Joe Russo’s Almost Dead descended upon The Fillmore Philadelphia last night, turning it to “The Eleven” for a monster New Year’s performance. The group has sounded tighter than ever in 2015, at the energy of NYE only set the band over the edge.
The group debuted an incredible number of new songs in the three-set performance, including “Good Lovin'” in the first frame. After a rocking version of “Shakedown Street,” the group returned donning acoustic instruments for a more-intimate second set. Debuts aplenty here, as the group opened with “Friend of the Devil” and brought out songs like “On The Road Again,” “Big River” and a set-closing “Ripple.”
The third set opened with an improvised “Space” jam that found its way into the traditional “Auld Lang Syne.” Afterwards, the remainder of the set was essentially a “Sugar Magnolia/Sunshine Daydream” sandwich, with “Scarlet > Fire,” “Greatest Story Ever Told,” “Cosmic Charlie Jam” and “Terrapin Station” suite played between the two conjoined songs.
Joe Russo and co. closed out the performance with a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born To Run.” An intriguing choice to say the least, but the five musicians of Joe Russo’s Almost Dead can basically do anything they want. They’re just that talented, and that beloved by their fans.
Check out the setlist, as annotated by Peter Costello, below:
Setlist: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead at The Fillmore, Philadelphia, PA – 12/31/15
Electric Set 1 (9:00PM – 10:15PM)
Jam ->
Truckin’ @ (SM) ->
The Eleven (All) ->
China Cat Sunflower (TH)->
I Know You Rider (All) >
Good Lovin’ $ (SM) ->
Shakedown Street ^^ (TH)
Acoustic Set 2 + (10:45PM – 11:20PM)
Friend Of The Devil ^
On The Road Again %
Dark Hollow %
Dire Wolf ^
Big River %%
Ripple ^
Set 3 (11:55PM – 1:45AM ish)
Space ** ->
Auld Lang Syne & ->
Sugar Magnolia (SM) ->
Scarlet Begonias (TH) ->
Fire On The Mountain (TH)
Greatest Story Ever Told * (SM) ->
Cosmic Charlie Jam ++->
Terrapin Suite @@(TH & JR) ->
Sunshine Daydream ## (SM)
E: Born To Run $$ (TH)
@ – With a Born Cross Eyed Tease (Band)
# – With a Dupree’s Diamond Blues Tease (TH)
$ – First Time Played, Rudy Clark and Arthur Resnick // The (Young) Rascals Cover & with a The Wheel Tease (TH)
^^ – With a China>Rider Transition Jam
+ – Complete set change from set one. Band was set up on two 8’x8’ risers in front of the stage, with (from house left to right): Marco on Upright Piano, Dave on Upright Bass, Tommy on Acoustic Guitar, Scott on Acoustic Guitar & Joe on a small kit that included Kick, Snare, Hat, Bongos & 1 Cymbal.
% – First Time Played
^ – Played before electric, first time played acoustic
%% – First Time Played, Johnny Cash Cover
** – With Balloon Drop & Confetti Cannons at Midnight
& – First Time Played, Traditional, Instrumental
* – With a Dave Dreiwitz Bass Solo, Unfinished
++ – First Time Played, No Lyrics
@@ – With “Linus & Lucy” (Vince Guaraldi) Teases (MB)
## – First Almost Dead Split Sugar Mags // SSDD
$$ – First Time Played, Bruce Springsteen Cover, With Confetti Cannons