Joe Russo’s Almost Dead completed a weekend run with stops at Baltimore, MD’s Pier Six Concert Pavilion and New Haven, CT’s Westville Music Bowl, where the band welcomed the children of both Joe Russo and Marco Benevento to sit in.
After playing shows in Asheville, NC and Charlottesville, VA on Wednesday and Thursday, the drummer-led Grateful Dead tribute arrived at Pier Six Concert Pavilion in Baltimore, MD on Friday ready to throw down. As has become the band’s custom, JRAD began the show with some experimental improvisation that ultimately gave way to “Here Comes Sunshine”. The band kept the music flowing seamlessly with a transition into “Foolish Heart” and then Bob Weir‘s “Gonesville”, played for the first time since last summer. A trio of bluesy rock tunes came next with “Mr. Charlie” > “Hey Bulldog” (The Beatles) > “Viola Lee Blues” (Cannon’s Jug Stompers), and the upbeat “Dancing in the Street” closed the set.
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead – “Jam” > “Eyes of the World” > “The Music Never Stopped” – 5/13/23
Set two likewise commenced with an exploratory jam. The band was in fine form as the set continued with a deluge of far out fan favorites including “Terrapin Station”, “The Other One”, “Cryptical Envelopment” (last verse only), and “Bird Song” (with a tease of “Mountain Jam” by the Allman Brothers Band). The band slowed things down at the end of the set with “Lost Sailor”, followed by “Saint of Circumstance” and a set-closing “Morning Dew”. A “Casey Jones” encore ended the Friday night show on a high note.
JRAD then rolled on over to Westville Music Bowl in New Haven, CT on Saturday ready for some family fun—and I don’t just mean GD Family. After opening the show with a free jam, a blissful “Eyes of the World” and “The Music Never Stopped”, the band welcomed Joe Russo’s kids to play toy guitars on stage for the remainder of the set, which included The Beatles‘ “Here Comes the Sun”, “Estimated Prophet”, “The Wheel”, a snippet of Marco Benevento’s “The Real Morning Party”, “Uncle John’s Band”, and “Bertha”.
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead – “Jam” > “Here Comes Sunshine” – 5/13/23
After set break, JRAD returned to the stage and opened set two with “St. Stephen” followed by “I Need a Miracle”, “Ramble On Rose”, and “Scarlet Begonias”, which had teases of “Estimated Prophet” and “Swan Lake”. The band then welcomed Marco Benevento’s kids to join in on backing vocals and some piano during “Fire on the Mountain” before closing the set with a pairing of “Throwing Stones” and “So Many Roads”. A “Good Lovin’” encore brought the show and the weekend run to happy end.
Click below to view fan-shot videos and galleries of photos from Joe Russo’s Almost Dead at Pier Six Concert Pavilion and Westville Music Bowl courtesy of photographer Andrew Blackstein below.
JRAD just announced new tour dates in Atlantic City and Pittsburgh, with tickets going on sale on Wednesday, May 17th. For a full list of upcoming shows and ticketing details, visit the band’s website.
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead – “Terrapin Station” – 5/12/23
[Video: Dean Novin]
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead – “Foolish Heart” – 5/12/23
[Video: Dean Novin]
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead – Westville Music Bowl – New Haven, CT – 5/13/23 – Full Show
[Video: 88PhilZone]
Setlist: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead | Pier Six Concert Pavilion | Baltimore, MD | 5/12/23
Set 1: Jam > Here Comes Sunshine > Foolish Heart > Gonesville (Bob Weir), Mr. Charlie > Hey Bulldog (The Beatles) > Viola Lee Blues (Cannon’s Jug Stompers) > Dancing in the Street (Martha Reeves and the Vandellas) (followed by band introductions)
Set 2: Jam > Terrapin Station > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment (last verse only) > Bird Song (Jerry Garcia) (with ‘Mountain Jam’ by ABB tease) > Lost Sailor > Saint of Circumstance, Morning Dew (Bonnie Dobson) (followed by band introductions)
Encore: Casey Jones
Setlist: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead | Westville Music Bowl | New Haven, CT | 5/13/23
Set 1: Jam > Eyes of the World > The Music Never Stopped, Here Comes the Sun (The Beatles) (Joe’s kids on toy guitars for the rest of the set), Estimated Prophet > The Wheel (Jerry Garcia) > The Real Morning Party (Marco Benevento) (Snippet) > Uncle John’s Band, Bertha
Set 2: St. Stephen > I Need a Miracle > Ramble On Rose, Scarlet Begonias (with ‘Swan Lake’ and ‘ Estimated Prophet’ teases) > Fire on the Mountain (Marco’s kids on backing vocals and some piano) > Throwing Stones (with ‘Communication Breakdown’ by Led Zeppelin teases), So Many Roads
Encore: Good Lovin’ (The Young Rascals)
The post Joe Russo’s Almost Dad: Children Of Joe Russo & Marco Benevento Join JRAD In New Haven [Photos/Videos] appeared first on L4LM.
