“Alright, we’re going to have some fun,” said Jerry Douglas, as he took the stage at the esteemed Narrows Center for the Arts on this cool Thursday night in August. In the midst of the Northeast portion of his current Jerry Douglas Band tour that will last into October, the Dobro maestro and his three comrades–Mike Seal on guitar, Christian Sedelmyer on fiddle, and bassist Daniel Kimbro–are back on the road and just a month away from the release of Douglas’ new LP, The Set. As such, the 105-minute appearance featured a few cuts from the forthcoming album, as well as some choice covers and familiar JDB staples.

“We’re going to get along just fine,” Douglas told the near-capacity crowd packing in the old mill in Fall River, Mass., following the opening, “King Silkie.” Next up was “Pushed Too Far,” with Douglas offering a preliminary anecdote explaining, humorously, the song’s origins as a (losing) entry in a Northwest songwriting contest. Then, the quartet peeled back a cover of Tom Waits’ “2:19,” and the first of only a few vocal numbers among the bevy of instrumentals that dominated the setlist.

Douglas and company previewed the upcoming record’s release with “Renee,” then dropped in a rendition of Mike Stern’s “What Might Have Been.” A momentary audible glitch provoked Douglas to switch to a default dobro and restart “From Ankara to Izmir,” with the pause giving Kimbro a chance to riff about merch sales and car repair, as well as sincerely congratulate Douglas on his recent induction into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame; an acknowledgement met with sustained applause from the Narrows faithful.

Douglas returned the sentiment, delivering praise for his ensemble ahead of Sedelmyer’s delicate “Deacon Waltz,” with the foursome then cruising elegantly and with flash on takes of “Unfolding” and Weather Report’s “A Remark You Made.”  The four enjoyed an extended “Hide and Seek,” as well, renamed, playfully, “Come and Go,” then shifted to showcase Kimbro for his own “Loyston,” from the bassist’s impending album due in January. The final turn included “Fortingal,” and another new album track, the bluesy “Something You Got,” with Douglas again belting out a vocal.  

After the penultimate “Who’s Your Uncle,” the band received a standing ovation and promptly offered a finale, “Aly B,” to yet another ovation from the grateful crowd. The JDB’s northeast tour concludes with a stop in New York City and Pennsylvania before a short break, then reconvenes for Southeast and Midwest runs beginning in September. 

For more information, visit jerrydouglas.com.