Today, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead has released the soundboard recording of their performance at The Fillmore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, November 25th, 2017, continuing the group’s regular “Taper Tuesday” tradition. Two days after Thanksgiving, the show marked the group’s second of two performances in Philly over the holiday weekend.

The first set began with an opening jam that segued into an extensive “Good Lovin'” which proved to be the longest song of the set, clocking in at 14-and-a-half minutes (19 minutes including the opening jam). Other first set highlights included the band’s bluesy rendition of “I Need A Miracle”, which saw them offer up a number of teases and play with the dynamics as they entered the song’s outro; and the set’s closing “Truckin'”, which descended into the sonic madness of “Space” before landing in a “Truckin’ Reprise” and, finally, picking back up into a “Born Cross Eyed” jam. Another highlight was the group’s rendition of The Band’s “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”, which previewed Joe Russo’s Almost Dead’s encore tribute to The Band.

Highlights of the second set included Dave Dreiwitz’s opening bass solo which segued into “Music Never Stopped” and the set’s final segment, which saw “New Speedway Boogie” finally make an appearance (after being teased during the first set) before segueing into a triumphant, set-closing “Terrapin Suite” that clocked in at around 35 minutes. The encore of this show was particularly meaty, with two more beloved covers by The Band, “The Weight” and “Ophelia”.

You can listen to the soundboard of the show, courtesy of Peter Costello and Eric McRoberts, as well as the show’s detailed setlist compiled by Costello.

Setlist: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead | The Fillmore | 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

Set Two: DD Solo -> Music Never Stopped, They Love Each Other $, Jam -> Let It Grow % > New Speedway Boogie ^ -> Terrapin Suite *

Encore: The Weight &, Ophelia

@ – With New Speedway Boogie Teases (SM & then MB), a “Fearless” (Pink Floyd) Tease (MB), possibly a “Good Lovin’” (The Rascals) Tease (MB), a short Duo Jam and an “In with the In Crowd” (Ramsey Lewis) Tease (MB)
# – With a New Speedway Boogie Tease (M), a Black Throated Wind Tease (SM) and an Easy Wind Tease (SM)
$ – With a Ruben & Cerise Tease (TH)
% – With “Do It Again” (Steely Dan) And “Taxman” (The Beatles) Jams
^ – With Let It Grow & Slipknot! Teases (Band)
* – With a “Walk This Way” (Aerosmith) Tease (JR)
& – Verses in order: TH, SM, MB, JR & All
One More Saturday Night was on the set list, but not played

[Photo: Rob Chapman]