In addition to Marcus King Band’s blazing set, Candler Park Music Festival also boasted an incredible headlining set from Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. While Dead and Company march across the west coast, it’s easy to forget the brilliance of JRAD. While some fans point to Dead & Co’s slower tempo, JRAD races through classic Dead tunes at a breakneck pace. It’s always hard to call them a tribute or cover band—JRAD takes Grateful Dead songs and really makes them their own.

Because it was a festival show, JRAD’s typical three to four hour marathon was shortened two a two hour sprint. They managed to squeeze about a dozen extended jams in those two hours and they were awesome. The power that JRAD brings to the Dead cannon is palpable. These guys are not to be missed.

From the barreling “Jack Straw” to the 15-minute “Throwing Stones,” this set was pure gold. Give “Music Never Stopped” a deep listen and see if you can spot a Sugarhill Gang tease. Also “Bertha” was phenomenal—actually the whole set was phenomenal! Give it a listen if you can manage to get yourself together after the face-melting “Jack Straw” opener.

One of the highlights of the set was hearing the Allman Brothers Band’s legendary “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” rise put of “Slipknot!” If that doesn’t give you the chills, I don’t know what will.

One Set (8:49PM – 10:56PM)
Jam ->
Jack Straw ->
Truckin’ @ ->
Friends Jam # ->
Truckin’ Reprise ->
Tennessee Jed
Black Throated Wind ->
Bertha %
The Music Never Stopped >
Dancing in the Streets ->
Jam ->
Help On The Way>
Slipknot! ->
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed Jam ->
Slipknot! Reprise ->
Throwing Stones ->
Whole Lotta Love Jam $ ->
Throwing Stones Reprise

@ – With Other One Teases (Band)
# – Instrumental, incomplete version of a Led Zeppelin Cover (No lyrics were sung), First Time Played By Almost Dead (This is what folks are referring to when they mention a “New Potato Caboose” Jam. Very similar, but definitely “Friends” by Zep.)
% – With a “Fearless” (Pink Floyd) Tease (MB)
$ – Instrumental, incomplete version of a Led Zeppelin / Willie Dixon Cover (No lyrics were sung), First Time Played By Almost Dead

Thanks to D. Fries for the awesome recording.

Photo credit: liveandlisten