It's hard to find a more inspiring, outdoor venue than the Rooftop at Pier 17, nestled between the Financial District, the Brooklyn Bridge and the East River. The sweeping views of Manhattan are already breathtaking. Adding an incredible band to this environment is better than a cherry on top because there is no better place for Joe Russo's Almost Dead to bring their vibrant Grateful Dead covers. Their fourth performance at the Big Apple venue did not disappoint, and included a rarely played Allman Brothers' tune.
The show began as the rush hour traffic traversed the bustling lower Manhattan region. The sky was full of puffy clouds and the weather picture-perfect, setting up ideal aesthetics. Crowds of fans gathered on the Brooklyn Bridge to hear the show from a different perspective. The band eased into the first set with a subtle tuning intro, then unleashed a thirteen-minute "China Cat Sunflower." Guitarist Tom Hamilton was feeling it early, as bassist Dave Dreiwitz brought the band together during this engaging opener.
A stellar transition drove the music into "Tangled Up in Blue," last played at the Westville Music Bowl on May 24, 2025. Pianist Marco Benevento shone as he led the melody on his baby grand piano, and also had a huge grin on his face. A jazzy transition ushered the quintet into "Me and My Uncle," which was sung by guitarist Scott Metzger. He unfurled a raging blues-rock jam that invigorated the crowd.
The electrifying "Viola Lee Blues" brought more back and forth between the guitarists on top of a dynamically changing beat, courtesy of drummer Joe Russo. This gave way for a slower, organ jam that sounded reminiscent of a Sunday gospel tune. The band was all smiles, as they clearly loved the music they were creating.
Joe Russo's Almost Dead found their way into "Alligator," and teased "Blue Sky" by the Allman Brothers. At some point, the piano and drums were matching each other, which was reminiscent of the vintage Benevento Russo Duo. Twenty years ago, Benevento and Russo created this band upon graduation from college, and found instant success. The jam went deep, as the band masterfully transitioned into a twelve-minute "Franklin's Tower", and ended the set with vigor as the day slowly turned into night.
By the start of set two, the city lights illuminated the skyliine, particularly in Midtown, which provided the backdrop from stage right. There is truly not a bad vantage point, as each angle provides a unique view of an iconic landmark. A monster "Shakedown Street" added to this aesthetic and kicked off the dance party. Benevento was on fire once again as he beautifully decorated this disco dance tune. Both he and Hamilton had a ferocious exchange, which took the song to new heights. Hamilton continued to hit soaring peaks on top of the solid rhythmic base of Dreiwitz and Russo.
The boys eventually found themselves in a mellow, ambient blues rock jam that grew into "Lost Sailor." Metzger contributed soulful vocals as the music slowly built into a raging inferno. Once again Benevento was the star as he led a melodic transition into "Saint of Circumstance." Russo's beats could only be described as a racing train while both guitarists ripped.
"Cats Down Under the Stars" followed and brought a slow simmer funk groove that was quite tasty. Benevento added smooth jazz elements via piano. The tempo dialed up considerably as the song progressed, and the stage lights illuminated the crowd at the peak. The Empire State Building was brightly illuminated in signature white behind Dreiwitz and Metzger from stage right.
The band magically transitioned into "Feels Like a Stranger." Another gospel-themed sequence kicked off "Lovelight," which was sung by Benevento. The very percussive version was loved by the crowd. Hamilton and Benevento once again connected to bring the jam home. Hamilton used a slide guitar effect leading into a euphonious "Ramble On Rose," which offered a much-needed chill moment. The upbeat "Big Railroad Blues" ended this set with face-melting blues-rock jam from Metzger.
The show ended with the rare Allman Brothers instrumental, "Jessica," last played on October 3, 2024 at the Ting Pavilion in Charlottesville, VA. Slide guitar effects were once again employed, along with percussion reminiscent of the original tune. Benevento crushed the well-known piano sequence. The guitarists added one final bubbly jam, before ending the tune with a memorable revisit to the chorus. The fans grinned from ear to ear as they soaked in the end of the show flanked by the city lights.
Joe Russo's Almost Dead is back on tour October 3rd at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee, WI, followed by Chicago, IL on Oct. 4th and St. Paul, MN on Oct. 5th. They head west later in October with shows in Sacramento, CA on Oct 23rd, Oakland, CA on Oct. 24th and Los Angeles, CA on Oct. 25th. On November 2, they are back on the East Coast with a performance at Hulaween. A Mid-Atlantic run caps off this ledger with shows in Jim Thorpe, PA on Nov. 13th, Philadelphia, PA on Nov. 14th and Washington D.C. on Nov. 15th. Visit this tour page for more details.
Check out more photos from the show!
Date: September 12, 2025
Venue: Pier 17 Rooftop
Location: New York, New York
Band: Joe Russo's Almost Dead
Set One: China Cat Sunflower > Tangled Up In Blue > Me and My Uncle > Viola Lee Blues, Alligator > Franklin's Tower
Set Two: Shakedown Street > Lost Sailor > Saint Of Circumstance, Cats Under The Stars > Feels Like A Stranger, Turn On Your Lovelight, Ramble On Rose, Big Railroad Blues
Encore: Jessica
