Joe Russo’s Almost Dead Covers Woody Guthrie’s ‘All You Fascists’ In Washington D.C.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead wrapped up their 2025 itinerary with a concert at The Anthem in Washington D.C. on Saturday. The band unveiled a cover of Woody Guthrie’s protest anthem, “All You Fascists,” in the nation’s capital.

Woody Guthrie recorded “You Fascists Are Bound to Lose” on a radio program in 1944 as World War II raged with blues great Sonny Terry, Pete Seeger and others. One of the architects of modern protest music, Guthrie also famously emblazoned his guitar with the slogan “This Machine Kills Fascists.”

In the late-1990s, English musician Billy Bragg collaborated with American band Wilco to create the Mermaid Avenue series of records, which contained updates of Woody’s lyrics with rock music. A recording of “All You Fascists” appeared on Mermaid Avenue Vol. II.

The Joe Russo’s Almost Dead version on Saturday was a rocking rendition akin to the Bragg/Wilco recording led by guitarist Scott Metzger. The debut emerged from “Cats Under The Stars” and was paired with a tune from Guthrie’s fellow Oklahoma legend, Merle Haggard‘s “Mama Tried.”

Grateful Dead favorites performed during the concert included show opener “Loser,” “Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodleloo,” “Estimated Prophet” and another politically charged song, “Throwing Stones.” JRAD also delivered the Bob Dylan/Robert Hunter co-write “Silvio” and sealed the show with Bruce Springsteen‘s “Born To Run.”