Full Show Audio: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead Shares Official Recording From Ryman Debut

Earlier this year Grateful Dead tribute act Joe Russo’s Almost Dead made their debut in Nashville with their first performance at the Ryman Auditorium on January 12. An official recording from the famed venue featuring guest vocalist Nicole Atkins has been shared by the band.

Music City was treated to an improvisation-heavy first set as JRAD presented only five songs. “Truckin’” started set one with guitarist Scott Metzger leading the opening charge. Guitarist Tom Hamilton was out front for the apt choice of “Tennessee Jed” followed by Atkins’ emergence for “The Music Never Stopped.” The vocalist remained on stage for “Dancing In The Streets” but it was just the five-piece for the “Brown Eyed Women” closer.

The commonly joined “Help On The Way” > “Slipknot!” opened the second set but drummer Joe Russo steered the ensemble into “Throwing Stones” rather than the regularly played “Franklin’s Tower.” Keyboardist Marco Benevento, bassist Dave Dreiwitz and the group worked a “Dark Star” jam into the “Throwing Stones” before Atkins rejoined them for a take on “The Stranger (Two Souls In Communion).” Metzger teased “Norwegian Wood” within “Let It Grow” that also featured a “Kashmir” jam. “He’s Gone” and “Terrapin Station” wrapped up set two and JRAD brought out Atkins to assist on the “Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad” encore tagged with the instrumental ending of “We Bid You Goodnight.”

Full Show Audio (Thanks to Peter Costello & Eric McRoberts)

Setlist (Compiled by Peter Costello)

Set One: Truckin’ (SM) -> Tennessee Jed @ (TH) -> The Music Never Stopped (SM & NA)> Dancing In The Streets (SM & NA) -> Brown Eyed Women (TH)

Set Two: Help On The Way (TH) -> Slipknot! $ -> Throwing Stones % (SM) -> Dark Star Jam ^ -> Throwing Stones Reprise (SM), The Stranger (Two Souls) (NA) > Let It Grow & (SM) -> He’s Gone (All) > Terrapin Station* (TH)

Encore: Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad (All with NA) -> We Bid You Goodnight (Instrumental ending)

• @ – With unknown tease MB
• # – With a “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” (Michael Jackson) Jam (Band)
• $ – TH broke a string
• % – With a Dancin Tease (TH)
• ^ – With a GDTRFB Tease (TH)
• & – With a “Norwegian Wood” (The Beatles) Tease (SM) & a “Kashmir” Jam (SM & Band)
• * – With Ruben & Cherise Teases (MB then Band) an “Eleanor Rigby” (The Beatles) Jam (TH & Band)