Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR
by Finn Turnbull
on Jun 8th, 2019
Joe Russo gets closer to the Dead spirit with every show, which is most likely why they call the group “Joe Russo’s Almost Dead.” It could mean Joe Russo IS almost Dead, or that the group is comprised of Joe Russo’s nearly-Dead members. Either way, the group is making its mark as the top Grateful Dead tribute band in the circuit, gaining as much, if not more popularity than the infamous Dark Star Orchestra. The group is comprised of Joe Russo, Marco Benevento, Dave Dreiwitz, Scott Metzger, and Tom Hamilton. Drummer Russo is known for his work with Bob Weir in Further, Phil Lesh & Friends, and the Shpongle live band. Pianist Benevento plays in the Benevento/Russo Duo, as well as the bands “Bustle in Your Hedgerow, and New Orleans-based Garage A Trois. Dreiwitz is most popular for also being the bassist of cult figureheads Ween. Guitarists Metzger and Hamilton both play with Russo in American Babies, as well.
JRAD is on a 2019 summer tour and stopped by Eugene Oregon’s Cuthbert Amphitheatre, a gorgeous outdoor space worthy of any deadhead gathering. Tapers and trippers garbed in tie-dye and stealies flooded the grassy grounds, getting extra comfy for a two-set evening with the Almost Dead. The first set began with “Althea,” then got the crowd moving with “Truckin’.” “Tennessee Jed” provided an opportune sing-along to finish the first half. When the band began again, the music never stopped. “Here Comes Sunshine” sandwiched “China Cat Sunflower” and “They Love Each Other” before continuing into “Help on the Way.” The final banger, a “Slipknot!” > “Feel Like a Stranger” > “Slipknot!” combo, tied the evening all together. Some deadheads today will say they prefer Joe Russo’s Almost Dead to the current incarnate of the actual Dead, which is Dead and Co. JRAD’s energy and endurance set them apart, as they capture a youthful buoyancy that younger fans just now getting into the Dead may have missed out on. The second set ended with the classic Young Rascals song “Good Lovin’,” a popular Dead cover, and the encore was “Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)” by Bob Dylan. JRAD said their farewells in a grateful manner and hoped to see some familiar faces at their next show in Bend.
Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 0Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 1Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 2Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 3Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 4Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 5Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 6Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 7Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 8Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 9Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 10Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 11Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 12Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 13Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 14Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 15Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 16Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 17Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 18Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 19Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 20Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 21Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 22Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 23Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 24Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 25Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 26Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 27Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 28Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 29Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 30Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 31Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 32Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 33Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 34Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 35Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 36Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 37Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 38Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 39Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 40Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 41Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 42Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 43Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 44Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 45Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 46Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 47Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 48Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 49Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 50Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 51Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 52Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 53Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 54Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 55Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 56Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 57Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 58Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 59Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 60Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 61Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 62Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 63Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 64Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 65Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 66Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 67Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 68Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 69Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 70Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 71Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 72Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 73Joe Russo's Almost Dead @ Cuthbert Amphitheatre - Eugene, OR 74
