On Friday night, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead returned to The Met Philadelphia for their second of two performances in The City of Brotherly Love.

The quintet—comprised of drummer Joe Russo, keyboardist Marco Benevento, guitarist Tom Hamilton and Scott Metzger, and bassist Dave Dreiwitz—opened up the first set with an improvisational “Jam” before working their way into “Magnificent Sanctuary Band”, a Dorsey Burnette tune that Jerry Garcia Band recorded on their 1978 Cats Under The Stars album. Joe Russo’s Almost Dead continued on with a pairing of “Good Lovin'” into “Hell In A Bucket”, which was followed up by “New Speedway Boogie”. The five-piece coasted out of “New Speedway” into “Dark Star”, played for the first time since October 5th, 2017, a gap of 88 shows. Friday night’s “Dark Star” contained a full-band “Let It Grow Tease”. JRAD moved forward with an incomplete, instrumental debut of American Babies‘ “Winter War Games” before closing out the first frame with a pairing of “Looks Like Rain” into “Touch Of Grey”.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead – 9/27/2019 – Set 1 Opener

[Video: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead]

Following a brief set break, JRAD returned to the stage to open up their second set with an open-ended “Jam” that flowed into “Mama Tried”. Moving out of “Mama Tried”, the quintet sandwiched “I Know You Rider” in between a massive “Cats Under The Stars”. The band continued on with “Casey Jones” before reprising “Cats Under The Stars” with a “Good Lovin'” tease. Last night’s show marked the first time the band split “Cats Under The Stars” into multiple segments. The reprise smoothly segued into “Mountain Jam”, which was followed up by a pairing of “Bertha” into “Throwing Stones”. To round out their exploratory second set, JRAD offered up a “Terrapin Station Suite”, which included “Lady With A Fan”, “Terrapin Station”, a Marco solo, “Terrapin”, “Terrapin Transit”, “At a Siding”, “Terrapin Flyer”, and a closing “Refrain”. The band returned to deliver an encore of “Sugar Magnolia/Sunshine Daydream”.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead – 9/27/2019 – Set 2 Opener

[Video: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead]

Check out a gallery of photos from Friday night’s show below courtesy of photographer Vic Brazen.

Tonight, Saturday, September 28th, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead heads to The Anthem in Washington, D.C. For a full list of the band’s upcoming tour dates, ticketing, and more information, head to Joe Russo’s Almost Dead’s website.

Setlist: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead | The Met | Philadelphia, PA | 9/27/2019

Set One: Jam -> Magnificent Sanctuary Band ## -> Good Lovin’ > Hell In A Bucket, New Speedway Boogie -> Dark Star @ -> Winter War Games Jam # -> Looks Like Rain $ > Touch Of Grey

Set Two: Jam -> Mama Tried > Cats Under The Stars % -> I Know You Rider ^ -> Cats Under The Stars & -> Casey Jones -> Cats Under The Stars Reprise * -> Mountain Jam -> Bertha > Throwing Stones > Lady With A Fan + -> Terrapin Station ++ -> Marco Solo -> Terrapin -> Terrapin Transit -> At a Siding -> Terrapin Flyer -> Refrain

Encore: Sugar Magnolia/Sunshine Daydream @@

## – Not Played By Almost Dead Since 2018-10-20 The Anthem, Washington, DC, a gap of 40 Shows
@ – With a Let It Grow Tease (Band), Not Played By Almost Dead Since 2017-10-05 Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY, a gap of 88 Shows
# – Incomplete, instrumental Version of an American Babies Song, first time played by Almost Dead
$ – Not Played By Almost Dead Since 2015-10-03 Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY, a gap of 162 Shows
% – With a “Walk Like An Egyptian” (The Bangles) Tease (MB) and a China>Rider Transition Jam
^ – With a “National Anthem” (Radiohead) Tease (TH)
& – With Casey Jones & Tennessee Jed Teases (SM)
* – With a Good Lovin’ Tease (MB), First split Cats
+ – With “Fearless” (Pink Floyd) Teases (MB & Band)
++ – With a Tennessee Jed Tease (TH), an Other One-esque Jam and a Throwing Stones Jam
@@ – Not Played By Almost Dead Since 2019-01-20, The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY, a gap of 32 shows.