Joe Russo’s Almost Dead Begins Northeast Run & Announces Webcasts

On Thursday night, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead kicked off a series of three Northeast shows at the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse. JRAD wound up playing one long three-hour set rather than take a setbreak due to curfew issues.

The five-piece opened with a jam they worked into “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo.” Guitarist Tom Hamilton threw “Jack Straw” teases into the mix before the group transitioned into “Estimated Prophet.” JRAD had a double dose of “cats” in store as “China Cat Sunflower” gave way to “Good Lovin'” ahead of “Cats Under The Stars.” The band’s version of the Jerry Garcia Band classic included a jam on Radiohead’s “Airbag.” A seamless start to the set concluded with “I Know You Rider.”

Drummer Joe Russo told the crowd about Almost Dead’s plan to play one long set in order to fit a whole show in before an adventurous “Row Jimmy.” Next up was the familiar pairing of “Lost Sailor” > “Saint Of Circumstance” sung by guitarist Scott Metzger. It appeared another famed Grateful Dead song suite was up next when “Scarlet Begonias” followed, but the quintet covered Bob Dylan’s “Silvio” before making the move for “Fire On The Mountain.” For the encore, JRAD said farewell with Chuck Berry’s “Promised Land.”

Listen to full show audio taped by Bill Goldberg:

In other JRAD news, nugs.TV will present webcasts of tonight’s show in Boston as well as Saturday’s concert in Portland, Maine. Head here to pre-order.

Setlist (Compiled by Pete Costello)

Set: Jam @ -> Mississippi Half-Step # -> Estimated Prophet -> China Cat Sunflower -> Good Lovin $ -> Cats Under The Stars % -> I Know You Rider ^, Row Jimmy & -> Lost Sailor -> Saint Of Circumstance -> Scarlet Begonias -> Silvio -> Fire On The Mountain

Encore: Promised Land

• @ – With “Breakdown” (Tom Petty) Teases
• # – With Let It Grow Teases (TH)
• $ – With Iko Iko Teases (SM) & a DD Bass Solo
• % – With a St. Stephen Tease (SM), China Cat & Rider Teases (TH), an “Airbag” (Radiohead) Jam & a “Shortnin’ Bread” (James Whitcomb Riley) Tease (MB)
• ^ – With a “Farmer in the Dell” (Traditional) Tease (MB), a GDTRFB Tease (TH) & another “Airbag” (Radiohead) Jam
• & – Before Row Jimmy, JR announced that the band would not be taking a set break in order to get the full show in before curfew.