Joe Russo’s Almost Dead Debuts ‘Might As Well’ In Dallas

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead began a run through Texas at the House Of Blues Dallas on Thursday, where they kicked off the concert with their debut version of “Might As Well.” The Grateful Dead first played the Jerry Garcia/Robert Hunter rocker on June 3, 1976 and performed the song just over 100 times through March 1994.

Tom Hamilton handled lead vocals on JRAD’s show-opening “Might As Well.” The quintet jammed the song into a Scott Metzger-sung “Playing In The Band” and followed with “Althea.” An unfinished “Greatest Story Ever Told” then led into “Row Jimmy” before the group closed out the frame with the instrumental “King Solomon’s Marbles.”

Last night’s second set got underway with a jam the band used to intro “Loser.” JRAD then embarked on an adventurous jam that led into “The Eleven.” Almost Dead went on to perform “Viola Lee Blues” complete with a solo from bassist Dave Dreiwitz. Up next was a “Franklin’s Tower” featuring a tease of “Jessica” from keyboardist Marco Benevento ahead of his solo that connected “Franklin’s” to “Truckin.” A “Born Cross Eyed” jam came out of “Truckin'” and was followed by a set-closing “U.S. Blues.” The concert concluded with a “New Minglewood Blues” encore.

Watch pro-shot video of JRAD’s first ever “Might As Well” below via nugs.tv:

Setlist (via JRAD FB)

Set One: Might As Well @ -> Playing In The Band > Althea, Greatest Story Ever Told # -> Row Jimmy, King Solomon’s Marbles

Set Two: Jam -> Loser -> Jam -> The Eleven > Viola Lee Blues $ > Franklin’s Tower % -> Marco Solo -> Truckin ^ -> Born Cross Eyed Jam -> US Blues

Encore: New Minglewood Blues

• @ – First Time Played by Almost Dead
• # – Unfinished, with an unknown Tease (SM), Playin’ Teases (TH & MB), a Tennessee Jed Tease (Band),
• $ – With a DD Solo that included a “Shortnin’ Bread” (James Whitcomb Riley) Tease
• % – With a “Jessica” (Allman Brothers Band) Tease (MB)
• ^ – With a “How Many More Times” (Led Zeppelin/Howlin Wolf) Jam and Teases (Band) and a Greatest Story Jam