“They’re not the best at what they do. They’re the only ones that do what they do.”

Bill Graham’s famous observation in the 1970s about The Grateful Dead was certainly true at the time. In hindsight today, roughly fifty years after Graham’s renowned declaration (it’s difficult to pin down exactly when he said it), both the insinuation of the Dead’s supremacy and the certainty of their exclusivity are debatable.

Today, LaMP ft. Russ Lawton, Scott Metzger & Ray Paczkowski have announced a 12-date Fall tour, including their first ever shows in the Midwest. Beginning October 10 at Mr. Smalls Theatre in Pittsburgh, highlights along the way include stops at Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, OH on October 11, Headliners Music Hall in Louisville, KY on October 12 and Chop Shop in Chicago, IL on October 19.

The Stone Pony Summer Stage is back for the 2024 season and hosted Joe Russo's Almost Dead for a raging two-set heater on May 17, 2024, that featured a full set with friend and frequent collaborator, multi-instrumentalist Stuart Bogie. The band honored their Garden State roots, as eighty percent of the quintet are originally from New Jersey, with two tasty tunes by Bruce Springsteen along with their slate of Grateful Dead covers.

The Newport Jazz Festival just announced that tickets will go on sale and the lineup will drop for the 2024 festival (August 2-4) on April 9th at 1PM Eastern, which has this East Coast mama reminiscing of all my favorite moments from last year! After having finally experienced the longest-running jazz festival in the country last year, it quickly made its way to the top of my ever-expanding list of favorite summer fests.

LaMP featuring Russ Lawton, Scott Metzger and Ray Paczkowski has announced a ten-date Spring tour across the East Coast with stops in the Northeast, Mid Atlantic and Southeast. Kicking off in April, the run is in addition to two previously announced March shows in Denver and Boulder.

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.

In the heart of Burlington's vibrant music scene, a memorable evening in December 2018 at Nectar’s witnessed the convergence of three musical virtuosos: Russ Lawton, Scott Metzger, and Ray Paczkowski. This serendipitous gathering birthed LaMP, a trio whose name cleverly combines the initials of these talented artists. Their upcoming performance at Fox Theatre on Friday, March 22, 2024, marks another milestone in their extraordinary journey.

LaMP featuring Russ Lawton, Scott Metzger and Ray Paczkowski have just announced that they will ring in 2024 with a headline performance at The Warehouse in Fairfield, CT on December 31. Tickets are on-sale now HERE.

Under the mystical glow of the Griffith Observatory, the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles transformed into a haven of psychedelic wonder on the night of October 14th, as Joe Russo's Almost Dead took the stage. This iconic venue, with its amphitheater-like seating, ensured that every note reached the ears of eager fans, turning the evening into an enchanting journey through the Grateful Dead's timeless catalog.

Beloved Brooklyn-guitar player, Scott Metzger and his band Wolf! are scheduled to headline Freaks Ball XXI at the Bell House in Gowanus, Brooklyn on September 22. Opening the show are the Brass Queens, an all-female brass band that delivers their take on the sounds of New Orleans funk and soul. The nine-piece ensemble was recently presented with the Rider’s Choice Award for favorite subway station performers by Governor Kathy Hochul.