Joe Russo’s Almost Dead Turn Pier 17 Cancelation Into Free Sidewalk Show

Fans who had already arrived at Pier 17 on Friday got a Joe Russo’s Almost Dead show after all. With the band’s rooftop concert canceled shortly before showtime, the quintet set up outside the New York City venue and played a free sidewalk set lasting roughly 90 minutes.

JRAD — namesake drummer Joe Russo, guitarists Tom Hamilton and Scott Metzger, keyboardist Marco Benevento and bassist Dave Dreiwitz — had been scheduled to play The Rooftop at Pier 17 on Friday and Saturday. Saturday’s show was canceled Friday afternoon as a nor’easter approached. The band later canceled Friday’s rooftop performance too, citing the New York governor’s emergency declaration and a deteriorating forecast. Refunds for both concerts are available at the point of purchase.

The five musicians began “Scarlet Begonias” without amplification while crew members worked to connect a microphone and amps. The opening stretch continued through “Silvio,” “Rubin and Cherise” and “Good Lovin’” as the makeshift setup came together. Later in the set, JRAD moved from “Shakedown Street” and “All Along the Watchtower” into a “Help on the Way” > “Slipknot!” > “Franklin’s Tower” > “Slipknot!” sequence. “Feel Like a Stranger” emerged out of “Slipknot!” and led into “Terrapin Station” before an “I Know You Rider” finale.

Watch two angles of the full sidewalk show below:

See photos from the show: