Tom Hamilton Plays Jerry Garcia’s ‘Wolf’ Guitar At JRAD’s First Of Two At The House Of Blues Boston

Last night Joe Russo’s Almost Dead kicked-off a two night run at the House Of Blues Boston. The five piece act fresh off an appearance at Dominican Holidaze, served up two sets of their high-octane take on the music of the Grateful Dead for the sold out crowd at the venue on Lansdowne Street that sits in the shadows of Fenway Park. The band also featured a special guest last night in the form of Jerry Garcia’s famed Wolf guitar, which guitarist Tom Hamilton used for the entire show. Hamilton last played the Doug Irwin-built ax back in August at Red Rocks during a special show honoring Garcia’s 75th birthday.

Drummer Joe Russo, guitarists Scott Metzger and Tom Hamilton, keyboardist Marco Benevento and bassist Dave Dreiwitz began the night a spirited take on the barroom rocker “Big Railroad Blues.” The jug band tune, which dates back to early 20th century, crashed straight into a fiery Metzger-sung take on Bob Dylan’s “Silvio.” The Down In The Groove track which Dylan co-wrote with Robert Hunter was followed by “Loser,” which gave the crowd a chance to slow down and breath. The tune, which first appeared on Jerry Garcia’s 1972 solo debut led into an open-ended “Jam” that eventually found its way into “Easy Wind.”

Another “Jam” sequence followed that featured tease of “Let It Grow,” with Hamilton stepping up to the mic next to deliver a tender take on another Garcia ballad – “Row Jimmy.” A wild “St. Stephen” > “Jam” > “St. Stephen Reprise” and “Samson & Delilah” brought the first frame to an end.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead opened up their second set of the run with another free-form “Jam,” with the band eventually landing on “Dark Hollow.” The folk tune, which was a staple during the Grateful Dead’s acoustic sets wound its way into a Metzger-sung version of “Mr. Charlie” that included a jam on Led Zeppelin’s “Moby Dick.” “Help On The Way” and its traditional partner “Slipknot!” followed with JRAD throwing a curve ball next as they slotted in “Mississippi Half Step” instead of “Franklin’s Tower.” The Wake Of The Flood tune flowed into “Estimated Prophet” and an impassioned, must-hear version of “Morning Dew” to close out the non-stop set of music. Joe Russo & Co. brought their 134th show together to an end with “Greatest Story Ever Told.”

Watch fan shot video captured by Monica Hampton and Jamey Klein and check out the full setlist below:

Videos

[Big Railroad Blues > Silvio]

[Easy Wind]

[Row Jimmy]

[St. Stephen]

[Dark Hollow]

[Morning Dew]

Setlist (Compiled by Peter Costello)

Set One (8:20pm – 9:43PM): Big Railroad Blues -> Silvio > Loser -> Jam -> Easy Wind @ -> Jam # -> Row Jimmy -> St. Stephen -> Jam -> St. Stephen Reprise > Samson & Delilah

Set Two (10:13pm – 11:50PM): Jam -> Dark Hollow > Mr Charlie $ > Help On The Way -> Slipknot! % > Mississippi Half Step > Estimated Prophet > Morning Dew

Enc: Greatest Story Ever Told ^

@ – “Flipped” Version – Opened with the last verse sung first, # – With Let It Grow Teases (TH), $ – With a “Moby Dick” (Led Zeppelin) Jam, % – With Let It Grow Teases (TH then Band), ^ – With The Wheel Teases (Band)