Joe Russo’s Almost Dead continued a short West Coast swing on Friday by wrapping up a two-night stand at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. The five-piece act had a surprise in store as they were joined by Dead & Company’s John Mayer for their entire second and encore on guitar and vocals.
Drummer Joe Russo, guitarists Tom Hamilton and Scott Metzger, keyboardist Marco Benevento and bassist Dave Dreiwitz got their evening in The City of Angels going with “Crazy Fingers.” The quirky Blues for Allah cut segued into the Grateful Dead’s ode to California “Estimated Prophet.” The Metzger-sung take on the knotty song moved straight into the folk number “Peggy-O.” The quintet looked to the Jerry Garcia Band songbook next offering up “Cats Under The Stars.” “Feel Like A Stranger” and the intricate instrumental “King Solomon’s Marbles” brought the first frame to a close.
Mayer emerged with the rest of Joe Russo’s Almost Dead for the start of their second set. Last night marked the third time the singer-guitarist has sat in with JRAD and the first time outside of the confines of Brooklyn Bowl. With Mayer in tow the six-piece, three guitar band delivered a seamless stanza that got off the ground with an open-ended jam that wound its way into “The Wheel.” MayRAD would then dig in on an expansive “Playing In The Band.” The sextet would stick to the Dead’s 1970s output with a blissful “Here Comes Sunshine” next. “They Love Each Other” followed with the traditional pairing of “China Cat Sunflower” > “I Know You Rider” putting a cap on their final set in Southern California.
JRAD with Mayer closed out their finale in Los Angeles with a two-song encore. First up they delivered their debut take on “Never Been To Spain.” The Hoyt Axton-penned tune originally appeared on his 1971 release Joy To The World and was a top ten hit for Three Dog Night a year later. “Uncle John’s Band” was then tapped to bring the night to an end. Watch pro-shot video of the openers from each set courtesy of nugs.tv below:
Crazy Fingers
The Wheel
Setlist
Set I: Crazy Fingers > Estimated Prophet > Peggy-O, Cats Under The Stars, Feel Like A Stranger, King Solomon’s Marbles
Set II: The Wheel > Playing In The Band > Here Comes Sunshine > They Love Each Other > China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider
Encore: Never Been To Spain, Uncle John’s Band
