Full Shows Audio: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead At Capitol Theatre

On Friday and Saturday nights Joe Russo’s Almost Dead brought a three-night New Year’s Run to a close with two performances at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York. The Grateful Dead tribute act were joined by a five-piece horn section featuring members of Antibalas as part of Friday’s show and celebrated bassist Dave Dreiwitz’s birthday and honored Lemmy on Saturday night.

Almost Dead’s New Year’s Day performance included a total of seven debuts. Six of those first-timers came in the first set: “Sitting On Top Of The World,” “Doin’ That Rag,” “I Need A Miracle,” “New Speedway Boogie,” “It Must Have Been The Roses” and “Box Of Rain.” Joe Russo handled vocals on the “Box Of Rain” set closer, Scott Metzger led the band through “I Need A Miracle,” while Tom Hamilton fronted the five-piece on the other first set debuts on January 1. The vast majority of the second set saw Joe Russo’s Almost Dead assisted by Jordan McLean on trumpet, Raymond Mason on trombone, Stuart Bogie on saxophone and clarinet, Matt Bauder on baritone saxophone and John Altieri on tuba. JRAD and horns teamed for “Row Jimmy,” “Help/Slip!/Franklin’s,” “Dancing In The Streets” and “Not Fade Away.” The second set also featured an “Eyes Of The World” with just Almost Dead and Bogie. For the finale on January 1, the group was aided by the horns for the Almost Dead debut of “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” by The Band.

Saturday was Dreiwitz’s birthday and the bassist was delivered a birthday cake on stage. Dreiwitz also led his mates through “Alabama Getaway” as part of a first set that also featured an exploratory “Throwing Stones” with a heavy metal jam in honor of Motorhead frontman Lemmy as well as takes on “Alligator,” “Bertha,” “Cumberland Blues,” Brown-Eyed Women” and “One More Saturday Night.” Joe Russo’s Almost Dead started the final set of the run with a jam that gave way to “The Wheel.” Metzger and Hamilton then led the group through “Jack Straw” before a massive “St. Stephen” that contained a “Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad” jam. “Viola Lee Blues” was also used as an improvisational springboard with Russo and keyboardist Marco Benevento connecting on The Duo’s “Big Whopper” and all of JRAD debuting the classical piece “Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy.” Metzger then moved over to pedal steel for “Candyman” ahead of an “Uncle John’s Band” set closer. JRAD said farewell with a “The Weight” encore.

Audio (Captured by Quinfolk)

https://soundcloud.com/quinfolk/sets/jrad1-1-16 https://soundcloud.com/quinfolk/sets/jrad1-2-16