Full Show Audio: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead New Year’s Eve In Philadelphia

Grateful Dead tribute act Joe Russo’s Almost Dead kicked off a three-show New Year’s Run with a New Year’s Eve performance at the recently opened Fillmore in Philadelphia on Thursday night. The three-set show featured a slew of debuts, plenty of jamming as well as the first-ever Almost Dead acoustic set.

JRAD began the show with an electric set that started off with a jam that gave way to “Truckin’.” Somehow “The Eleven” emerged out of the “Truckin'” jam and led into “China Cat Sunflower” > “I Know You Rider.” The set concluded with the first-ever Almost Dead “Good Lovin'” and a “Shakedown Street” that contained portions of the “China/Rider” transition jam. Set Two was an acoustic affair that found the band set up on risers in front of the stage. The six-song middle set included takes on “Friend Of The Devil,” “On The Road Again,” “Dark Hollow,” “Dire Wolf,” “Big River” and “Ripple.” “On The Road Again,” “Dark Hollow” and “Big River” were Joe Russo’s Almost Dead debuts.

The marathon third set started off with a jam before a New Year’s celebration complete with balloon drop and confetti cannons. Almost Dead played the traditional “Auld Lang Syne” which led into “Sugar Magnolia.” It was then a parade of JRAD’s best songs as “Scarlet Begonias” > “Fire On The Mountain” was followed by “Greatest Story Ever Told” and the “Terrapin Station” suite. A “Cosmic Charlie” jam connected “GSET” and “Terrapin.” For the first time Joe Russo’s Almost Dead split “Sugar Magnolia” and its “Sunshine Daydream” coda with “Sunshine Daydream” ending the third set. The encore saw guitarist Tom Hamilton lead his mates through the JRAD debut of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born To Run.”

Audio (Taped by Jeff Travitz)

Setlist (Shared by Pete Costello)

Electric Set One (9:00PM – 10:15PM): Jam -> Truckin’ @ (SM) -> The Eleven (All) -> China Cat Sunflower (TH)-> I Know You Rider (All) > Good Lovin’ $ (SM) -> Shakedown Street ^^ (TH)

Acoustic Set Two + (10:45PM – 11:20PM): Friend Of The Devil ^, On The Road Again %, Dark Hollow %, Dire Wolf ^, Big River %%, Ripple ^

Electric Set Three (11:55PM – 1:45AM ish): Space ** -> Auld Lang Syne & -> Sugar Magnolia (SM) -> Scarlet Begonias (TH) -> Fire On The Mountain (TH), Greatest Story Ever Told * (SM) -> Cosmic Charlie Jam ++-> Terrapin Suite @@(TH & JR) -> Sunshine Daydream ## (SM)

Encore: Born To Run $$ (TH)

• @ – With a Born Cross Eyed Tease (Band)
• # – With a Dupree’s Diamond Blues Tease (TH)
• $ – First Time Played, Rudy Clark and Arthur Resnick // The (Young) Rascals Cover & with a The Wheel Tease (TH)
• ^^ – With a China>Rider Transition Jam
• + – Complete set change from set one. Band was set up on two 8’x8’ risers in front of the stage, with (from house left to right): Marco on Upright Piano, Dave on Upright Bass, Tommy on Acoustic Guitar, Scott on Acoustic Guitar & Joe on a small kit that included Kick, Snare, Hat, Bongos & 1 Cymbal.
• % – First Time Played
• ^ – Played before electric, first time played acoustic
• %% – First Time Played, Johnny Cash Cover
• ** – With Balloon Drop & Confetti Cannons at Midnight
• & – First Time Played, Traditional, Instrumental
• * – With a Dave Dreiwitz Bass Solo, Unfinished
• ++ – First Time Played, No Lyrics
• @@ – With “Linus & Lucy” (Vince Guaraldi) Teases (MB)
• ## – First Almost Dead Split Sugar Mags // SSDD
• $$ – First Time Played, Bruce Springsteen Cover, With Confetti Cannons