Joe Russo’s Almost Dead Kicks Off The Fillmore Philadelphia Run

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead launched a two-night stand at The Fillmore Philadelphia on Friday after performing at Brooklyn Bowl in Philly on Thursday. The Grateful Dead tribute act delivered a host of GD classics with some signature choice teases.

JRAD kicked off the show with a five-song, seamless first set with expansive renditions of “The Greatest Story Ever Told” and “The Wheel,” which together totaled around 33-minutes. The group then got into “Uncle John’s Band,” which was also a well-jammed at 14-minutes. The classic Dead pairing of “Lost Sailor” and “Saint of Circumstance,” closed out the set ahead of a round of a band intros including hometown hero guitarist Tom Hamilton.

The second set got underway with “Here Comes Sunshine,” which contained elements of “The Eleven,” before JRAD went deep on Bob Dylan’s “Tell Me Momma” at nearly 23-minutes, which also contained a tease of The Beatles’ “Hey Bulldog.” JRAD kept exploring on “Shakedown Street” and harkened back to the “Sunshine” ahead of a blues jam which flowed into “Cumberland Blues” which boasted a “Scarlet Begonias” foreshadow and yet another return to elements of “Sunshine.”

Next, “Black-Throated Wind” would see a “Ramble On Rose” reference before JRAD delivered “Scarlet” proper. The rocker “Alabama Getaway” brought the second frame to a close. JRAD capped off the evening with a “Jack Straw” encore.

Listen to full-show audio via Rich Stoler below:

Setlist (via Almost Dead.net)

Set One: Greatest Story Ever Told -> The Wheel -> Uncle John’s Band -> Lost Sailor > Saint of Circumstance

Set Two: Here Comes Sunshine -> Tell Me, Momma > Shakedown Street -> Cumberland Blues, Black Throated Wind -> Scarlet Begonias, Alabama Getaway

Encore: Jack Straw