Joe Russo's Almost Dead
Live @ Pier 17 NYC 9/6/24
With summer wrapping up and fall about to start in the Big Apple, Joe Russo's Almost Dead played the first show of a two night stand on Friday September 6th to a sold out crowd at one of the best NYC venues, Pier 17.
Starting early at 6:15 the band began their first set with a slow smoky jam as the audience filled in under gorgeous Manhattan skies. The jam made its way into a relaxed version of Bob Dylan's "Gotta Serve Somebody" complete with smooth organ work, before a killer rendition of "The Music Never Stopped" highlighted the first set. The tune found the band rev up the lyrical section of the song, then drop into minimalist midsection break, before rising up and building to a huge grooving jam to end.
In between each song in the first set JRAD did some spacey noodling to link the songs but this seemed perfunctory, however, the songs themselves were all solid. "Estimated Prophet" found drummer Russo leading the charge with his percussive bursts while "New Speedway Boogie" featured a burning guitar solo from Scott Metzger before segueing into a ripping version of "Hot 'Lanta" by The Allman Brothers. The first set ended with a quick and funky run through "Shakedown Street" ending a solid first set.
Set two started with a muscular take on "New Minglewood Blues" that was big and banging to kick things off. One of the highlights of the set arrived next with "Foolish Heart" which saw Tom Hamilton take over lead duties (he would be the focal point of the second set) singing and playing with style. "Foolish Heart" contained a few "A Ticket To Ride" riffs before a captivating, upbeat jam that soared and segued perfectly into "Brown Eyed Woman" which was well done with a bright piano solo from Marco Benevento. "Alice D. Millionaire" went in a garage rocking vein with flashes of "Can't Turn You Loose" dropped in.
Another major highlight was up next as Dave Dreiwitz bass dropped into "Feel Like A Stranger" which was ominous and dark, morphing completely into "Another Brick In the Wall, Part 2" and back into "Feel Like A Stranger" with ease. Hamilton led the band through a great version of Bruce Springsteen's "Atlantic City" before a high energy blast of "Casey Jones" and a set closing "Playing In The Band".
Night one closed with a ripping fun version of the Them classic "Gloria" encore as the band proved they are so much more than a simple cover act, breathing new life into these tunes and taking them in various directions with high revving energy and musicianship.
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