Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Greek Theatre

October 18, 2023

Those who know me, know there are a few particular bands for which I have deep loyalty. Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, aka “JRAD”, is at a high elevation on that list. I may have been a little late to this party some years back, but with every show I’ve been to since, it’s right on time. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, these boys are all in. No uber lighting design, no double racked instrument cases, just five dudes laying it all down for almost three hours. Full throttle musical adventure.

And, so it was, on a balmy October night at the Greek Theatre. From the cranked up “Golden Road” opener, to a stunning second set and an ass-kicking “Black Dog” encore to seal it. In between there were treats aplenty. To wit, a woozily spiky “Loose Lucy” and a “Help>Jam>Slipknot” that felt part ’71 ABB and adjacent vintage Return to Forever, easing into a cover of The Band’s “Chest Fever” (with opener Eric Johnson on vocals) were just some first set peaks.

Aaah, but that second set. Sure, the 17-minute “Truckin’” (with all the punch absent from Dead & Co. sets) into a breath catching “Row Jimmy” were immensely satisfying, but that was just the floor. A twisted metal intro into the ever rollicking “Greatest Story” was pure JRAD. And then it got really good. A “China Cat” into a rousing “St. Stephen” that Marco Benevento stripped to its barest lady finger essence, deconstructed into a hot mess, rebuilt to an all hands crescendo, and sticking the landing back home, was a show in itself. The band then found a fleet footed jazz groove teasing “Dark Star”, along the way to the “Rider” bookend. A punchy “Playing in the Band” was a capper to a set so satisfying I was ready to light up a smoke and crack a cold one (memo, I don’t smoke).

JRAD loves them some classic rock and deep track covers, so a “Black Dog Encore” was right in line (with Eric Johnson returning with some vocal courage), especially after a “Song Remains the Same” encore the night before at the Frost Amphitheater.

The West Coast is wrapped, but some east coast and Midwest dates are coming up the next few months.  

Note: All song titles are shorthand, because IYKYK…

Check out the entire show on the Internet Archive. It’s very worthy of your time.