Joe Russo’s Almost Dead Plays Surprise Acoustic Show In Brooklyn

Just one night after Threes Brewing in Brooklyn hosted the first Benevento Russo Duo show in six years, Grateful Dead tribute act Joe Russo’s Almost Dead played a surprise acoustic set at the intimate venue on Wednesday night. JRAD went without a pre-planned setlist and gave the perhaps 75 in attendance an experience they’ll never forget.

Threes Brewing’s website indicated “Data Models” would be performing in the room. “Data Models” is an anagram for “Almost Dead.” The one long set started with a series of requests from the band members starting from keyboardist Marco Benevento on stage right to drummer Joe Russo on stage left. Marco picked “I Know You Rider,” guitarist Tom Hamilton chose “Loser,” guitarist Scott Metzger requested “Casey Jones,” bassist Dave Dreiwitz went with “Viola Lee Blues,” while Russo ended the requests with “Estimated Prophet.”

“Reuben & Cerise” was the first song to follow the request portion of the night and gave way to a wild “Let It Grow” that featured elements of “Terrapin Station.” It was a mashup of sorts and would soon be reprised as JRAD mixed together “The Wheel” and “Uncle John’s Band.” The latter was the only song played at Threes Brewing which Almost Dead had performed unplugged in the past. Joe Russo’s Almost Dead ended the 150+ minute set with “Crazy Fingers” followed by “Truckin'” and a “Born Cross Eyed” jam. The band then returned to the stage for a “Brown Eyed Women” encore.

Almost Dead plays NYC’s Brooklyn Bowl on Thursday night followed by two nights at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York to end 2016.

Setlist (Compiled by Peter Costello)

Set (~8:15PM – ~10:45PM?): I Know You Rider @ (All – requested by MB), Loser (TH – requested by TH), Casey Jones (TH – requested by SM), Viola Lee Blues (All – requested by DD), Estimated # (SM – requested by JR) -> Ruben & Cherise (TH) -> Let It Grow $ (SM) -> Jam % -> “Let Terrapin Grow” Jam ^ -> Let It Grow Reprise & (SM) -> Ramble On Rose (TH), Jam * -> Uncle John’s Jam +! -> The Wheel ! (All) -> Uncle John’s Band ! (All) -> The Wheel ! (All) -> Uncle John’s Band Reprise ! (All) -> Crazy Fingers (TH) -> Truckin’ @@ (SM) -> Born Cross Eyed Jam

Encore: Brown Eyed Women

• @ – With an “LA Woman” (The Doors) Tease (MB)
• # – With Terrapin Station & Ruben & Cherise Teases (Band)
• $ – With a “Becky” (Benevento Russo Duo) Tease (JR)
• % – With multiple teases/themes, including “Careless Whisper” (Wham) & On The Road Again from Marco, Terrapin Station & Let It Grow Teases (Band)
• ^ – Basically the band weaved the 2 songs together & went back & forth between them
• & – Not played since North Coast Festival 2015-9-4, a gap of 48 shows, with a Terrapin Tease (TH)
• * – With a tease of an American Babies Tune from their first album – will ask TH the title
• + – First Time Played by Almost Dead
• ! – This was basically a mash up of the 2 songs, sometimes with the band playing both tunes simultaneously, if that makes sense
• @@ – Contained multiple Other One Teases & Jams (Band)