Article Contributed by Jamie Huenefeld
Published on 2026-05-30
For the third consecutive year, Joe Russo's Almost Dead returned to the outdoor Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park, NJ on May 22, 2026, and delivered another adventurous evening of improvisational rock despite particularly cold and breezy late-May weather. With feels-like temperatures dipping below 50 degrees, fans bundled up along the Jersey Shore, though the unseasonably chilly conditions did little to cool the energy surrounding the performance.
The band stepped onto the stage alongside their almost-dog Teddy, who stayed close to his human dad, drummer Joe Russo, before settling in with the band's management. A jazzy introduction slowly unfolded before giving way to “Fire on the Mountain,” which immediately established the electric chemistry between Russo and guitarist Tom Hamilton. The transition into “Bertha” proved especially seamless, as pianist Marco Benevento steered the band forward on his baby grand piano.
A bluegrass-inspired “Dark Hollow” followed before turning on a dime into a raging “I Need a Miracle.” Guitarist Scott Metzger leaned heavily into blues rock phrasing during the sequence, while Benevento answered with animated piano flourishes of his own. Hamilton continued the face-melting intensity on his custom Lotte guitar as the band dove into “Cassidy,” and eventually pivoted into a darker psychedelic space during “The Eleven.” Benevento’s organ work added a thick, swirling texture to the jam. The band started to transition into the set closing "Hot 'Lanta" as Metzger effortlessly shifted gears into full Allman Brothers mode. He cut sharply through the mix, particularly during the blues-heavy moments during this well known classic rock tune.
Set two opened with “The Wheel,” which immediately showcased Hamilton in raging, psychedelic form. The jam included playful “Loser” and “Mountain Jam” teases before naturally sliding into “Playing in the Band.” Benevento initially kept things mellow on the organ before gradually escalating into more psychedelic and jazz-oriented territory. Hamilton once again unleashed scorching lead work while Russo remained the rhythmic engine that powered the constantly shifting improvisation.
Benevento particularly shined on the Hammond B3 during “They Love Each Other,” helping steer the song toward a warm, bluesy gospel feel. Hamilton also delivered some especially strong vocals during the tune, while Benevento continued dialing up the soulful and tasty textures with layered organ swells and jazzy embellishments.
The band then shifted gracefully into “Touch of Grey” before erupting into a fiery “Jack Straw.” Bassist Dave Dreiwitz anchored the performance with deep, funky grooves alongside Hamilton’s impeccably paced buildup. Russo drove the dynamic peaks and valleys from behind the kit as the entire band operated at full intensity. Eventually, the group drifted into a slower, spacey jazz groove where Hamilton experimented with an array of atmospheric guitar effects as the improvisation steadily rebuilt momentum.
The evening’s lone guest appearance arrived when Matt Trowbridge of Rana joined the band onstage for Van Morrison’s “Caravan.” Trowbridge’s soulful vocals paired beautifully with the band’s well-executed blues rock arrangement, and created one of the night’s most memorable collaborative moments.
A vibrant “Sugar Magnolia” brought the main portion of the set to a celebratory close before Russo acknowledged that the band would not be stepping offstage for a traditional encore. Instead, they launched directly into Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues.” Given how sharply the temperature had dropped by the end of the night, the choice felt especially fitting on this freezing pre-summer evening along the Asbury Park boardwalk.
Joe Russo's Almost Dead will return to the stage on June 10 in Birmingham, AL. The band will then travel through the Southeast with stops in North Charleston, SC on June 11, Manteo, NC on June 12, and Beech Mountain, NC on June 13. Later in June, JRAD will head north for performances in Hyannis, MA on June 18 and Portland, ME on June 19 before landing at Northlands Music & Arts Festival in Swanzey, NH on June 20. Their July schedule will keep them moving with appearances in Indianapolis, IN on July 17, Cleveland Heights, OH on July 18, and Harrisburg, PA on July 19. The run will continue out west with nights in Las Vegas, NV on July 30, Costa Mesa, CA on July 31, Santa Cruz, CA on August 1, and Napa, CA on August 2. Head on over to their tour page for more details on these shows and more.
Check out more photos from the show!
Band: Joe Russo's Almost Dead
Venue: Stone Pony Summer Stage
Location: Asbury Park, NJ
Date: May 22, 2026
Set One: Fire on the Mountain [1], Bertha [1], Dark Hollow [2], I Need a Miracle [1], Cassidy [3], The Eleven [1], Hot 'Lanta [4]
Set Two: The Wheel [5][6], Playing in the Band [1], They Love Each Other [5], Touch of Grey [1], Jack Straw [1], Caravan [7][8], Sugar Magnolia [1], Summertime Blues [9]
Notes:
[1] Grateful Dead
[2] Bill Browning and His Echo Valley Boys
[3] Bob Weir
[4] The Allman Brothers Band
[5] Jerry Garcia
[6] “Loser” and “Mountain Jam” teases >
[7] Van Morrison
[8] with Matt Trowbridge
[9] Eddie Cochran
