Monday, February 15, 2016

Joe Russo's Almost Dead 2/11/16 College Street Music Hall

Joe Russo and Marco Benevento called themselves The Duo in the early aughts. They plugged in to the Phish-ey blossom of new jam and were tour warriors. Befriending the likes of MMW and showing an appetite for versatility, The Duo were positioned to be called up to the majors. Russo on drums and Benevento on a variety of keyboards, they needed to be familiar with the Grateful Dead catalog. Russo even got tapped to play in various post-Jerry incarnations while Marco carved out some quirky critically acclaimed solo offerings. Fast forward to 2016, the duo with the help of some other jammy pals, rock the area as JRAD.
People latch on to the Dead for a variety of reasons: country rock of Uncle John's Band, jazzy improv of Dark Star, expansive segue- rock of Scarlet/Fire or China/Rider, and of course the drug barter parking lot scene. JRAD focused on the Jazz segue notions of the Dead, delivering ambitious versions of Cumberland Blues, Bertha, and Goin Down the Road Feelin Bad. The evening highlight was Benevento's melding of Tear's For Fears Everybody Wants to Rule the World with the iconic GD anthem Eyes of the World.

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