Full Show Video: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead Closes Out 2017 New Orleans Run

Earlier this month, Grateful Dead tribute act Joe Russo’s Almost Dead played a series of three sold-out shows at the Joy Theater in New Orleans during Jazz Fest. Recently, video of JRAD’s May 7 finale in NOLA shot from the front row surfaced on YouTube.

Drummer Joe Russo, guitarists Scott Metzger and Tom Hamilton, bassist Dave Dreiwitz and keyboardist Marco Benevento kicked off the Sunday night show with “Samson & Delilah” which they jammed into “Jack Straw.” The quintet also worked a Russo-sung cover of Neil Young’s “Vampire Blues” into the first set on May 7 along with “Loser,” “Throwing Stones,” “Stella Blue” and “The Music Never Stopped.”

One of the more interesting moments of the night came when JRAD debuted their take on “Tico Tico” within the second set. “Tico Tico,” a jam based on Zequinha Abreu’s “Tico-Tico No Fubá,” was played sporadically by the Grateful Dead. Another highlight from the second set of Almost Dead’s NOLA finale was a “Reuben & Cerise” that included a jam on The Who’s “Who Are You” ahead of “I Know You Rider.” Up next was a “Let It Grow” with the aforementioned “Tico Tico” in the middle. Joe Russo’s Almost Dead ended the final set of this year’s “JoyRAD” with an “Eyes Of The World” > “Dancing In The Streets” > “Franklin’s Tower” sequence and said farewell with a “Brokedown Palace” encore.

Full Show Video (Captured by TimeZonerTV)

[Set One]

[Set Two]

[Encore]

Setlist (Compiled by Peter Costello)

Set One: Samson & Delilah -> Jack Straw > Loser -> Vampire Blues -> Throwing Stones @ > Stella Blue # -> The Music Never Stopped $

Set Two: Reuben & Cerise % -> I Know You Rider ^ -> Let It Grow -> Tico Tico & -> Let It Grow Reprise -> Eyes Of The World $ > Dancing In The Streets * -> Franklin’s Tower

Encore: Brokedown Palace

• @ – With “Ticket To Ride” (The Beatles) Tease (TH), a Duo Jam, an Unknown Tease (TH & MB) & a China>Rider Transition Tease (Band)
• # – With a Throwin Stones Tease (SM)
• $ – With a Stella Blue Tease (TH)
• % – With a “Who Are You” (The Who) Tease (Band)
• ^ – With a “Midnight Rider” (The Allman Brothers Band) Tease (TH)
• & – Zequinha de Abreu Cover (Full Title is “Tico-Tico no Fubá”), First Time Played by Almost Dead
• * – With a “Fame” (David Bowie) Tease (DD) & a “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” (Michael Jackson) Tease (MB)