Joe Russo’s Almost Dead brought their March tour to a close on Saturday at the Masonic Auditorium in Cleveland. The quintet continued to unearth tunes that have sat unplayed along with delivering the debut of a city-appropriate cover from The Band during their encore.
The Grateful Dead tribute act got their night in The Buckeye State going with a foreshadowing version of “Saint Stephen” that featured a tease of The Band’s “Look Out Cleveland.” “Playing In The Band” kicked off a seamless run as guitarist Tom Hamilton stepped up to sing lead on the Blues For Allah cut “Crazy Fingers.” Keyboardist Marco Benevento got a chance to shine next delivering a solo ahead of “Cosmic Charlie.” The pairing of “Scarlet Begonias” and “I Know You Rider” brought the first frame to a close.
The five-piece act looked to a funky “Shakedown Street” to kick off their second stanza. Scott Metzger took the band through “I Need A Miracle” as they dove head first into the Dead’s psychedelic territory next. A distinct jam on “The Other One” worked its way into “Cryptical Envelopment,” which had been sitting unplayed since October 7, 2016 – a span of 105 shows. A gorgeous “Eyes Of The World” led into a thunderous payout on the previously teased “The Other One.” The ode to Neal Cassady transitioned by back into “Cryptical
Envelopment” with Martha Reeves & The Vandella’s Motown hit “Dancing In The Street” closing out the set.
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead delivered a two-song encore of city and day appropriate songs. First up, Joe Russo & Co. came through on the tease they offered up at the beginning of their night with the debut of “Look Out Cleveland” from The Band’s self-titled debut. A day-appropriate take on “One More Saturday Night” put a cap on their seven-show March tour.
Setlist (Compiled by Peter Costello)
Set I (8:05PM – 9:25PM): St. Stephen @, Playing In The Band -> Crazy Fingers -> Marco Solo -> Cosmic Charlie ->
Scarlet Begonias -> I Know You Rider
Set II (10:06PM – 11:44PM): Shakedown Street # > I Need A Miracle -> The Other One Jam -> Cryptical Envelopment $ -> Eyes Of The World % -> The Other One ^ -> Cryptical Envelopment $ -> Dancing In The Streets &
Encore: Look Out Cleveland * > One More Saturday Night
@ – With a “Look Out Cleveland” Tease (TH)
# – With a “China>Rider Transition” Tease (TH/Band)
$ – Not Played By Almost Dead Since 2016-10-07 Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY, a gap of 105 shows
% – With a “Tighten Up” (Archie Bell & The Drells) Tease (SM), a DD Solo, and the “’73 Changes”
^ – With a “Duo Jam” and a Miracle Tease (TH)
& – With a Loose Lucy Jam (Band) and a “First Tube” (Phish) Tease (TH)
* – The Band Cover, First Time Played by Almost Dead, TH vocals
