When the lineup for Jam Cruise was announced, fans got the first glimpse into a potential reunion from the Benevento Russo Duo. The project was a staple of the early 2000’s jam scene, only recently taking a backseat as both members, Marco Benevento and Joe Russo, explored opportunities in their own careers. Part of that meant playing together as Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, and other parts saw the two musicians veer into unique projects like Furthur and, for Benevento, a flourishing solo career.
Still, there’s always been an allure to The Duo. There’s something about the expressive potential of just piano and drums that has encouraged a jam scene following, and has propelled the two perpetrators onto an upward trajectory. Though the group hadn’t performed since 2010, there has been no shortage of requests for their reunion. It seems that now, and 2017 in general, is the time to rekindle that musical flame. The Duo is back!
With three nights of Almost Dead in New York this week, and a headlining spot on Jam Cruise within a month, Benevento and Russo coyly revealed plans for a warmup “secret show” at Three’s Brewing in Brooklyn, NY. Perhaps it wasn’t so secret, since we (and other outlets) figured out the clues almost immediately, and the cascade of events left Three’s absolutely slammed with fans eager to catch The Duo’s reformed magic. There was no cover charge to enter, a fact that reminded fans of the band’s earliest days emerging in the New York scene. Naturally, with a capacity of less than 100 people, Three’s was mobbed from wall to wall. One could hardly enter the room, but the hot and sweaty ambiance only added to the magic of the evening.
It was a show that felt like old times for the Duo’s faithful fans, as the band restored their original music with the newfound confidence of veteran musicians. The two mostly chose tracks from their two biggest albums, Best Reason to Buy the Sun (2005) and Play Pause Stop (2006), casting each tune into the exploratory realms for which they are known. They included “Big Whopper” from their 2003 album Darts, with a “Fire On The Mountain” tease nestled inside, as well as covers of Led Zeppelin’s “Four Sticks” and George Michael’s “Faith,” in honor of his recent death.
You can watch some video clips from the show below.
The Duo promised more performances to come in 2017, so get ready! You can see the setlist, below.
Setlist: Benevento Russo Duo | Three’s Brewing | Brooklyn, NY | 12/27/16
Set: Play Pause Stop, 9×9, Welcome Red, Walking, Running, Viking, Sunny’s Song, Soba, Echo Park, Four Sticks, Hate Frame > Something For Robots, Faith, My Pet Goat, Best Reason To Buy The Sun, Big Whopper, Becky
Encore: Mephisto
[Cover photo by Mark Dershowitz]