[DID NOT ATTEND: October 7, 8, 9, 2021] Joe Russo’s Almost Dead [rescheduled from September 24, 2020]
I don’t actually know Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. The only thing I really know about them is that Marco Benevento is the pianist for the band. Honestly that’s good enough for me.
They are playing three nights in Montclair and two of them sold out almost immediately.
It didn’t actually occur to me that the Dead in the band name is a Grateful Dead reference. But I see that JRAD is like a Grateful Dead cover band plus more. They are known for their intermingling of the Grateful Dead’s recognizable folk-rock and Americana sound with more contemporary Progressive Rock and Jazz Fusion influences.
So I had a lot going on that week and decided I didn’t need to see a Grateful Dead band. Especially since I don’t especially like the Dead (althouh it’s more their recording sound (too tinny) than their songs. But according to GratefulWeb, the run was a hit.
This talented band was excited to bring their jazzy Grateful Dead covers to the storied Wellmont Theater, despite an injury to guitarist Tom Hamilton. He broke his clavicle prior to the run, and was notably sitting for parts of the evening. His dedication to their loyal fans was unparalleled, as he was certainly playing through some pain this evening.
The smoking hot first set kicked off with two tasty jam sandwiches, the first being “Comic Charlie” > “Mississippi Half Step” > “Queen Jane Approximately,” with “Queen Jane” being the first in a pair of Bob Dylan covers this evening. The energy gradually increased throughout this sequence, as the band warmed up. The second kept the energy in high gear with “The Wheel” > “Til the Morning Comes” > “My Brother Esau.” There was a notable “Hell in a Bucket” tease during the jam out of “The Wheel,” and showed how this band loves to keep the fans guessing. After this intense series, the band took a much needed break.
Set two picked up right where set one left off, and included another groups of songs segued into one another, starting with “They Love Each Other” > “Chinacat Sunflower” > “Gonesville” > “Shakedown Street.” A Bob Weir cover was nestled into the mix with “Gonesville.” The notable jam of the mix was the funky “Shakedown Street,” where bassist Dave Dreiwitz and drummer Joe Russo delivered a delicious groove that had the entire audience on their feet and grooving. “Viola Lee Blues” was up next, followed by the second Bob Dylan cover of the evening, “When I Paint My Masterpiece.” This song was often played by the Grateful Dead. This incredible set wrapped up with a rocking “US Blues.” The band left the stage for a brief moment, and returned to play the Grateful Dead’s most successful single, “Touch of Grey.”
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead unfurled a fantastic set list full of jams for their first night at the Wellmont Theater three night run in Montclair, NJ. They made many new fans this evening and certainly pleased the long timers with their creative and exploratory jams. The band has a couple of dates remaining on the ledger for 2021, including Hulaween in Live Oak, Florida. Visit their website for more details about upcoming shows this year and in 2022.
Leave a Reply