NOLA Legend CYRIL NEVILLE Brings the ‘SOUL JUNCTION’ Tour To The East Bay On Fat Tuesday
photo: Upful LIFE
Cyril Neville’s “Soul Junction Tour” brought a potent blend of New Orleans traditions, soul, funk and rock to Berkeley’s Freight & Salvage on February 17, 2026. Featuring performances from King Youngblood and Omari Neville & The Fuel, the evening highlighted a multigenerational musical legacy, with the “Uptown Ruler” delivering a career-spanning set alongside his family.
A specific kind of alchemy occurs when New Orleans royalty migrates west. On Fat Tuesday, the Freight & Salvage became a temporary embassy for the 504. While the Freight is typically a space for the acoustic and the polite, it was transformed for one night into a vibrating chamber. Under the banner of the Soul Junction Tour, Cyril Neville delivered a masterclass in soul, culture, and lineage. Several audiences members were decked out in appropriate Carnival attire, as we were very fortunate to have an authentic NOLA experience on Mardi Gras day here in the East Bay.
The evening ignited with King Youngblood, led by Cyril’s nephew Cameron Lavi-Jones. Dubbed “Seattle’s Alt-Rock Princes,” the quartet ported the raw rock energy of the Pacific Northwest into the Bayou. Lavi-Jones proved to be a fireball of charisma, using heavy riffs to bridge the distorted legacy of Hendrix with the modern Black and Loud movement. It was a take-no-prisoners reclamation of the Black-fronted rock legacy, oscillating between massive arena hooks and vulnerable acoustic moments. The usually reserved audience found themselves swept up in a melodic fury that resembled a live manifestation of the guitarist’s Afrothunda comic series.
As the second-line spirit took hold, Omari Neville & The Fuel transitioned the energy from rock rebellion to pocket-heavy soul. Omari Neville has inherited his father’s innate ability to make a drumbeat feel like a heartbeat, forwarding the family’s trademark NOLA vocal style in full effect. The Fuel provided a thick, greasy rhythmic foundation that felt less like a backing band and more like an exhilarating extension of the Neville bloodline. Their grooves were stratified and strong, reminiscent of the classic Meters era but updated with a high-octane edge. The mandatory anthem “Hey Pocky A-Way” saw the youngsters channel the Crescent City’s unmistakable energy right away.
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After a few songs of The Fuel with Omari killing the vocals from behind the drumkit, The Uptown Ruler Cyril Neville stepped into the light. A two time Grammy winner and cultural icon who carries the weight of The Meters and The Neville Brothers, he performed with a dignity and fire that remains undimmed by time. His vocals, often described as chilling perfection, sliced through the pocket with a percussionist’s precision. Throughout the set, Cyril occasionally stepped to the congas to reinforce the rhythmic spine of the performance, proving that he remains a personification of musical greatness.
The setlist served as a curated celebration of New Orleans life. A mid-set highlight featured “Lemonade,” a 2025 collaboration with Shamarr Allen that blended modern brass flair with classic soul. The Big Easy bombast continued with the spiritual resonance of “Indian Red” and the defiant groove of “Shake Your Tambourine.” The well-oiled squad worked in a sweet nod to Professor Longhair in “Tipitina”. A pair of Neville Brothers classics stood out; a mammoth, funkafied “Brother Jake” got the people moving, while a one-drop reggae arrangement of the stunning “Yellow Moon” nearly brought me to tears.
The tour’s title track, “Soul Junction,” congregated the entire family of bands together for a rousing encore; Cyril, Omari, and Cameron united for a blazing anthem three generations deep. This hard rockin’ juggernaut track blended elements of the Seattle sound with the patented NOLA style Cyril made famous. The rollicking number served as the centerpiece of the night, manifesting a sonic space where Seattle grungle and deep New Orleans spirit coalesce under a message of truth and unity.
A symbolic passing of the torch was on display, and this was a beautiful thing to behold, representing the indefatiguable spirit of New Orleans music. While the Neville brothers may be fewer in number today, the fire Cyril carries still burns bright enough to light the way for filial traditions to sustain for decades to come.
words: B.Getz
