Joe Russo's Almost Dead Walks On With The Hold Steady's Craig Finn In Vail [Photos/Videos/Audio]

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead got back out on the road on Thursday with a hot show at Vail, CO’s scenic Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, the Grateful Dead interpreters’ first of three shows in the mountains this weekend.

While a certain other “Rock-y” amphitheater in Colorado may have more name recognition thanks to it’s longevity and scenic backdrop, the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater puts together a strong calendar of events of its own each summer, and this on promised hot sendoff to the waning days of summer.

Per tradition, Joe Russo (drums), Marco Benevento (keys), Dave Dreiwitz (bass), Scott Metzger (guitar, vocals), and Tom Hamilton (guitar, vocals) kicked off the show with a slow, evolving jam ahead of a pair of multi-level covers (i.e. covering the Grateful Dead covering someone else): Bob Dylan’s “Tough Mama” (which the Dead once sound-checked but never properly performed live) and “Man Smart, Woman Smarter” (Harry Belafonte’s hit cover of King Radio’s initial cover of Mardi Gras anthem “Iko Iko” that the Dead in turn covered nearly 200 times in the ’80s and ’90s). Say that five times, fast…

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead – “Man Smart, Women Smarter” [Pro-Shot] – 8/21/25

The rest of the opening set came and went in a notably efficient manner, though not because any tune wasn’t given it’s due. An intoxicating snippet of The Doors’ Roadhouse Blues” got right to the edge of the entrance of it’s iconic, towering guitar riff before settling into “New Speedway Boogie” that pushed toward the 19-minute mark when all was said and done. J.J. Cale’s “After Midnight” was a head-bopping blues jam that stood apart from the Bob Weir penned “Black-Throated Wind” that followed. The “Jack Straw” that closed the first frame was suitably constructed and enjoyable but felt rushed, perhaps under the pressures of an early curfew for a two-set, midweek show.

Things quickly got interesting as the band returned for set two with The Hold Steady frontman Craig Finn in tow and dove into the first-ever JRAD rendition of John Hiatt’s “Walk On”. The wildly gesticulating Finn was emotive and captivating in his turn at lead vocals though he only stayed for one tune in the main show. No shade being thrown here… the man was on vacation.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead with Craig Finn – “Walk On” (John Hiatt) – 8/31/25
[Video: Steve_Avers]

From there, the second set was one long exercise in complex time signatures, soundscape juxtapositions, and highly intensive musical ascension. Guitarists Scott Metzger and Tom Hamilton took turns on lead vocal duties as songs like “Uncle John’s Band” and “The Music Never Stopped” were used as launchpads for cosmic wonderings in deep space.

The righteous improvisations between tunes were packed with elaborate, cross-tempo guitar crests and spiraling slopes that went on seemingly forever. “Cumberland Blues” barreled in and out of the set like the runaway train analogy on which it is based. A fascinating “He’s Gone” went from dense, full-band swing to sparse give-and-take between Benevento and Russo without any loss of impact.

The evolution of the set closer, “Terrapin Station”, out of the end of “He’s Gone” was a true highlight of the night, but it was the “Station” itself that was the true gem of the evening. The vintage sound of Benevento’s organ, laid bare as it was, complimented the aching blues guitars wonderfully during the beloved Dead suite, while Russo’s kit work, impressive all night, was somehow intense and effortless throughout the performance—a feat all its own.

The encore, a hot “Going Down The Road Feeling Bad”, saw an exuberant Finn returning on vocals before blowing kisses to the crowd and leaving Russo & Company to drop one last far-reaching improvisational passage on the Vail audience.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead with Craig Finn – “Goin’ Down The Road Feelin’ Bad” – 8/21/25
[Video: Steve_Avers]

The years and years of sonic synergy at play between these musicians gives them boundless confidence and allows them to take leaps other groups would even contemplate… especially with such revered material as the vast Grateful Dead catalog as a starting point. Colorado is in for a fantastic weekend.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead’s Colorado weekend continues on Friday and Saturday with a two-show run at Dillon Amphitheatre. You can watch livestreams of both nights via nugs with an All Access subscription. Not a subscriber? Get started here to stream JRAD and tons of other artists, tours, and festivals.

Below, view the setlist, check out a gallery of photos via Andrew Blackstein, and listen to a full audience audio recording taped by Jeff Travitz from Thursday’s Joe Russo’s Almost Dead concert in Vail . Find tickets to upcoming JRAD tour dates here.

Setlist: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead | Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater | Vail, CO | 8/21/25
Set One: Tough Mama (Bob Dylan), Man Smart, Woman Smarter (King Radio), New Speedway Boogie (Grateful Dead) [1] > After Midnight (J.J. Cale) > Black-Throated Wind (Bob Weir) > Jack Straw (Grateful Dead)
Set Two: Walk On (John Hiatt) [2], Uncle John’s Band (Grateful Dead), The Music Never Stopped (Grateful Dead), Cumberland Blues (Grateful Dead), He’s Gone (Grateful Dead), Terrapin Station (Grateful Dead)
Encore: Going Down The Road Feeling Bad (Traditional)
Notes: [1] with Roadhouse Blues (The Doors) intro jam; [2] with Craig Finn (The Hold Steady), first time played by JRAD.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead – Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater – Vail, CO – 8/21/25 – Full Audio