Joe Russo’s Almost Dead Brings Guests & Debut To The Capitol Theatre

Grateful Dead tribute act Joe Russo’s Almost Dead started their New Year’s Run with an intimate show at Threes Brewing in Brooklyn on Wednesday and moved to the larger Brooklyn Bowl on Thursday before playing the first of two concerts at the historic Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York on Friday night. Friday’s show saw the five-piece joined by a pair of old friends and included the debut of two non-Grateful Dead covers.

JRAD kicked off Friday’s show with a “King Bee” jam they worked into “The Eleven.” Up next was “Beat It On Down The Line,” which drummer Joe Russo began with 30 beats in honor of the 30th. From there, Scott Metzger channeled Bob Weir on “Feel Like A Stranger,” while a tease-filled “Cumberland Blues” followed. The evening’s first guest was Tedeschi Trucks Band vocalist Alecia Chakour, who added to “The Stranger (Two Souls In Communion).” Almost Dead’s first set rolled out with a wild “Estimated Prophet” that eventually gave way to a “Bird Song” jam before the band landed on their debut cover of The Beatles’ “Day Tripper.” The set ended with a true “Bird Song” featuring a take on the instrumental “King Solomon’s Marbles” within.

The second set started with the group’s initial version of the early Dead chestnut “Till The Morning Comes” featuring Chakour on vocals. Alecia also added to “Passenger.” From there, Almost Dead embarked on an adventurous “Viola Lee Blues” with Cochemea Gastelum on baritone saxophone. JRAD took “Viola” for a spin and finally landed on “Uncle John’s Band.” Russo and keyboardist Marco Benevento were in the spotlight for their Benevento Russo Duo classic “Becky” within “Uncle John’s Band.” While Joe and Marco played “Becky” at their reunion gig on Tuesday, JRAD hadn’t performed the song since October 3, 2015. Not only did the five-piece go on to finish “Uncle John’s Band,” they then played the end of “Viola Lee Blues.”

One of the biggest surprises of the night came after the reprise of “Viola Lee,” when Joe Russo’s Almost Dead lit into “Hoodoo Voodoo.” Wilco wrote “Hoodoo Voodoo” with Billy Bragg featuring lyrics by Woody Guthrie for their Mermaid Avenue collaboration. “Hoodoo Voodoo” was a debut and kept the seamless set going as JRAD landed on “Turn On Your Lovelight.” Almost Dead brought Chakour and Gastelum back out for “Lovelight.” The band wasn’t done yet as they ended the second set with a “Shakedown Street” > “Throwing Stones” sequence and encored with “The Weight” featuring Alecia adding to the vocals. Joe Russo’s Almost Dead returns to The Capitol Theatre for New Year’s Eve on Saturday night.

Videos

[King Bee Jam > The Eleven]

[Viola Lee Blues]

Full Show Audio (Taped by Nico)

Setlist (Compiled by Pete Costello)

Set One: King Bee Jam + -> The Eleven @ (All) > BIODTL # (SM) > Feel Like A Stranger (SM) > Cumberland Blues $ (All) -> The Stranger (Two Souls In Communion) (AC), Estimated Prophet (SM) -> Space -> Bird Song Jam + -> Day Tripper % (TH) -> Bird Song ^ (TH) -> King Solomon’s Marbles & -> Bird Song Reprise + (TH)

Set Two: Til The Morning Comes + (All + AC) -> Passenger + (SM & AC) -> Viola Lee Blues * (All) -> Jam -> Uncle John’s Band (All) -> Becky @@ -> Uncle John’s Band Reprise (All) -> Viola Lee Blues Reprise (All) -> Hoodoo Voodoo ++ (SM) -> Lovelight * (AC) -> Shakedown Street ## (TH) > Throwing Stones $$ (SM)

Encore: The Weight (All + AC)

• AC is Alecia Chakour (Tedeschi Trucks Band) on Vocals
• + – First Time Played by Almost Dead
• @ – With at Throwin’ Stones Tease (TH)
• # – 30 Beat BIODTL for Dec 30th
• $ – With Feel Like A Stranger & Hoedown (Aaron Copeland) Teases (MB) & a Lovelight Jam (Band)
• % – First Time Played by Almost Dead, Beatles Cover, Unfinished, 2 verses were sung
• ^ – With a Day Tripper (The Beatles) Tease (MB)
• & – Unfinished
• * – With Cochemea Gastelum (Dap Kings) on Bari Sax
• @@ – Benevento Russo Duo Cover, not played since 2015-10-03, a gap of 46 shows. Basically only Joe & Marco played on this song.
• ++ – Wilco/Billy Bragg/Woody Guthrie Cover, First Time Played by Almost Dead.
• ## – With a MB Piano Solo, an On The Road Again Tease (Band), a “That’s All” (Phil Collins) Tease – I think, it might be something else (Band) & an unknown jam (Band) that I may be able to figure out.
• $$ – With an Unknown Tease (TH)