After two nights of creative teases and unexpected covers, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead completed their third and final performance at the historic Capitol Theatre last night, playing a slew of classic Dead tunes while still throwing in a few surprises, including a casual sit-in by multi-instrumentalist Stuart Bogie, formerly of Antibalas. (Bogie has sat in with JRAD in the past, including a 2016 show in New Haven, Conn.)

Set one kicked off strong with Scott Metzger channeling his inner Bob Weir on “Samson and Delilah,” before the band jumped into “China Cat Sunflower” and the one Jerry Garcia Band song of the night, “Rubin and Cherise.” Bogie made his first appearance on sax for the one-two punch of “Truckin’” and “Tennessee Jed,” before the core members closed out the set with a lengthy jam on “Greatest Story Ever Told.”

Bogie joined the band again for a number of songs in the second set, including openers “Man Smart, Women Smarter,” “Bertha” and, in one of the surprising song selections of the night, he took the lead on saxophone for an instrumental cover of Neil Young’s tender “Harvest Moon.” The short Neil Young tribute segued flawlessly into “Eyes of the World,” which gave way to a venue-wide sing-a-long to “Cumberland Blues.” Following a set closer of “Dancing in the Streets,” containing a tease of Dire Straits’ “Money For Nothing,” Joe Russo’s Almost Dead chose two live debuts for their final encore of the run.

The band (with Bogie still onstage) began with “She Does It Right,” a Dr. Feelgood favorite. Interestingly, Dave Dreiwitz sang lead, an unusual move for the bassist who typically allows Metzger, Hamilton and Benevento to share vocal duties. Finally, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead ended their run at the Capitol Theatre with Pigpen’s classic roadhouse tune “Chinatown Shuffle.”

The rocking, four-minute shuffle, with Bogie adding additional depth on saxophone, was an appropriate end to JRAD’s whirlwind run at the Cap. The energy at the famed venue was joyous and boundless all weekend, and night three was no different.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead will be back on the road this February. Their next show will be on Feb. 15 at Nashville’s War Memorial Auditorium. For full JRAD tour dates click here

For last night’s setlist and streams of of set one/set two openers see below:

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead
The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY
1/14/2018

Set I:
Samson and Delilah, China Cat Sunflower> Rubin and Cherise> Truckin’> Tennessee Jed> Greatest Story Ever Told

Set II:
Man Smart Woman Smarter^, Bertha^> Mr. Charlie> Harvest Moon^&> Eyes of the World^> Cumberland Blues> Dancing in the Streets^

Enc:
She Does It Right^$, Chinatown Shuffle^$

Notes:
^ – With Stuart Bogie
& – Neil Young cover
$ – Live debut

Source:
Setlist.fm

Set One Opener:

Set Two Opener: