On Sunday night, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead closed out their weekend run with a performance at Bonner, MT’s gorgeous KettleHouse Amphitheater. The show marked JRAD’s debut performance in Montana.
JRAD opened up their first set with “Samson and Delilah”, giving Joe Russo a chance to flex his chops behind his drum kit out of the gates. The fierce “Samson” opener coasted into a bouncy “Dancing In The Streets”, highlighted by some explosive guitar work from Tom Hamilton and Scott Metzger. Dancing smoothly segued into “The Wheel”, which featured teases of Bob Dylan‘s “What Was It You Wanted”, American Babies‘ “Jolene”, and “Cassidy”. The quintet charged forward with “New Speedway Boogie”, played for the first time in 2019.
KettleHouse’s natural beauty brought out the best in the mastermind musicians, as they coasted out of “New Speedway Boogie” into an improvisational “Jam” segment, which was followed up by a dark and raucous take on “The Other One”. Russo and bassist Dave Dreiwitz locked into a heavy-hitting rhythmic pocket, presenting an opportunity for Hamilton, Metzger, and keyboardist Marco Benevento to sail away to a jazzy, spacey realm. Joe Russo’s Almost Dead closed out their first set with an open-ended “Shakedown Street”, featuring teases of Phish‘s “Stash”, along with “King Solomon’s Marbles” and “Shakedown Street”.
Following a setbreak, the band returned to give “Shakedown” the proper treatment with a “Shakedown Street Reprise”, featuring a full band tease of “Dancing In The Streets”, as well as a funky tease of Phish’s “Bathtub Gin” out of Hamilton’s corner. The glorious “Shakedown” finale made way for a unique rendition of Bob Weir‘s “Gonesville”, off of his 2016 Blue Mountain solo LP. “Gonesville” segued into a tender “Jack A Roe” before the band landed into “Eyes Of The World”. Hamilton and Metzger traded off a series of ever-evolving solos, which eventually brought the band into “Estimated Prophet”.
The five-piece powerhouse was preaching on the burning shores of the KettleHouse Amphitheater, backed by Joe Russo’s octopus-like moves and impressive flips of his drum sticks. “Estimated” was followed up by “Jack Straw” before the band brought their second set to a halt with “Morning Dew”. The band delivered a lone encore of “Promised Land”, played for the first time since March 15th, 2018 in Syracuse, a gap of 48 shows.
Next up for Joe Russo’s Almost Dead is a pair of festival appearances at Bethel Woods, NY’s Mountain Jam and Manchester. TN’s Bonnaroo. For ticketing information and a full list of the band’s upcoming tour dates, head to Joe Russo’s Almost Dead’s website.
Setlist: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead | KettleHouse Amphitheater | Bonner, MT | 6/2/2019
Set One: Samson > Dancing In The Streets @ -> The Wheel # -> New Speedway Boogie ## -> Jam -> The Other One -> Shakedown Street $
Set Two: Shakedown Street Reprise % > Gonesville -> Jack A Roe -> Eyes Of The World ^ -> Estimated -> Jackstraw > Morning Dew
Encore: Promised Land &
@ – With a DD Solo that teased “Drive My Car” (The Beatles)
# – With a “What Was It You Wanted” (Bob Dylan) Tease (MB), a “Jolene” (American Babies) Tease (Band) and a Cassidy Tease (TH)
## – Not played since 2018-10-25 Hulaween – Amphitheatre Stage, Spirit of the Suwanee Music Park Live Oak, FL, a gap of 24 shows
$ – With a “Stash” (Phish) Tease (SM), King Solomon’s Marbles Teases (Band), Dancing In The Streets Teases (Band), Unfinished
% – With Dancing In The Streets Teases (Band), “Bathtub Gin” (Phish) Teases (TH), Not played since 2018-04-21 Sweetwater 420 Festival, Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta, GA, a gap of 45 shows
^ – With Dancing In The Streets Teases (SM) and a Ruben & Cherise Tease (MB)
& – Not played since 2018-03-15 Landmark Theatre, Syracuse, NY, a gap of 48 Shows