Anything is possible at LOCKN’. With promoter Peter Shapiro behind the Arrington, Virginia festival, the man who reunited the surviving members of the Grateful Dead with Trey Anastasio for the 50th anniversary Fare Thee Well shows can make any assortment of dreams come true. During the late hours of Friday night, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead took the Relix Stage for their first of two late-night sets this weekend. Continuously straying away from a “traditional” set, the Grateful Dead-inspired quintet–Joe Russo, Scott Metzger, Marco Benevento, Tom Hamilton, and Dave Dreiwitz–delivered a stellar showcase packed with curveball surprises.
In addition to the Grateful Dead reliables, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead debuted a cover of “Little Red Rooster” by Howlin’ Wolf, welcoming vocalist Nicole Atkins to the stage as the first guest of the evening. Jim James, frontman of My Morning Jacket who performed a solo set earlier in the evening, joined the stage for a shocking debut cover of “Been Caught Stealing” by Jane’s Addiction toward the end of the set. My Morning Jacket delivered one of the most memorable performances at the 2016 LOCKN’, so it’s no wonder the festival tapped James to return for a second year. James stuck around to help close the set with “Brown Eyed Women” before returning to the stage with Nicole Atkins for an emotionally-charged “Brokedown Palace” encore, blowing the minds of all in attendance in arguably the most exciting collaboration of all LOCKN’s time.
Thanks to fan-shot video from rdeal1999, you can watch the Jane’s Addiction cover with Jim James below:
Check out the following Instagram snippet from @whitneywangs of Friday night’s radness:
We’ll be back with a full Friday recap, as the party continues on the grounds of LOCKN’ with sets from Widespread Panic, John Fogerty, John Butler Trio, Greensky Bluegrass, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, and of course Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, later today. For a complete schedule, head to the festival website.
For fans who can not attend the festival, a free LOCKN’ stream is available, courtesy of Ben & Jerry’s, Airstream, and YouTube, in conjunction with Relix and Headcount. Viewers are encouraged to make a donation, with proceeds going to the Heal Charlottesville Fund. Funds raised will go towards assisting local residents seeking trauma counseling, supporting victims involved in the car attack who need help with their medical expenses, and towards helping law enforcement to prevent future attacks. Click here for more information regarding donations, as well as how to link up to the live stream.
Setlist: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead | LOCKN’ | Arrington, VA | 8/25/17
Shakedown Street, Gonesville, Uncle John’s Band, The Other One, Little Red Rooster (Howlin’ Wolf)#*, Terrapin Station, Truckin’, Cassidy, Help on the Way, Been Caught Stealing (Jane’s Addiction)#^, Brown-Eyed Women^
E: Brokedown Palace*^
#FTP by JRAD
*w/ Nicole Atkins
^w/ Jim James
[cover photo by @jdcohenphoto on IG]