Full Show Soundboard Audio: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead At Brooklyn Bowl March 2016

Back in March, Grateful Dead tribute act Joe Russo’s Almost Dead held a three night stand at Brooklyn Bowl – the site of their initial formation. The run billed as “Freaks Ball XVI” in honor of the anniversary of the influential NYC-Freaks email list included a middle show that featured a four-piece horn section sitting-in with JRAD. For Throwback Thursday, take a short trip back to Brooklyn, New York on March 25 to stream just-shared soundboard audio and watch an extended pro-shot video highlight from the opening night of the run as well.

First appearing together to play the January 2013 installment of Freak’s Ball at Brooklyn Bowl, drummer Joe Russo, guitarists Scott Metzger and Tom Hamilton, bassist Dave Dreiwitz and keyboardist Marco Benevento have kept the acclaimed project going ever since. The five-piece has a number of shows planned this year, including a return to Brooklyn Bowl on December 29 as part of their New Year’s Run that ends with two nights at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York on December 30 and 31.

The ensemble was joined by a horn section made up of Stuart Bogie, Martin Perna, Eric Biondo and Ray Mason for nearly the entire Mach 25 concert. The quartet of guests shined throughout the evening, including in unexpected spots like on “Terrapin Station,” “Feel Like A Stranger” and “Cumberland Blues.” Other moments of note were Benevento’s soloing during “Franklin’s Tower” and the group improvisation on a lengthy “Dancing In The Streets.” Stream a SBD recording of the entire March 25, 2016 JRAD show here:

Official pro-shot video footage of a portion of the JRAD show at Brooklyn Bowl on March 24 was also recently shared. Watch a segment featuring a jam that goes into a “Not Fade Away” motif before transitioning to “Rubin & Cherise”:

March 25 Setlist

Set One (All But Opening Jam With Horns): Jam > Hard To Handle > Franklin’s Tower > Feel Like A Stranger, Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Althea > The Other One

Set Two: Cream Puff War > I Need A Miracle > Terrapin Station* > Dancing In The Streets* > Cumberland Blues*

Encore: Sugar Magnolia* > Sunshine Daydream*

* – w/ Stuart Bogie / Martin Perna / Eric Biondo and Ray Mason on horns