Joe Russo’s Almost Dead at the Capitol Theatre

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead are an innovative rock band that take the Grateful Dead sound in a funky direction with inventive jams. Their band members – drummer Joe Russo, bassist Dave Dreiwitz, keyboardist Marco Benevento and guitarist Tom Hamilton (of Brothers Past, Ghost Light & American Babies fame), as well as vocalist Scott Metzger have amassed an ever-growing following thanks to their energetic performances.

JRAD’s MLK weekend performance at the Capitol Theatre featured them adjusting a few of their sets and including songs that hadn’t been performed for quite some time, as well as unveiling a solo-acoustic album by guitarist Scott Metzger titled Too Close to Reason, featuring intimate guitar recordings with pastoral and ambient beauty. Here’s one track for example.

Acoustic format gave audience members an intimate view of the band, giving them an opportunity to hear how each musician interacted in an unhurried setting. It proved an enjoyable change of pace that helped showcase this talented collective’s abilities.

After the acoustic interlude, the band returned to their electric sound with “St. Stephen.” Hamilton took a brief pause before diving headlong into an epic jam centered around the “lady finger” verse of the song. Soon thereafter, however, things moved into jazzy territory with Rhodes taking center stage amid flurries of staccato tapping from Hamilton and all culminating in an explosive funk theme before taking a brief rest before returning into its end credits once more.

Next up was “Playin'”. The song opened up with an energetic theme featuring Benevento’s Rhodes soloist alongside Dreiwitz’s low end bassline rumbling. Riff-driven theme quickly evolved into a funky jam that brought out all members of the band; Hamilton excelled with harmonizing on composed riffs while Benevento laid down some incredible Rhodes lines; this motif eventually transitioned back into original song’s ending chorus leaving the crowd gasping for more!

After a brief interlude, the band launched into “Truckin’,” an easygoing tune with strong hints of The Other One that provided a satisfying conclusion to an exciting first set.