NYS Music 202​2

Tag: JRAD

  • 10 years of JRAD: Anniversary Celebrations Set for Brooklyn Bowl and The Capitol Theatre

    One of the best Grateful Dead tribute/cover bands out there today, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD) has announced they’ll celebrate 10 years with a performance where it all began, at Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on January 26. They’ll follow up that intimate show with a three-night weekend at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester January 27-29.

    JRAD 10

    The band first performed on January 26, 2013, with a lineup of drummer Joe Russo, Ween’s bassist Dave Dreiwitz, keyboardist Marco Benevento, guitarist and vocalist Scott Metzger, and guitarist and vocalist Tom Hamilton. Part of Freaks Ball XIII, JRAD was pulled together after the Dean Ween Group pulled out, leading to Russo bringing together four musicians he had played with over the years, leading to the formation of Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. Later that year, they played The Capitol Theatre on December 27, 2013, their second ever show.

    JRAD have made their presence known from coast-to-coast, with shows at Red Rocks, festivals across the country, and regular appearances throughout New York State.

    Tickets for JRAD’s 10th anniversary shows go on sale to the general public this Friday, October 7 at 10 a.m. ET. Presales takes place on Thursday with details available here.

    https://linktr.ee/AlmostDead
    https://www.facebook.com/JRAlmostDead/posts/pfbid0pkV5LHSME3jySTdQjqbhr7CdSCrLSeq1K5eKF3TbcmAt599xGd99HZXBz2jmvHz9l

  • JRAD Plays Inaugural SPAC Show, Debuts Motown Classic

    Thursday, August 25 marked the debut performance of Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD) at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), a remarkable step for the all-star Grateful Dead tribute act featuring drummer Joe Russo, guitarists Scott Metzger and Tom Hamilton, keyboardist Marco Benevento and bassist Dave Dreiwitz.

    photo by Zak Radick

    An enthusiastic Saratoga Springs crowd – one that has seen JRAD perform from Brooklyn Bowl to The Palace Theatre and stops across the country – was treated to a fitting opener of George Jones’ “The Race Is On,” followed by an extensive “Shakedown Street” that followed. After “Row Jimmy” (which had a “They Love Each Other” tease at the start), the band shifted into “Dancing In The Street” and then seamlessly into “The Music Never Stopped,” which featured teases of “Dancing” and “Shakedown Street” intertwined throughout, then provided a sharp return to the end before closing the set with “Touch of Grey.”

    photo by Zak Radick

    After a setbreak full of Tom Petty songs, Russo, wearing a Late Night with Seth Meyers shirt, led the band through a rousing jam that worked its way into “Playing in the Band.” Hinted at by pre-show MoTown songs (and The Chordettes “Lollipop” post show music), JRAD then debuted Smokey Robinson’s “Second That Emotion” after the 20 minute “Playing.” The highlight of the night would arise in “Brown Eyed Women” that found Hamilton, Metzger and Benevento alternating in taking the lead in the jam, each of them finding higher peaks to reach with each passing of the baton. “Let It Grow” and Dylan’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece” followed the scorching “BEW,” and the set was brought to a close with an upbeat “Franklin’s Tower.”

    During the encore of “I Know You Rider,” Hamilton found every peak to take the envigorating jam up another step, as JRAD gave the SPAC crowd an uplifting number on which to end their historic night.

    Set 1: The Race Is On, Shakedown Street > Row Jimmy > Dancing In The Street > The Music Never Stopped > Touch Of Grey

    Set 2: Playing In The Band, Second That Emotion > Brown-Eyed Women > Let It Grow > Masterpiece > Franklin’s Tower

    Encore: I Know You Rider

    photos by Zak Radick

  • JRAD to make SPAC Debut in August, Lawn Tickets now on Sale

    Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD) will make their Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) debut on Thursday, August 25.

    JRAD SPAC

    The Grateful Dead tribute band has been performing since January 2013, when guitarist Scott Metzger, bassist Dave Dreiwitz, keyboardist Marco Benevento and guitarist Tom Hamilton joined forces with drummer Joe Russo at Freak’s Ball, held at Brooklyn Bowl. The result was a band that has toured the country and amassed a dedicated following thanks to their improv-heavy interpretations of the Grateful Dead catalog, in addition to unique covers.

    Tickets for all three concerts go on sale to the general public this Friday, March 18 at 10 a.m. ET. Passwords for a band presale, which Tuesday, March 15 at 12 p.m. ET, and can be found posted on JRAD’s Facebook Page.

    Lawn tickets have just gone on sale as of July 19, with a special offer on lawn tickets for just $20.00 plus fees while supplies last. Tickets are available at livenation.com or through Ticketmaster.

    On April 7, JRAD announced they will make stops in Pittsburgh, PA at Stage AE on July 8, in Bonner, MT at KettleHouse Amphitheater on July 21, and in Stanford, CA at Frost Amphitheater on August 13.

    JRAD will follow up their SPAC debut with a a two night run at Leader Bank Pavilion August 26-27 in Boston. 

    Joe Russo’s Almost Dead’s Facebook presale starts Tuesday, April 12 at 1 p.m. EST.