_Stuart Levine_

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead moved their New York area New Year’s Eve run to the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY, last night, treating the crowd to their usual brand of high-energy Grateful Dead covers with added bonuses of guests Alecia Chakour and Cochemea Gastelum and a few choice debut covers.

The first guest spot of the night came when Chakour, who sings in Tedeschi Trucks Band and has added vocals to Lettuce, Soulive and more, came out for the Dead’s “The Stranger (Two Souls in Communion).” The first set also featured the Almost Dead debut of The Beatles’ “Day Tripper,” which was unfinished, before Chakour returned to help out on “Bird Song.”

Set two opened up with a double shot of debuts in “Til’ the Morning Comes” and “Passenger,” both of which featured more vocals from Chakour. Dap-Kings bari sax player Gastelum then emerged to add to “Viola Lee Blues,” which segued via improvisation into “Uncle John’s Band,” which in turn led into Marco Benevento and Joe Russo leading a cover of their Duo’s “Becky.” Later in the set, Almost Dead debuted their rendition of Wilco and Billy Bragg’s “Hoodoo Voodoo” from their Mermaid Avenue tribute to Woody Guthrie. The tune led into a “Turn On Your Lovelight” that brought both Chakour and Gastelum back to the stage. The band would later round out the show with an encore performance of The Band’s “The Weight” with Chakour helping on vocals.

Almost Dead return to the Capitol Theatre stage tonight to ring in the new year.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead
Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY

Set I: King Bee Jam > The Eleven > BIODTL > Feel Like A Stranger > Cumberland Blues > The Stranger (Two Souls In Communion)*, Estimated Prophet > Space > Bird Song Jam > Day Tripper+ > Bird Song^ > King Solomon’s Marbles > Bird Song Reprise

Set II: Til’ the Morning Comes+* > Passenger+* > Viola Lee Blues^ > Jam > Uncle John’s Band > Becky > Uncle John’s Band Reprise > Viola Lee Blues Reprise > Hoodoo Voodoo+ > Turn On Your Lovelight*^ > Shakedown Street > Throwing Stones

Enc: The Weight*

Notes: +First time played
*w/ Alecia Chakour
^w/ Cochemea Gastelum

Source: facebook.com/JRAlmostDead