Photo by Jennifer Coleman/Digital Suburbia.net

For all that could be said of the dichotomy between 7 Walkers and Further, the key distinction comes down to the principle of “groove.” While some diehards will consider losing a bit of exploration as intolerable, “change” is the brave choice. In that regard, 7 Walkers are living true to the Dead’s creed, digging deeper into a legendary oeuvre and finding fresh fruits.

Around the time “Mr Okra” emerged from the opening “Space,” it was evident this ensemble needs to immediately record a live album. As enjoyable as bassist Reed Mathis is on the studio debut, New Orleans’ George Porter, Jr. is beyond superlative in this setting. Equally delightful is Bill Kreutzmann, who often failed to contain his own delight. “He’s Gone” and “Sue from Bogalusa” followed, Bill thriving between the new sense of push and his classic taste of pull.

As the group’s primary vocalist, guitarist Malcolm “Papa Mali” Welbourne is often saddled with Dr. John comparisons, but his adopted Texas roots (ex: Billy Gibbons) shine through in his patience and delivery. Multi-instrumentalist Matt Hubbard shares these qualities, and on the “New Orleans Crawl”, “Bird Song” and “Come On (Let The Good Times Roll)” run that ended the first set, they nearly underplayed the parts others would cast on them. Subtlety is often a brave choice, as well.

Set II bloomed with “King Cotton Blues”, “Lovelight->Bass/Drums-> Lovelight”, and a soul-meets-jam “Eyes Of The World”, complete with Porter sounding like David Ruffin and James Jamerson, Hubbard on a great trombone solo, and Mali laying into the Cropper chords up the neck.

Nearly through their eponymous theme, Kreutzmann put his foot through his bass drum, and Hubbard filled with a bit of NOLA on the keys. Once fixed, Mali pulled out a slide and the quartet rolled into “I Know You Rider.” “Chingo!” wove into an unsettling, captivating womb and “Wharf Rat” closed a long set two.

The band emerged for a “Big Railroad Blues” encore and then went to meet a line of fans on a night when the spirit was proper- more rebirth than resurrection, and grateful indeed.