Joe Russo’s Almost Dead – December 19th – Fillmore Auditorium

Photos by Tim Dwenger

The Scene: The Fillmore was packed on Saturday night.  If it wasn’t sold-out, it was damn close, because when we walked in just before nine, the floor was full to the back and there were people lined up in bar lines a mile long everywhere you looked.  There was a buzz in the air as the uninitiated waited anxiously to get a taste of the most energetic and innovative Grateful Dead cover band playing today – Joe Russo’s Almost Dead – and the veterans salivated over the early Christmas present they knew was on-tap for the evening.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead: Shortly after 9pm, the show got going with a massive, 40 beat, count-off into the rollicking “Beat It on Down The Line.”  From there the boys immediately showed off their playful side as they turned the classic triptych of “Help -> Slip -> Frank” on it’s ear by taking a left turn out of “Slipknot!” and landing in “Feel Like a Stranger” instead of the expected “Franklin’s Tower.”  The 70’s flavor’s of “Stranger” got the crowd moving as Scott Metzger really leaned into the vocals and the band set the stage for a take on “Althea” that allowed both Marco Benevento and Metzger to stretch way out with Benevento’s keyboard solo igniting the packed room.  It was impressive, to say the least, and any skeptical newcomers were suddenly converted by the passion that this group pours into the Dead cannon.

The quintet stepped from “Althea” into an extended version of “Let It Grow” that clocked in at nearly 20 minutes and allowed them to explore their quieter and more experimental side beautifully for several minutes as the song developed.  As they wound through this monster composition, they teased us by building it up and tearing it down several times before deftly dismounting into “Uncle John’s Band” and sticking the landing.  As Benevento’s keys led the way into the sing-along, the vibe in the room was ecstatic. After a Benevento led excursion into the depths of an intriguing improvisational space, the song, and the set, wrapped with an energetic coda that ensured the smiles around the room would last through the setbreak.

After a fun romp through the Jerry Band deep cut, “Magnificent Sanctuary Band” – that Garcia recorded but never played live – the set second took off with one of the highlights of the night, a nearly 25 minute “St. Stephen” that took us from the heights of Rock-N-Roll nirvana to the deepest reaches of the band’s collective consciousness which revealed some dark and dirty treats of sonic experimentation.  It was a version of epic proportions and to top it all off bassist Dave Dreiwitz led the band into the much loved “Eyes of The World.”  This version of “Eyes” gave Russo and company the chance push the song’s traditional tempo and explore the jazzier side of their talents as Tom Hamilton handled vocals.  As the song neared the fifteen minute mark, Russo dazzled behind the kit and the “Eyes” melody devolved into almost free-form jazz before Benevento’s keys subtly teased “Playing In The Band.”  Throughout the second set it was truly inspiring to see how well these five musicians listened to each other, followed cues, and seemed to having the time of their lives up on the stage.  It was infectious.

“Playing” again served as a springboard into inspiring improvisation and “He’s Gone” filled the ballot slot of the second set giving the crowd the opportunity to scream along with the “steal your face right off of your head” line at the top of their lungs.  A delicate last few minutes of the tune allowed Russo a bit of a break before the thunderous “Other One” gave him the chance to prove yet again that he is truly one of the most accomplished drummers on the scene. Though the clock had pushed past 12:30, to the delight of the crowd the band wasn’t done yet and they sent us out with a fantastic version of “Morning Dew” that seemed to materialize out of nowhere.  Though there was no encore, and none was needed.  The band had left everything on-stage and everyone in the packed room was left slack jawed and satisfied.  Do yourself a favor and listen to the show here.

Energy: A+
Musicianship: A+
Sound: B+
Stage Presence: A-
Set/Light Show: B-

Overall: A