Seattle’s Brad gets mellow

If Pearl Jam’s gritty, intense rock comes off as a little too serious sometimes, fans can turn to PJ guitarist Stone Gossard’s lighter, looser side project, Brad. At the Roxy on Sunday, the Seattle band’s laid-back set of heartfelt ballads and melodic roots-rock was often too mellow for its own good.

Gossard was fairly inconspicuous, staying in the background while bassist Jeremy Toback and drummer Regan Hagar fell into sometimes monotonous grooves. Though Gossard’s skilled guitar work gives Brad’s music its texture and intricacy, it was singer Shawn Smith who fortified each tune onstage.

Sounding like a melding of Blues Traveler’s John Popper and Dave Matthews at his most soulful, Smith’s impassioned singing gave even the band’s sluggish songs a lift and added fire to the superior funky grinds.

The packed house was unabashedly devoted, singing along, dancing and often exuding more enthusiasm than the band itself. Despite their subdued stance, Brad still managed to create a blissful atmosphere, and felt more like a jamming band of friends than a rock-star vanity project.