Joe Russo’s Almost Dead End Philly Run With Triple Tribute To The Band [Videos]

On Saturday night, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead returned to the Fillmore in Philadelphia for the second and final night of their Thanksgiving run. Obviously, the project led by Joe Russo offered up primarily classic Grateful Dead tunes highlighting Almost Dead’s characteristic energy and innovative style. However, showing that the group’s musical expertise is not limited to the Dead’s catalog, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead also worked in a number of covers by The Band throughout the night, making for a particularly out-of-left-field show.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead Offers Jam-Heavy Start To Philly Run [Videos]

After an opening jam that eventually segued through “Good Lovin'” and “Ruben & Cherise”, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead landed in the perennial crowd-pleaser “Bertha”. An extended “I Need A Miracle” followed, with the band offering up a number of teases running the gamut from the Dead’s “New Speedway Boogie” to Pink Floyd and later a short Benevento/Russo duo jam and Ramsey Lewis’ “In With The In Crowd”.

Jam > “Good Lovin'”

Coming out of this massive jam, the band played their first cover of The Band of the night, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”, hinting at what was in store for the rest of the evening. To close out the set, a high-octane “Truckin'” led to an exploratory “Space” jam before “Truckin'” reprise, with set one finishing out with a “Born Cross Eyed” jam.

“The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”

[Video: monihampton]

For the start of set two, bassist Dave Dreiwitz kicked things off with a solo that eventually transitioned into “Music Never Stopped” with the full band. Following “They Love Each Other”, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead again used an untitled jam as a springboard into another song, this time “Let It Grow”, which eventually moved into “New Speedway Boogie”—a tune that was hinted at during the extensive “I Need A Miracle” jam in set one. To close things out for set two, the band performed a triumphant and inspiring rendition of the beloved “Terrapin Suite”.

Dave Dreiwitz solo > “Music Never Stopped”

As for the group’s encore, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead doubled down on their references to The Band, closing out the night with renditions of “The Weight” and ever-popular “Ophelia”.

“The Weight” & “Ophelia”

[Video: monihampton]

Setlist: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead | Fillmore Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | 11/25/2017 

Set One: Jam -> Good Lovin’ > Ruben & Cerise -> Bertha > I Need A Miracle @ > The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down > Truckin # -> Space -> Truckin Reprise -> Born Cross Eyed Jam