[UPDATED] Joe Russo’s Almost Dead Debuts Allman Brothers & Father John Misty Covers At Brooklyn Bowl

On Thursday night, Grateful Dead tribute act Joe Russo’s Almost Dead kicked off a three-night stand at Brooklyn Bowl in New York City. The band’s return to the venue where it all started for them in 2013 makes up this year’s Freaks Ball in celebration of tastemaking e-mail list NYC-Freaks.

In a style borrowed from Phil Lesh, JRAD opened each set with a jam. The bit of improv that began the first set led into an instrumental jam on “Not Fade Away” before the band lit into “Reuben & Cerise.” Next up was a “Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad” that ended with a quick transition into “Hell In A Bucket.” The five-piece took “Hell In A Bucket” out and eventually landed upon “Shakedown Street.” From there, the “Shakedown” jam evolved into a spacey segment. Guitarists Tom Hamilton and Scott Metzger worked in teases of the Allman Brothers Band classic “In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed” and their bandmates soon joined in. It appeared the ABB cover was an impromptu take as drummer Joe Russo noted, “so that just happened…and in the wrong key!” at the conclusion of “Liz Reed.” Hamilton then led the band through a sparkling “Mission In The Rain” to end the set.

The second set started with a jam that gave way to “Truckin’.” Before transitioning into a Hamilton-sung “Bertha,” Almost Dead worked in a “Born Cross-Eyed” jam. One of the evening’s biggest surprises came out of “Bertha” as Russo sang Father John Misty’s “I’m Writing A Novel” which was a Joe Russo’s Almost Dead debut. The Dead-esque jam out of “I’m Writing A Novel” featured a segue into “The Eleven.” Hamilton and Russo shared vocals on the early Dead number. JRAD toyed with the tempo throughout “The Eleven.” The second set came to a close with a blissful “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo.”

For the encore, the capacity crowd finally were treated to a full-on “Not Fade Away.” Here’s how Joe Russo’s Almost Dead manager Pete Costello described what happened next, “‘Not Fade Away’ ended traditionally with the crowd clapping the beat & singing lyrics back to the band as they walked off stage. Then ?uestlove joined in, starting his DJ set by scratching the ‘Not Fade Away’ beat on the turntables, in time with the crowd clapping & singing.”

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead returns to Brooklyn Bowl tonight. A webcast is available via nugs.tv.

Check out LazyLightning55-shot hi-def, 4K footage of “In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed”:

Watch hi-def, 4K footage of “Reuben & Cerise” captured by LazyLightning55:

Here’s footage of last night’s “The Eleven” via Skebetine:

Setlist (Compiled by Pete Costello)

Set One: Jam -> Not Fade Away Jam @ -> Reuben & Cerise (TH) -> Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad # (ALL) -> Hell In A Bucket (SM) -> Shakedown Street (TH) -> Space -> In Memory of Elizabeth Reed $, Mission In The Rain (TH)

Set Two: Jam -> Truckin’ (SM) -> Born Cross-Eyed Jam > Bertha (TH) -> I’m Writing A Novel % (JR) > The Eleven (TH/JR) -> Mississippi Half Step (TH)

Encore: Not Fade Away ^ (ALL)

• @ – First Time Played, no lyrics
• # – With an unknown tease (MB) & without the “WBYGN” ending, Segued directly into Bucket
• $ – First Time Played, Allman Brothers Band Cover. Bustle in Your Hedgerow covered it during the “Bustle Plays Other Shit” show on 2013-08-31
• % – First Time Played, Father John Misty Cover
• ^ – With a “I’m Writing A Novel” (Father John Misty) tease (TH) and Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson on turntables. Not Fade Away ended traditionally with the crowd clapping the beat & singing lyrics back to the band as they walked off stage. Then ?uestlove joined in, starting his DJ set by scratching the Not Fade Away beat on the turntables, in time with the crowd clapping & singing.