Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD) once again confirmed at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles this past Friday evening that they are one of the single most creative and energized post-Grateful Dead musical offerings to be found. Anywhere. While Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart continue to fill stadiums with their own brand of laid-back Grateful Dead magic as Dead & Company, and bassist Phil Lesh makes the festival rounds with his always daring and exploratory Terrapin Family Band, JRAD has built up a deservedly large and devoted following all their own.
While the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia’s legacy continues to morph and evolve, some of today’s most talented musicians are vigorously exploring both the Grateful Dead songbook and the Dead’s inspiring penchant for live musical improvisation and communication. Each band, each incarnation, has its own unique sound, its own personal take on the music and the journey. It’s far less of a recreation and far more of a continuation.
JRAD is the brain-child of drummer Joe Russo who, along with GD original members Bob Weir & Phil Lesh, helped propel the band Furthur into one of the best (if not THE best) post-Jerry original-member Grateful Dead experiences.
Some musicians openly channel their joy and energy into every note, every beat. Russo is one of those musicians and then some. A powerhouse performer, Russo put together a dream team of favorite musicians that includes Tom Hamilton, Jr. on guitar and vocals, Scott Metzger on guitar and vocals, Dave Dreiwitz on bass, and Marco Benevento on keys. Joining them at the Greek Friday night was Stuart Bogie on wind instruments. I personally found Bogie’s contribution to the music so immense that I hope he gets a permanent spot in the lineup. It’s now hard to imagine them without him.
JRAD hit the ground running with a first set that immediately felt more like a second set. They opened with a powerful and hoppin’ Dancin’ In The Streets which, after exploring a multitude of colorful corners and spaces, gracefully dropped into an absolutely exhilarating Eyes Of The World. JRAD’s combination of musicians have tapped into a sound all their own. It’s a high-energy combination that creates a fire and a strength that can be fully felt from the last seat in the last row. It’s alive, writhing, swirling, laughing, dancing and, sometimes, whispering.
Eyes dropped into an amazing Dreiwitz bass solo which melted into a wondrously jazzy space that brought us seamlessly and quite unexpectedly into Let It Grow. Even Benevento couldn’t contain his surprise and delight, his mouth agape as Metzger stepped up to the microphone and belted out the first verse. As if not quite incredible enough for a first set already, Let It Grow drifted into more formless spaces and Hamilton started plucking away at the familiar strains of Terrapin Station. The ethereal fave, building beautifully and uniquely to its crescendo, slammed closed the first set.
Containing only four songs, the first set clocked in at an intoxicating 85 minutes. Not a bad way to start the evening’s festivities.
After a short break, the band returned, this time with Fruit Bats’ Eric D. Johnson on guitar and vocals for a jazzy and oh-so-sweet Unbroken Chain. This was followed by Lost Sailor and Saint of Circumstance which happily bopped its way into a funky and always fiercely welcome Shakedown Street. Shakedown kept the dancing hot and heavy as it morphed its way back to the first set’s Let It Grow, which closed out that song and offered the first short musical break of the second set. But before you could catch yer breath, the band started up the dancing again with both a lilting and rocking version of Brown-Eyed Women. Another short beat and JRAD slowly began again with a familiar jam that evolved into a full-on powerhouse Truckin’ to close the second set.
After graciously and genuinely thanking the crowd, Russo introduced his nephew and drum tech, Evan Roque, who had recently and unexpectedly filled in for Russo (along with drummer Ben Perowsky) at Scranton, Pennsylvania’s Peach Music Festival when Russo’s second daughter arrived three weeks early!
The 4 song encore brought back Eric D. Johnson who sang the Zombies’ This Will Be Our Year followed by the Fruit Bats’ When U Love Somebody, followed by a seriously crowd-pleasing version of Van Morrison’s Caravan. Evan Roque returned to the stage and shared Russo’s kit and mic for the final song of the evening, Not Fade Away which, as has become customary, left the crowd chanting as the band, wide-grins all, waved, bowed and left the stage.
With so much live Grateful Dead music out there from stadiums to bars and everything in-between, it continues to amaze me just how unique and versatile JRAD manages to be. They are truly a rare combination of voices that together create a sound and energy unmatched in the Grateful Dead universe. For me, they are among the best there is.
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead
The Greek Theatre
Los Angeles, CA.
August 16, 2019
Set 1:
Dancin’ in the Streets->
Eyes Of The World ->
Let it Grow->
Terrapin Station
Set 2:
Unbroken Chain *
Lost Sailor->
Saint of Circumstance->
Shakedown Street->
Let It Grow (reprise)
Brown-Eyed Women
Truckin’
Encore:
This Will Be Our Year (Zombies tune) *
When U Love Somebody (Fruit Bats tune) *
Caravan (Van Mo) *
Not Fade Away * **
* w/ Eric D. Johnson
** w/ Evan Roque
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