Joe Russo’s Almost Dead Welcomes Nicole Atkins In Nashville

Grateful Dead tribute act Joe Russo’s Almost Dead started a run of shows on Thursday night with a performance at War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville. Current local resident Nicole Atkins once again joined JRAD to add vocals to a classic Dead original.

With a likely nod to John Perry Barlow, who passed away at the age of 70 last week, JRAD opened their performance with “Cassidy,” one of the many songs Barlow wrote with Bob Weir. The first set progressed with “Here Comes Sunshine” and Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away.” The love continued to flow as guitarist Tom Hamilton handled vocals on the epic tale of courtship and heartbreak “Reuben & Cerise.”

Atkins then emerged to handle lead vocals on a seamless transition into “Doin’ That Rag,” the Jerry Garcia/Robert Hunter original that appeared on Aoxomoxoa and was played live by the Dead on several occasions exclusively in 1969. JRAD then pulled from the Jerry Garcia Band repertoire for a cover of Dorsey Burnette’s “Magnificent Sanctuary Band” led Hamilton.

Drummer Joe Russo and the band returned for set two, easing into the opening “Eyes Of The World.” A lengthy jam ensued, punctuated by a solo from bassist Dave Dreiwitz and the dueling guitar work of Hamilton and Scott Metzger. The ensemble landed on “The Eleven” as the set starting sequence stretched beyond the 30-minute mark. Metzger took lead on the subsequent “Feel Like A Stranger” and keyboardist Marco Benevento incorporated an array of textures and tones during the band’s pairing of “China Cat Sunflower” and “I Know You Rider.” The classic coupling was trailed by a thunderous “The Other One,” which closed out the set. A funky encore was in store as JRAD presented “Shakedown Street” in the final slot of the night.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead performs tonight in St. Louis and on Saturday in Madison. Webcasts are available via nugs.tv. Watch the first and second set openers from last night’s nugs.tv webcast below:

[Cassidy]

[Eyes Of The World > The Eleven]