanis Morrisette meets Susan Tedeschi. Ryan Allen's guitar was a roaring addition to Noelle's guitar, while Roddy Puckett's electric bass helped punctuate these heartfelt songs. The audience was hushed and took in powerful songs, including "Sister." By the time they finished their 45-minute performance, the room was primed for Jacobs. Having seen their three-piece configuration, we look forward to seeing Magnolia Boulevard coming to the DMV again soon.

Cris Jacobs: A Performance on Fire

Cris Jacobs took the stage to a hero's welcome, greeted by a crowd whose cheers radiated gratitude and hometown pride. The opening chords of "Work Song (I Can Still Sing)" ripped through the room, Jacobs' soulful voice cutting through the air like a seasoned storyteller recounting tales of resilience.  It was clear this wasn't just a show—it was a homecoming celebration.  It wasn't just Jacobs who was dialed in; his band, honed to a fine edge from the road, moved with the synchronicity of a machine built for groove.

"Jack the Whistle and the Hammer" rolled in with locomotive force, its rhythm chugging like steel wheels on iron rails, and "Queen of the Avenue" slowed the pace, dripping with bluesy elegance. When they hit "Fire and Brimstone," the temperature in The Atlantis rose as Jacobs' guitar scorched the air, sending sparks that lit up the audience.  Any remaining bit of winter chills melted away by the roaring performance set before them.

Jay Starling proved to be a secret weapon this tour. Starling joined Jacobs on this tour while his primary band, Leftover Salmon, took a rest from the road. This multi-instrumentalist added the sounds of his dobro and pedal-steel guitar to the band's sound. Starling's dexterity on both guitar and pedal steel added layers of shimmer and depth, his solos alternating between soulful and searing. His guitar added haunting slides and a plaintive wail that elevated tracks like "Wild Roses and Dirt" and "One of These Days" to new emotional heights. Starling's interplay with Jacobs during "Two Trains," a Little Feat cover, was a masterclass in musical conversation, the two swapping licks with a telepathic ease.

Drummer Dusty Ray Simmons brought a thunderous energy that rattled the rafters and stole more than a few glances throughout the night. His kit became an extension of the songs themselves. His precise yet ferocious playing anchored every track, from the rollicking "Rooster Coop" to the sprawling, carnival-esque closer, "Under the Big Top." Simmons' solo flourishes during "The Devil or Jesse James" sent the crowd into a frenzy, his sticks blurring as he laid down rhythms that felt both primal and intricate. Bryan McDowell on fiddle added some extra kick to each song and helped capture and expand the songs found on Jacob's latest album, "One of These Days." Todd Herrington, on bass, was the steadfast backbeat of the band and was clearly enjoying himself for all to see - the oscillation between "stank face," laughter, and radiating smiles said it all.

The fire onstage would combust with a memorable "Bone Digger." The stage, doused in red and white lights, was truly a roaring fire of music. Jacobs and his band have an extensive and beautiful catalog of music, especially those on "One Of These Days" - but fans always year for the power of "Bone Digger." It is inevitably the song that makes an audience go wild, and Jacobs and his band were more than happy to provide this fuel to the evening's fire with an explosive and prolonged version. McDowell's fiddle solo added a new dimension to the song while Starling's slide guitar combined with Jacob's signature guitar box drenched the audience in the full might of a Jacobs performance. We knew we were on a nine-mile skid on the ten-mile slide and an inevitable finale coming. The conclusion of the performance put the power of this road-honed cohesive band on full display as Jacobs's ever-soulful voice roared over Simmon's thunderous drumming might as Jacob's guitar box rang out. We can only hope that Jacobs continues to perform with this configuration of his band.  Jacobs, at one point, quipped that Leftover Salmon could take Jacobs and his band on tour - nothing would make us happier than seeing Starling perform double duty with each band on what would be an incredibly memorable tour.

A Hometown Hero Returns

Jacobs himself was visibly moved by the reception.  The audience, a patchwork of fans from across the region, cheered with a ferocity reserved for a returning hero. Between songs, Jacobs' easy banter carried the warmth of a family gathering. Like family, he would show off and explain the intricacies of his guitars, especially to his "guitar nerds" family beside him in our intimate family living room.  By the time he reached the encore, "Heavy Water," the room felt less like a concert and more like a homecoming celebration—a moment suspended in time, where music, memory, and community converged. Taking the stage for the encore Jacobs said that his band had a few more shows on this tour, "but let's consider tonight the final show."  

Outside, the air remained brisk, the streets glistening faintly under the remnants an evening rain.  But for those who left The Atlantis that night, the warmth lingered—a glowing reminder of why live music, and hometown heroes like Cris Jacobs, can melt even the coldest nights.

Do you prefer another streaming platform?  Follow this link to see all other streaming platforms you can find One Of These Days.

Magnolia Boulevard

To learn more about Cris Jacobs, please see the following web resources:

• Webpage
• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• TikTok
• TIDAL
• Spotify

To learn more about Magnolia Boulevard, please see the following web resources:

• Webpage
• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• TIDAL
• Spotify
• TikTok
• Apple Music
• Bandsintown
• Bandcamp