Joe Russo’s Almost Dead

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD for short), one of Baltimore’s premier venues for MLK weekend sold-out shows, were at their absolute peak this time around. While official Grateful Dead offshoots such as Dead & Company focus on rigid structure and compositional integrity, JRAD embraces improvisational adventure more closely.

Joe Russo’s rhythmic mastery, guitarrists Tom Hamilton and Scott Metzger’s harmony together with bassist Dave Dreiwitz’s bass magic were truly spellbinding performances at Leader Bank Pavilion.

Drummer Joe Russo

Joe Russo has received Emmy Awards as co-director of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War alongside his brother Anthony Russo. Additionally he directed episodes from Arrested Development, Community and Happy Endings as well as serving as Senior Director, Business Services at Penn where he oversees an array of departments like Penn Mail, Parking & Commuter Services and Facilities & Real Estate services.

As an accomplished club and theater drummer, he is no stranger to performing onstage. After playing drums with Furthur and Benevento/Russo Duo for years, in 2013 he brought his knowledge of Dead music to JRAD as a fill-in Brooklyn gig that eventually turned into monthly residency at The Bowl. Since then he has brought together Bustle in Your Hedgerow bandmates Dave Dreiwitz and Marco Benevento plus guitarist Tom Hamilton (American Babies) as well as Scott Metzger from Furthur/Shpongle/Midnight Ramble Band) on keyboards for an energetic live experience that keeps audiences coming back year after year after year!

Bassist Dave Dreiwitz

Dave Dreiwitz is perhaps best-known as bassist for Ween, though he also plays with Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, The Marco Benevento Trio, Bustle In Your Hedgerow and Crescent Moon. Born and raised in New York City to jazz musicians, Dreiwitz has been playing bass professionally for more than 25 years.

JRAD’s unique arrangement as a “part time” band allows its members to pursue other projects full-time; ween bassist Jonathan Dreiwitz can be found playing bass with indie rock stars Craig Finn and Cass McCombs as well as drumming with John Richey and Russell Batiste from Lunar Bear Ensemble.

Join us in Vermont for JRAD’s first show since their summer 2019 Burlington Waterfront performance – which Russo had to miss due to the birth of his daughter! Tickets include reserved seating in Stateside Amphitheater as well as accommodations at an adjacent hotel; food and beverages can also be purchased at the venue; blankets or chairs may be brought.

Guitarists Tom Hamilton & Scott Metzger

Tom Hamilton has made music his focus throughout a career filled with bumps, roadblocks and unexpected turns of fate. Even when his first band Brothers Past was on its last legs, he never stopped fighting to preserve its legacy – until finally the one-off Freaks gig that would become JRAD and turn things in his favor.

Ween bassist Dave Dreiwitz, Furthur drummer Joe Russo and Benevento/Russo Duo keyboardist Marco Benevento from Benevento/Russo Duo as well as Brothers Past, Ghost Light and American Babies guitarist Scott Metzger and Tom Hamilton formed this band. Together they create an upbeat yet unorthodox sound.

JRAD kicked off Friday’s second set with two oft-paired songs – “Thunder Road” and “Gonesville.” They also debuted an engaging version of Bob Weir’s acoustic classic “Box of Rain,” before concluding their performance with three classic Dead tracks: Help On The Way”, Slipknot!”, and Franklin Tower.” On July 29th they will return to Stateside Amphitheater to perform Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young covers in honor of their 75th Anniversary celebration.

Keyboardist Marco Benevento

Marco Benevento stands out in a world where keyboardists are scarce. His musical prowess defies logic as he makes his instrument sing both human and alien melodies with uncanny ease.

He recently recorded his latest record ‘Barn Burner’ live at Levon Helm’s famous Woodstock venue and it shows both his musicality and songwriting capabilities. His inventive sound palette sits somewhere between LCD Soundsystem and Leon Russell; his songs vibrate with dance rock energy and are grounded by infectious grooves.

Joe Russo co-directed Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War with his brother Anthony Russo. Additionally he directed Marvel Studios: Assembling a Universe as well as executive producing on The First Purge film project. Joe currently resides in New York City with his wife and two children.