CONCERT REPORT: The Third Mind @ Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA - 3/14/26

Dave Alvin of The Third Mind@ Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA - 3/14/26
photo by Alan Grose(Click photo to enlarge)

Here is a concert report of Dave Alvin of The Third Mind @ Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA - 3/14/26 by "Your Brother Alan in Seattle", along with some PACNW rustie Neil Young fans.

 

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The Third Mind 3/14/26 @ the Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA 

I was fortunate to be at an incredible live show last night. Dave Alvin's "Acid Rock Supergroup" The Third Mind played a show in Ballard, formerly Swedish fisherman's turf. 

Dave Alvin always plays "the Tractor" (as we call it) when he comes to town with his main bands. But the first Seattle show for The Third Mind took place at the larger  Crocodile Cafe almost 3 years ago. 

But now it's back to home sweet home at the Tractor  for Dave Alvin as well as his incredible new supergroup project. 

The Tractor is my favorite live music venue in Seattle. It is intimate & has good vibes all around. Dave Alvin always blows stuff up with his ferocious incendiary guitar attack. He has the masters touch with that Stratocaster. 

He was the powerhouse creative force behind The Blasters, writing all of their songs. His older brother Phil Alvin was front man singer & rhythm guitarist.

In this new group, Mark Karan is the 2nd guitarist, playing strong psychedelic riffs. Jessie Sykes is on vocals & acoustic guitar. Victor Krummenacher on Bass & the incredible Michael Jerome on drums.

The band was born from an idea Dave Alvin had to record in an improvisational & spontaneous way in the spirit of Miles Davis' Bitches Brew! 

Acid Rock was born in 1966 with Mike Bloomfield wrote East West with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. The Third Mind are disciples of Mike Bloomfield, may he rest in peace. He was the guitarist for Electric Flag & they did a song called "Grooving ' is Easy, Baby" that this band plays very well. 

The show: Jessie Sykes sings sort of like Grace Slick, according to Dave Alvin. Together, they take songs that were R & B hits in the early 1960's and give it a psychedelic reboot. Acid Rock, improvisational & searing. 

This show was a spectacular psychedelic voyage for all present in the packed tavern. And who should I run into again but some Thrasher's Wheat regulars, Bob & Bruce! Jake is Bruce's son who I also met at the Micah Nelson Particle Kid show with these guys. Jake & his friend Willy D were in good position at the front of the stage. 

Jake told me that in his mind, his Dad & Bob are famous now since they were mentioned in the epic TW blog! It's all part of the TW community here in the real world, in person, at a stellar live music event! It was quite out of the ordinary! 

We had talked about this show the first time I met them, so we met up again as planned. And once again, we crossed the rainbow bridge together, hitch-hiking our way through the finer music galaxy! 

It was nearly religious experience for us all up close to the stage. Spiritual, life affirming, and also communal healing in light of the world we live in right now. 

Bruce & Bob were in the rail, job well done guys! My friend Dave was my copilot that night as we blasted forward, witnessing the synergy of this powerful band. They covered East West, & In My Own Dream (both by Paul Butterfield Blues Band). 

They played a few songs the Grateful Dead used to play: Dark Star & also the anti war, nuclear fallout classic, Morning Dew. The band spoke of these troubled days we are living in. When they played Morning Dew,  I had streams of tears flowing down my cheeks for the entire song. I saw the Grateful Dead play that song quite a few times. 

Dave Alvin sang a version of Highway 61 Revisited with some updated lyrics about a real estate developer gone bad! It was quite fitting & welcome. 

Jake had some fine chocolate to share & ended up with a new nickname: "the Candyman." Friendliness & great live music makes for a rebirth of sorts. 

The Third Mind is made up of professional musicians who get together for a mini tour when they can.

 

I highly recommend you check out this band live. Mark Karan shreds on guitar.  VK is solid on bass! Michael Jerome is crazy good on the drums! They are all so talented, but synergy makes this a powerhouse band.

Go see them! 

Your Brother Alan in Seattle 

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Thanks for the detailed report Brother Alan!  Pretty cool that our TW readers connected at concert! All in very good company.

FYI, upcoming The Third Mind tour dates:

• March 24: Belly Up Tavern, 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach, CA 

More from "Your Brother Alan in Seattle " @ CONCERT REPORT: Particle Kid @ Sunset Tavern, Seattle, WA - Feb 6.

#KORITFW

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