Deep in the second set of Oteil & Friends’ Sept. 8 tour-opening gig in Ohio, Melvin Seals was soloing on “That’s What Love Will You Make You Do” when the former Jerry Garcia Band keyboardist made a move toward the coda.

The enthusiastic crowd was so amped, they got to the resolving line before Seals could, stopping the band in its tracks and resulting in smiles from the bandstand and a roar from the seats. It was a transcendent moment, one where the line between audience and band is blurred and a shed becomes a community.

There were a handful of such moments as Dead & Company and former Allman Brothers Band bassist Oteil Burbridge, Seals, guitarists Steve Kimock and Eric Krasno and drummer John Kimmock played two sets – 150 minutes – of music drawn heavily from the JGB songbook and played similarly to JGB’s arrangements.

As such, a slowly gathering-steam instrumental “Eleanor Rigby” was tucked inside the Krasno-sung “After Midnight;” ”Mystery Train” wafted out of the jazz car; and “Tore Up” was gritty and bluesy.  Six of the evening’s 13 selections were ripped from the Garcia Band songbook, while “Dark Star” and “Bird Song” were presented in Dead & Company fashion, unfolding slowly.

Kimock and Krasno—the latter played the majority of leads—were dialed in to Garcia’s tone and hearing Kimock play so much rhythm was revelatory.

Burbridge’s “Rooster” and Krasno’s “Unconditional Love”—both originals—were so successful that one would have liked to see more such tunes. Still, when Kimock and Krasno locked in and began weaving “Blue Sky” elements into the show-closing “Franklin’s Tower,” wrapped in a “Slipknot!”  bow, the covers felt warm and cozy.