_Photo: Scott Harris_

The second night of Joe Russo’s Almost Dead at Brooklyn Bowl to close out the Freaks Ball weekend saw the band dip into several Grateful Dead favorites and one surprise as the ensemble debuted The Band’s “Ophelia” in the first set. A few of the members, Russo, Hamilton and Scott Metzger, previously performed the tune at Terrapin Crossroads with the help of Phil Lesh, however this was the first rendition of the popular Band song with Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. In addition, Almost Dead offered their take on “Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line,” a song written by Jim Alley and recorded by Waylon Jennings. Though Almost Dead have previously performed Bob Dylan’s “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here with You,” it is still rare for the band to cover songs outside the Grateful Dead’s extensive songbook of covers and originals.

This was another notch in an otherwise impressive run from the group as the previous night saw the band debut fifteen songs including rarities like “Alice D. Millionaire” as well as classics “Sugar Magnolia” and others.

Here’s a look at the setlist:

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead
Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY

Set I: Alligator, Jack-A-Roe, Uncle John’s Band, Ophelia, Ramble on Rose, Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line, Bertha

Set II: The Music Never Stopped, Cumberland Blues, Help on the Way > Slipknot!, Shakedown Street, Truckin’, Morning Dew

Enc: Brown Eyed Woman