Article Contributed by Jamie Huenefeld
Published on 2026-06-01
Joe Russo's Almost Dead arrived at the Westville Music Bowl on May 23, 2026 ready to slay a late spring Saturday night in New Haven, CT. However, the weather was cold, windy, and rainy, which has become almost par for the course whenever JRAD landed at the Westville over Memorial Day weekend. Good weather continued to evade the band, but they rose to the occasion and rewarded fans who braved the elements with a true Constitution State heater.
A beautiful and melodic warmup drove the crowd into a bustling groove during the opening "New Speedway Boogie." Pianist Marco Benevento ushered in the laid-back jam before guitarist Tom Hamilton gradually took control. Bassist Dave Dreiwitz and drummer Joe Russo laid down a swinging foundation that elevated the Grateful Dead classic into an outstanding blues rock excursion.
The band then dropped into a psychedelic funk treatment of "My Brother Esau," sung by guitarist Scott Metzger. Metzger ripped through the tune's blues rock framework while the rest of the band pushed the song into adventurous territory.
The theme of beauty and melody continued with "Foolish Heart." As the jam developed, Russo and Hamilton fed off one another, creating one of the first truly explosive moments of the evening. Benevento sparked a fluid improvisational passage, while Dreiwitz contributed heavily as the band eventually worked its way into "Brown-Eyed Women." The raging jam gradually settled before finding its way into "Lost Sailor," where Metzger once again flexed his vocal muscles.
"Saint of Circumstance" closed the excellent first set with a patient buildup that brought the crowd to its feet. As the band walked offstage, Russo joked that one day they would finally get a good weather day at the beloved venue.
Set two opened with The Beatles' "Dear Prudence." What followed was a commanding and edgy jam that blended jazz influences with experimental psychedelic guitar work. Russo maintained a funky pulse beneath the improvisation while the band teased Pink Floyd's "Echoes." They eventually landed back in "Dear Prudence" before dropping into a "Hey Jude" coda. It was only the first song of the set, but it delivered one of the evening's most memorable sequences. Hamilton crushed the guitar throughout.
The band somehow found itself in "Rubin and Cherise." Once again, Russo starred on both drums and percussion, while the jam explored jazz, blues, psychedelic rock, and soaring guitar passages all at once. It may have been the finest jam of the weekend. A masterful segue delivered the band into another blues-soaked favorite, "New Minglewood Blues," with Metzger handling vocals on the fiery rendition.
A graceful transition carried the music into "Let It Grow." The evening belonged to Metzger, who delivered another strong vocal performance. The dual guitar attack from Metzger and Hamilton fueled a massive jam that found Benevento shining on the baby grand while Dreiwitz continued to drive the music from the low end. JRAD pushed into high gear throughout the sequence.
"Mission in the Rain" followed and brought a more reflective atmosphere along with additional Hamilton vocals. A super tasty and psychedelic "Gloria" came next, driven largely by Benevento's inventive playing.
The band remained onstage for a funkified encore of "Not Fade Away." The performance included an "It Takes Two" tease before settling into a slow-burning groove. Hamilton carried the tune home with vigor, and brought an outstanding evening of music to a fitting conclusion.
Joe Russo's Almost Dead will return to the stage on June 10 in Birmingham, AL. The band will then swarm the Southeast with appearances in North Charleston, SC (June 11), Manteo, NC (June 12), and Beech Mountain, NC (June 13). Later in the month, JRAD will bring its improvisational firepower to the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis, MA (June 18) and Thompson's Point in Portland, ME (June 19) before descending on Northlands Music & Arts Festival in Swanzey, NH (June 20). The summer run will pick back up in July with performances at Everwise Amphitheater in Indianapolis, IN (July 17), Cain Park in Cleveland Heights, OH (July 18), and XL Live in Harrisburg, PA (July 19). A West Coast swing follows with stops at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas (July 30), The Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa, CA (July 31), and The Quarry Amphitheater in Santa Cruz, CA (August 1) before wrapping that stretch at Blue Note Summer Sessions in Napa, CA (August 2). JRAD will rage on during the Dog Days of Summer with Northwest stops at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, OR (August 13), The Cuthbert Amphitheater in Eugene, OR (August 14), and Remlinger Farms in Carnation, WA (August 15). The month will conclude with a Colorado run through Denver, CO (August 20), Vail, CO (August 21), and Dillon, CO (August 22). Hop on over to their tour page for more details on these shows and more.
Check out more photos from the show. Also, view our photos and review from JRAD in Asbury Park, NJ the prior night.
Band: Joe Russo's Almost Dead
Location: New Haven, CT
Venue: Westville Music Bowl
Date: May 23, 2026
Set One: New Speedway Boogie [1] > My Brother Esau [1], Foolish Heart [1] > Brown-Eyed Women [1] > Lost Sailor [1] > Saint of Circumstance [1]
Set Two: Dear Prudence [2][3] > Rubin and Cherise [4] > New Minglewood Blues [5], Let It Grow [1], Mission in the Rain [6] > Gloria [7], Not Fade Away [8]
Notes:
[1] Grateful Dead
[2] The Beatles
[3] Included "Echoes" jam and "Hey Jude" coda
[4] Jerry Garcia Band
[5] Cannon's Jug Stompers
[6] Jerry Garcia
[7] Them
[8] The Crickets
