Nicole Atkins Guests With Joe Russo’s Almost Dead In Nashville

Grateful Dead tribute act Joe Russo’s Almost Dead made their Nashville debut last night with a performance at the historic Ryman Auditorium. The five-piece was joined by old friend Nicole Atkins for portions of both sets and the encore in Music City.

Almost Dead treated an enthusiastic crowd to a first set filled with improv as they played just five songs over the course of nearly 80 minutes. Guitarist Scott Metzger led the band on a “Truckin'” opener ahead of a fitting “Tennesse Jed” sung by Tom Hamilton. The seamless set continued with Atkins emerging to help out on “The Music Never Stopped” and “Dancing In The Street.” JRAD then ended the opening stanza with “Brown Eyed Women.”

The second set started with “Help On The Way” > “Slipknot!,” but instead of the usual “Franklin’s Tower,” Almost Dead instead segued “Slipknot!” into “Throwing Stones.” Metzger channeled Bobby on the Weir classic which included a jam on “Dark Star.” It was then time for another guest appearance from Nicole Atkins as the New Jersey native led the quintet on “The Stranger (Two Souls In Communion).” A wild “Let It Grow” with a “Norwegian Wood” tease from Metzger and a jam on Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” came next and was followed by “He’s Gone.” The group concluded the second set with “Terrapin Station.” For the encore, JRAD and Atkins performed “Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad” complete with the instrumental ending of “We Bid You Goodnight.” Next up for Joe Russo’s Almost Dead is a performance in Charleston, South Carolina tonight.

Watch a clip of last night’s “Slipknot!” jam captured by weengreen:

Here are a few clips of Nicole Atkins singing with JRAD:

Setlist (Compiled by Peter Costello)

Set One: Truckin’ (SM) -> Tennessee Jed @ (TH) -> The Music Never Stopped (SM & NA)> Dancing In The Streets (SM & NA) -> Brown Eyed Women (TH)

Set Two: Help On The Way (TH) -> Slipknot! $ -> Throwing Stones % (SM) -> Dark Star Jam ^ -> Throwing Stones Reprise (SM), The Stranger (Two Souls) (NA) > Let It Grow & (SM) -> He’s Gone (All) > Terrapin Station* (TH)

Encore: Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad (All with NA) -> We Bid You Goodnight (Instrumental ending)

• @ – With unknown tease MB
• # – With a “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” (Michael Jackson) Jam (Band)
• $ – TH broke a string
• % – With a Dancin Tease (TH)
• ^ – With a GDTRFB Tease (TH)
• & – With a “Norwegian Wood” (The Beatles) Tease (SM) & a “Kashmir” Jam (SM & Band)
• * – With Ruben & Cherise Teases (MB then Band) an “Eleanor Rigby” (The Beatles) Jam (TH & Band)