There’s a difference between a string of shows and a run. A string of shows, during which is how many of us take in live music, allows you to drop in and capture a moment in time, and then go separate ways after the music has played to the end. A run or a residency let’s everyone- patrons, service staff, security, merch employees, and of course the band, get to know each other and build a relationship that over the course of the run can develop beyond the boundaries of catching a show just for one night. Familiarity lends to intimacy, and when it’s right that can lead to love.

There was a lot of love last night at the Brooklyn Bowl.

Ending their three night run of the Freaks Ball, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead played a show that had all the hallmarks of their skills on display. The first set started differently than the previous two evenings, which each opened with a jam section, as they launched straight into “Big Railroad Blues.” This rocker got the crowd moving and shaking, and then during the outro got real slinky and groovy as they transitioned to “Mason’s Children.” Ferocious Joe Russo was attacking the drums with purpose and pointed aggression. “Mason’s” had tremendous energy and, in the middle of the song, got into a deep jam that departed from the structure and had some spooky elements to it, before it built back up into the song’s finale.

Violinist Katie Jacoby then joined the band for “Friend of the Devil.” This wasn’t the really slow version of the song that the Grateful Dead played often, but it wasn’t the quick folk song version that the Dead played in their 1970’s acoustic sets either. There was a shuffling beat, and the song was just downright pretty. The violin fit in perfectly; this version was as appropriate for the Opry as for the Bowl.

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As Katie Jacoby left the stage, the band started a jam that had Tommy Hamilton driving and Marco Benevento right next to him pushing and pushing. This jam kept building in intensity until the friendly chords of “I Know You Rider” set in. The room was at such a frenzy when they got to the lyrics, and everyone sang along. By the time the end of the song came there was a feeling of achievement, as if we all had worked to it together.

Out of “Rider” came a jam that was a little spacey but also pointed, which went into “St. Stephen.” They stretched out the intro jam to the song as Benevento played a solo on his Rhodes that built the intensity towards the first verse of the song. The jam leading into the bridge of the song got psychedelic- a lot of reverb and echoes. When finally reaching the end of the song, the band kept jamming- following the trance like groove they had discovered earlier. This got real jazzy, reminiscent of Return to Forever and Bitches Brew era Miles Davis.

Katie Jacoby returned to the stage, and helped the band go into the “At a Siding” section of “Terrapin,” through the final stanzas of the song. Katie Jacoby’s playing gave a feel of Mahavishnu Orchestra to the song, and made the build-up at the end worthwhile to close out the set.

Last night’s set break from DJ Cochon de Lait was a perfect set break; covers of great songs, all with a high funk and danceability factor. Three different times during conversations with three different different people, it came up how great the music being played was and that it was helping to make the evening as fun as possible. DJ Cochon de Lait has made that playlist available, don’t be shy to get down to it.

After set break the band came back for their closing frame at the Bowl, and during this set they left it all out there. The set started with a jam that lead into a country-esque version of “Cassidy.” During the jam in the middle of the song all of the band members were locked in, eyes closed, and listening patiently to each other. It was a truly organic moment of band chemistry. Tommy Hamilton then built the jam and brought it to a memorable peak. The explosive ending of the song gave way to some mellow playing that coalesced into “The Wheel.”

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead really makes you appreciate the lyrics. By the time they got to “The wheel is turning and you can’t slow down…,” the anticipation had EVERYONE was ready to help sing along. It’s a unique skill that allows for that to happen continuously through a show. During “The Wheel” was an interlude of the Tom Hamilton’s American Babies original song “Joeline,” which fit perfectly and gave Hamilton some extra push as he again peaked a jam and got everyone bound to cover just a little more ground.

The outro jam was again mellow and psychedelic- almost drifting. Giant smiles abound as they found their way into the familiar opening of “He’s Gone.” During the song there were more full band jams where everyone’s skill was on display together. The song ended like a fade out on a record and a reggae beat emerged from the drums. The transition into “Estimated Prophet” was so smooth. The jam got a bit eerie at the end, as “Eyes of the World” kicked in. At this point it was clear that these songs weren’t just about the end of a set, but about ending a residency at your home and making sure that everyone knows nothing was left on the table.

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Everyone got a chance to shine during “Eyes,” as Benevento took a solo on his Rhodes that built frenetically. Scott Metzger built his solo so patiently that when the peak of it came the eruption in the room kept it going and going. Dave Dreiwitz got a chance to stand out, and keep the groove with lush fluid tones. By the time the song ended and they reached the set closing “The Music Never Stopped,” Joe Russo was thundering away while drenched in sweat. The song had an explosive end that left everyone exhausted and exuberant.

Peter Shapiro, promoter and owner of the Bowl then took to the stage to for a knighting ceremony. With a giant sword that had the date of Joe Russo’s Almost Dead’s first ever show on it (the band was birthed at a Freaks Ball at the Bowl in 2013), he led the crowd as in unison all the members (including Sir Joe Russo) were officially named Knights of the Bowl. It was such a genuine feeling of love in that room at that time- I’m a happier person having been there for that.

For their first song as knights of the land, they launched into a bone shaking version of “One More Saturday Night” that no one wanted to see end. As the band left the stage, DJ Cochon de Lait got the groove going again, starting a dance party that went late because no one wanted to leave this place. What a run this was.

All photos courtesy of Mark Dershowitz. The full setlist can be seen below, with notes from Peter Costello on the performance:

Setlist: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead at Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY – 3/26/16

Set 1 (9:43PM – 10:56PM)
Big Railroad Blues (TH) ->
Mason’s Children @ (All)
Friend Of The Devil # (TH)
I Know Your Rider (All) >
Space ->
St Stephen (All) ->
Terrapin Suite PT 2 #$ (JR)

Set 2 (11:40PM – 1:00AM)
Jam >
Cassidy (SM)
The Wheel (All) ->
Joeline % ->
The Wheel Reprise (All) ->
He’s Gone (TH) ->
Estimated Prophet (SM) ->
Eyes Of The World (TH) ->
Music Never Stopped (SM)

E:
“Knighting Ceremony” &
One More Saturday Night (SM)

@ – First Time Played by Almost Dead. PhilRAD played it at the Cap.
# – With Katie Jacoby ~ Violin
$ – From “Terrapin Transit” to the end. Finishes the 2016.03.25 version. With an unknown tease (MB)
% – First Time Played, American Babies Original, only the refrain was sung. From the album Flawed Logic, check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oStHvWi51Wg
& – Before the encore, Brooklyn Bowl owner Peter Shapiro took the stage, & presented the band with an sword engraved with the date of their first gig (2013-01-26 at Brooklyn Bowl) and made the legendary knighting of Joe Russo (http://www.sirjoerusso.com/) official. Shapiro named them Brooklyn Bowl Royalty as follows “We, The freaks Of Brooklyn Bowl, hereby anoint Dave, Scott, Tommy, Marco, And Sir Joe Russo as Knights, Birthed at the Bowl & and dedicated to Rock & Fucking Roll”. Props to Jake Szufnarowski for his invaluable role in creating, supporting, & nurturing the legend of Sir Joe Russo.
What a run. Thanks to all for everything & to Brooklyn Bowl for always being our home at home & treating us like family literally from day one!

Full gallery of images via Mark Dershowitz: