Joe Russo's Almost Dead returned to the famed Capitol Theatre on January 12, 2024, for another legendary run of their own, and their twenty-sixth show at the Port Chester, NY-based venue. Their clever interpretations of the Grateful Dead and other bands get better and better over time, and this show was no exception.

The band entered the stage and ascended into a vibrant "Tangled Up in Blue" by Bob Dylan, sung with ferociousness by guitarist Tom Hamilton. Keyboardist Marco Benevento was on fire early in this jam. Drummer Joe Russo maintained a steady cadence as the band flowed into "Cumberland Blues." About seven minutes into this fourteen-minute tune, the tension and release came to a raging peak, much to the delight of the crowd. This meandered into a slower section, which only heated up care of Hamilton's guitar work.

A deliciously funky transition flowed into "Passenger" by Phil Lesh and Peter Monk. This blues rock tune was played for the second time ever by JRAD, and certainly deserves more play time. A very melodic intro ensued as the band began playing a jazzy "New Speedway Boogie," by the Grateful Dead. The cadence gradually ramped up, as did the psychedelic rock, during this seventeen-minute classic.

A bluesy segue launched the band into a monster "Estimated Prophet," led by guitarist Scott Metzger. He sang this traditional tune written by Bob Weir and John Perry Barlow. Faces were illuminated with smiles as the band dug into the layers of psychedelic rock, including many tasty peaks. This eventually made its way into a spacey subsection, that proved to be a clever shift into "Loose Lucy." Bassist Dave Dreiwitz elevated the funk during this set-ending tune.

The band returned for round two, starting with "Uncle John's Band." The tune began with a simmer and reached a rolling boil when Russo began singing those familiar lyrics. The jam included more spirited back and forth between Hamilton and Metzger that is worth a re-listen for sure, and eventually landed squarely in "Saint of Circumstance." Metzger lent his talented vocals once again before the music descended into a racing jam that did not let up for the rest of the song.

The crowd erupted when the band segued into "Help on the Way," and a short "Slipknot!" quickly followed. The blues rock jam bus drove straight into a bonus "White Room" tease. The music returned to "Slipknot!" before jettisoning into "Nearly Lost You" by the Screaming Trees, which was a first-time played tune by JRAD.

Another well-executed transition followed with beats sprinting like a freight train via Russo. "Big River" was up next, which displayed more of Benevento's skills on the keys. The song reached an upbeat climax before a spacey segue downshifted into "Bird Song." This provided a much-needed chill moment, as the band did not stop for a breath during the second set. JRAD made their final transition of the set into "Shattered" by the Rolling Stones. This first time played tune was sung by Dreiwitz and ended the set in high gear.

The band returned for an encore, and played the heartfelt "Ripple," which ended another incredible show.

Joe Russo's Almost Dead is back on February 8, 2024 in Charlotte, NC. Tickets are sold out, and can be procured via cashortrade.org. Hop on over to their tour page for information on other dates.

Check out more photos from the show!

Set One: Tangled Up in Blue > Cumberland Blues > Passenger, New Speedway Boogie > Estimated Prophet > Loose Lucy
Set Two: Uncle John's Band > Saint of Circumstance > Help on the Way > Slipknot! > Nearly Lost You¹ > Big River > Bird Song > Shattered¹
Encore: Ripple
Notes: 1. First Time Played