Full Show Audio: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead Shares ‘Secret’ Acoustic Show

Back on December 28, 2016 Threes Brewing in Brooklyn hosted a performance by a group billed as Data Models. The show turned out to be a “surprise” acoustic set played by Grateful Dead tribute act Joe Russo’s Almost Dead and a soundboard recording of the unannounced concert has been shared by the band.

Data Models (an “Almost Dead” anagram) initiated the intimate performance by going across the stage as each member selected a song to play. Keyboardist Marco Benevento got things going with “I Know You Rider,” guitarist Tom Hamilton selected “Loser,” guitarist Scott Metzger chose “Casey Jones,” bassist Dave Dreiwitz requested “Viola Lee Blues,” and drummer Joe Russo wrapped the requests segment by opting for “Estimated Prophet.”

The acoustic evening also saw performances of “Reuben & Cerise,” a mashup of “Let It Grow” and “Terrapin Station,” Hamilton leading “Ramble On Rose,” the pairing of “The Wheel” and “Uncle John’s Band,” a tender “Crazy Fingers” followed by “Truckin'” and a “Born Cross Eyed” jam. Data Models presented their stripped-down arrangement of “Brown Eyed Women” as the night’s encore.

Listen to official audio of Data Models at Threes Brewing thanks to Peter Costello and Eric McRoberts:

Setlist (Compiled by Peter Costello)

Set (~8:15PM – ~10:45PM?): I Know You Rider @ (All – requested by MB), Loser (TH – requested by TH), Casey Jones (TH – requested by SM), Viola Lee Blues (All – requested by DD), Estimated # (SM – requested by JR) -> Ruben & Cherise (TH) -> Let It Grow $ (SM) -> Jam % -> “Let Terrapin Grow” Jam ^ -> Let It Grow Reprise & (SM) -> Ramble On Rose (TH), Jam * -> Uncle John’s Jam +! -> The Wheel ! (All) -> Uncle John’s Band ! (All) -> The Wheel ! (All) -> Uncle John’s Band Reprise ! (All) -> Crazy Fingers (TH) -> Truckin’ @@ (SM) -> Born Cross Eyed Jam

Encore: Brown Eyed Women

Entire show was acoustic, with Marco on Upright Piano, Tommy & Scott on Acoustic Guitars thru their amps, Dave on Upright Bass & Joe on a small kit, with Kick, Snare, Hat & 1 cymbal. Only the piano & vocals were sent thru the PA. The performance space holds about 60 or so people & there were probably 75 or so there. The band started out with each member choosing a song from stage right (MB) to stage left (JR), hence the “requested by” notes for the songs up through Estimated. Every song except Uncle John’s Band (played Acoustic on 2016-10-06) was the First Time Played Acoustic by Almost Dead.

• @ – With an “LA Woman” (The Doors) Tease (MB)
• # – With Terrapin Station & Ruben & Cherise Teases (Band)
• $ – With a “Becky” (Benevento Russo Duo) Tease (JR)
• % – With multiple teases/themes, including “Careless Whisper” (Wham) & On The Road Again from Marco, Terrapin Station & Let It Grow Teases (Band)
• ^ – Basically the band weaved the 2 songs together & went back & forth between them
• & – Not played since North Coast Festival 2015-9-4, a gap of 48 shows, with a Terrapin Tease (TH)
• * – With a tease of an American Babies Tune from their first album – will ask TH the title
• + – First Time Played by Almost Dead
• ! – This was basically a mash up of the 2 songs, sometimes with the band playing both tunes simultaneously, if that makes sense
• @@ – Contained multiple Other One Teases & Jams (Band)