Joe Russo's Almost Dead in Santa Cruz

Joe Russo's Almost Dead is an American rock jam band formed in 2013 by drummer Joe Russo to reinterpret the Grateful Dead songbook. Its repertoire recasts that material through extended improvisation, unexpected transitions and occasional passages from other rock songs. The band debuted at Brooklyn Bowl in 2013 during Freaks Ball XIII, a concert initially planned as a one-off. Further performances followed, including LOCKN’ Festival, multi-night runs at The Capitol Theatre and repeated headline concerts at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The group performs as a five-piece, and its changing set lists allow songs to expand into long instrumental passages or flow directly into one another. The lineup consists of drummer Joe Russo, guitarists Tom Hamilton and Scott Metzger, bassist Dave Dreiwitz and keyboardist Marco Benevento.