Across the country, Deadheads celebrated the life of Jerry Garcia, his music, and his legacy during the annual "The Days Between" celebration. During the weekend of August 6, 2022, Cris Jacobs, one of the most recognized artists in the DC-Baltimore region, celebrated Jerry Garcia and his work at both The 8x10 in Baltimore, Maryland, and at B Chord Brewing in Round Hill, Virginia. DC Music Review was fortunate enough to see Cris Jacobs and his namesake band, the Cris Jacobs Band, perform at B Chord Brewing in the foothills beside the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Fans gathered around the stage at B Chord on a clear summer’s day, as the heat and humidity dissipated, allowing people to enjoy the outdoor venue. Concertgoers had the opportunity to gather along the gentle green slopes of B Chord, walk around barefoot, and dance joyously, as Jacobs and his band casually sound-checked before their performance. This picturesque day was a glorious departure from a typical DC muggy summer’s day, where, in the words of Jerry, “the sky was yellow and the sun was blue”.

Just after 7 pm, Jacobs and his band, Todd Herrington (bass), Corey Wells (guitar), Ben White (keyboards), and Dusty Simmons (drums), took to the stage. Jacobs delighted the crowd by telling them he would spend this evening performing the music of Jerry Garcia in addition to Cris Jacobs originals. For the next three hours, Jacobs would segue through Grateful Dead songs and intertwine seven of his own songs, including "Rooster Coop," "Kind Woman," "Holler and Hum," "Delivery Man," "Jack the Whistle and The Hammer," "Dragonfly," and "Devil or Jesse" into this powerful and display of musical prowess. Jacobs passionately sang Grateful Dead material while soulfully delivering his own songs as Herrington laid down unshakable bass lines as his face oscillated between a stank face and one of pure delight. At the same time, Corey Wells effortlessly played guitar solos as Dusty Simmons passionately and powerfully played behind his drum kit. Adding to the performance, keyboardist Ben White’s falsetto contributions had more than one neck turning to the stage, wondering if a female guest singer walked on to sing Donna Godchaux's parts. 

The spectacular evening with the Cris Jacobs band concluded with "Not Fade Away." As an enthusiastic chorus of "Love is loving and not fade away" rose into the crisp evening air, it was clear how much the audience celebrated the life of Jerry Garcia and enjoyed the performance of Cris Jacobs and his band.

For those that have not had the pleasure of seeing Cris Jacobs perform, we highly encourage you to get out and purchase tickets for one of his upcoming performances. We all eagerly await Jacob's second annual Jerry Garcia Tribute held each December, "A Very Jerry Christmas." Until then, we look forward to Jacobs playing either on his own, with Cris Jacobs & Friends, or with the Cris Jacobs Band. 

We look forward to seeing Jacobs perform again with his Fender Telecaster and cigar box guitar at an upcoming show - A love for real not fade away.