Joe Russo Talks Reforming The Duo & Almost Dead Plans

Ahead of Joe Russo’s Almost Dead appearance in Chicago today at North Coast, the Grateful Dead tribute acts leader -drummer Joe Russo – spoke with Chicago Now about the band and other projects.

As Live For Live Music pointed out Russo addressed his long-mothballed Benevento/Russo Duo project with keyboardist Marco Benevento. When asked about the all-improv set he played with Marco at Mountain Jam, Russo responded “It’s always fun any chance I get to play with my buddy Marco. It’s nice to check in on that space from time to time and see we still have that connection. I’m ready to do the Duo again. I think it would be great to do at least do one proper show with all the tunes and our mass of crazy gear. I miss those songs and I miss that style of performance. It was purely us.”

Joe Russo also revealed he’s expecting less Joe Russo’s Almost Dead performances in 2016. “We are going to book dates in 2016, but the goal is certainly to play less Almost Dead shows in the future so we can all focus on all of our other projects. Soooooooo……. get it while it’s hot,” Russo said.

Joe also weighed in on contributing to Bob Weir’s album of cowboy songs. “It’s been such a great pleasure getting to work with Bob outside of Furthur. I think there were times I “had” to play a certain way in that (Furthur) setting, that rubbed up against Bob’s concept a bit and it’s been a really great experience getting to come in as the drummer/musician I’ve always been, outside of the Dead world, and feel like peers making new music. It’s been a very fun, comfortable environment in the studio and Bob is just an incredible man. It feels really good to make a deeper, post-Furthur, musical connection with him. That all said, I can’t wait for this record to come out! The songs are incredible and Josh Kaufman is producing the hell out of it! It’s going to be very special record and I’m truly honored to be a part of it,” Russo said.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead will take the 773 Stage in Chicago’s Union Park for this year’s North Coast Music Festival at 6:30 p.m. this evening.