Joe Russo’s Almost Dead played an explosive 3 night run at The Wellmont Theatre in Montclair 10/7/2`1-10/9/21. Fans packed the theatre with proof of their vaccination or negative covid test.
The first night kicked off with an unorthodox “Cosmic Charlie” opener followed by a beloved “Mississipi Half-Step”. Across the Rio Grande we go and the show’s off at full speed. “Quen Jane” followed by my favorite JRAD rendition, “The Wheel”. The first set was wrapped up with “Til The Morning Comes” followed by “My Brother Esau”.
They must have renovated this theatre. The last time I saw JRAD here I remember being crammed, long bar lines, and bad sound. This was nothing like my experience this time. The theatre looked and sounded great.
The second set opened up with “They Love Each Other”. Highlights from the second set inluded fan favorite “China Cat”, the ever danceable “Shakedown Street”, a thumping “Viola Lee Blues”, and the ol tip of the hat to Uncle Sam and summer’s end “U.S Blues”. The band ended the first night with a “Touch of Grey” encore.
Friday night’s show kicked off with “Doin That Rag” followed by an unusual “Dark Hollow’ cover. Followed by “Playing in the Band” , “Warf Rat”, & “Ramble on Rose” to close up the first set.
JRAD opened up their second set up with “Dire Wolf”. The second set include favorites like “Althea”, “Truckin”, & “Werewolves of London”. The band encored with “Bertha”.
The Wellmont proved to be a welcoming and accommodating venue for the special crowd of deadhead JRAD fans and the band rocked the socks off that place as always. Well done boys, well done.
FULL GALLERY: https://essnce.smugmug.com/Photography/Events/JRAD-at-The-Welmont-Theatre-10721-10821/
