With a thud stronger than a California earthquake, JRAD’s weekend run took a seismic shift at the announcement Grateful Dead founder Phil Lesh passed away before Friday’s second show at Oakland’s Fox Theater.
The first two nights of the 2024 California run shifted venues from the adored Frost Amphitheater back to the Fox. The site of 2018’s legendary two song Terrapin Station – The Other One first set.
The band came out swinging, transforming their opening jam into a unique Jack A Roe. Guitarist Scott Metzger, who busted open his lip after smacking into his microphone, offered another non Grateful Dead cover debuting Stonewall Jackson’s I Washed My Hand in Muddy Water later in the first set. A California friendly Estimated Prophet kicked off a second set full of highlights including a raging Bob Dylan’s Tell Me, Momma and Samson and Delilah. After the show, a still energized crowd stuck around for an impromptu dance session and the energy headed into night two was peaking.
By mid-morning Friday, in the epicenter of the Grateful Dead universe, word slowly began to trickle out that Lesh had passed away. Lesh, has been in poor health for years. A liver transplant in 1998 extended his life. He’s also battled cancer multiple times. With no indication Lesh’s health had taken a turn for the worse, the news of his death was staggering. As tributes poured in from musicians and fans around the globe, JRAD fans new that night’s show was going to be special.
Lesh is directly responsible for catapulting Russo into the jam band world. In 2009, he hand picked him as the drummer for his and fellow GD original Bob Weir’s new band Furthur. A move that cemented the then Benevento/Russo and American Babies drummer’s musical career. Without Lesh, there would be no show at the Fox that night. His impact on each band member is just as deep and profound. He joined JRAD subbing for bassist Dave Dreiwitz for 2014’s PhilRad New Year’s shows. Lesh’s legacy for his legions of fans is limitless. If you’re reading this, you know the depth Lesh has impacted your life.
Night two started with an obviously amended setlist. The opening Birdsong – Box of Rain combo left Russo understandably near tears multiple times. It was basically the same for the rest of the band and fans. To honor their fallen mentor, the band played with an unprecedented fury. Perfectly demonstrated in the Scarlet Begonias – Bertha combo. Slowly, the pain morphed into energy and the music provided a much needed healing.
The throttle was pinned to the floor for set two ultimately wandering into a cathartic Unbroken Chain Jam. With the energy bouncing off the hallowed theater’s walls, each member unloaded their grief into some of the most intense playing the band has reached in ages. Unfortunately, the extended jamming didn’t leave time for underutilized vocalist Dreiwitz’s take on Lesh’s often performed Broken Arrow. A still shaken Tom Hamilton returned to the stage after the encore, sending the crowd home chanting “You know our love will not fade away.”
Still reeling for the previous day’s shock, the band wrapped up their run before a huge crowd at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. The mood was a little lighter in the first set. The band continually bounced between segments of different songs. Highlighted by a mind melting Hell in a Bucket – Terrapin Jam – Tennessee Jed combo that saw Metzger pull multiple impossible twangs from his guitar.
Beastly, best describes the final set of the run with monster versions of Rubin and Cherise, Let It Grow (with a Pigs jam in the middle), Cats Under the Stars, Shakedown St., and more. By the end of the U.S Blues, One More Saturday Night double encore everyone was justifiably spent from an emotionally draining weekend.
The band will reconvene in a couple of weeks for a Pennsylvania/D.C. set of shows. They’ll wrap up 2024 December 5, 6, and 7 in Milwaukee, Chicago, and St. Paul.
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead Setlists
Fox Theater Oakland 10/24/24
Set one- Jack a Roe, Hard to Handle, Help on the Way, Slipknot, China Cat Sunflower, I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water, Viola Lee Blues
Set two- Estimated Prophet, They Love Each Other, Tell Me, Momma, The Wheel, Uncle John’s Band, Samson and Delilah E: He’s Gone
Fox Theater Oakland 10/25/24
Set one- Birdsong, Box of Rain, Scarlet Begonias, Bertha, I Need A Miracle, Playing in the Band
Set two- Eyes of the World, The Music Never Stopped, Candyman, St. Stephen, Cumberland Blues, Feels Like A Stranger, Brown Eyed Women, Throwing Stones, I Shall Be Released E: Not Fade Away
Greek Theater Los Angeles 10/26/24
Set one- Good Lovin’, Foolish Heart, Minglewood Blues, Hell in a Bucket, Tennessee Jed, The Other One
Set two- Rubin and Cherise, Let it Grow, Cats Under the Stars, Time to Move On, Big River, Shakedown St., Man Smart, Women Smarter E: U.S. Blues, One More Saturday Night
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