The Benevento/Russo Duo opened a brief run of northeast shows last night at South Burlington, VTs Higher Ground. The evening began with a set by an all-star version of Chris Harford and the Band of Changes featuring Marco Benevento, Joe Russo and Scott Metzger. Soon after the Duo opened their performance with Something for Rockets, before Slip guitarist Brad Barr took the stage for the majority of the groups show. Barr played on a variety of Duo staples, including Sunnys Song, Becky, Play Pause Stop and an extended version of Scratchitti, before Russo and Benevento closed their set with three songs, including Hate Frame and 9 × 9.

Russo has been writing more and more music on the guitar, so the Duo has been experimenting with playing with different guitarists throughout their fall tour.
Barr returned during the Duos encore for a version of Mephisto that also featured Mike Gordon. The former Phish bassist played one of Barrs backup electric guitar, marking the second time the four musicians have collaborated together at Higher Ground (the first being April 6, 2006, a night that also featured appearances by Jon Fishman and most of Jazz Mandolin Project). Barr will perform with the Duo tonight at Woodstock, NYs Bearsville Theater.