Thanks to Peter Costello and Eric McRoberts for the new Costello & McRoberts Ultra Mix!

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead were scheduled to finally headline Red Rocks back in the spring, but had to delay the headlining debut due to the threat of snow. Now, deep in the last days of summer, JRAD was finally able to make up their Red Rocks gig, but with a wrinkle. Dave Dreiwitz was busy with his day job with Ween on the 31st, but luckily Dead and Company and Allman Brothers Band bassist Oteil Burbridge was willing and able to sit in.

Oteil and JRAD made the long delay from their spring cancellation more than worth it. The first set alone clocked in at nearly two hours!

Oteil isn’t a stranger to playing with Joe Russo and his Almost Dead. The ABB and Dead and Co bassist filled in for Dreiwitz back in the spring at the Brooklyn Bowl.

As per with every JRAD show, this Red Rocks show was full of teases, covers and tasty treats buried among top-notch renditions of Grateful Dead tunes. Some of the highlights were multiple Phish teases, a debut of Donovan’s “There Is A Mountain” into the Allman Brothers Band’s “Mountain Jam,” and a blistering “Morning Dew Closer.” After Weir and Mayer gave Oteil a chance to sing this summer, JRAD was more than happy to let Burbridge take the lead vocals on “Box of Rain.”

Thanks to Peter Costello for the box score for JRAD show number #119:

Set One (7:50PM – 9:45PM): Jam -> Here Comes Sunshine @ > Reuben & Cerise -> Jam -> Mama Tried, New Speedway Boogie # -> Music Never Stopped Reprise -> New Speedway Jam -> Music Never Stopped Jam -> Dancing In The Streets $ -> New Speedway Reprise % -> Box Of Rain ^ (OB), He’s Gone & -> Truckin’ -> Born Cross Eyed Jam

Set Two (10:01PM – 11:27PM): Jack Straw > Feel Like A Stranger * -> Harry Hood Jam + -> China Cat Sunflower -> The Eleven -> The Wheel @@ -> There Is A Mountain ## > I Know You Rider, Greatest Story Ever Told $$, Morning Dew

Encore: We Bid You Goodnight %%

@ – With a “Sex Machine” (James Brown) Tease (MB), a “La Di Da Di” (Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick) Tease (MB)
# – Unfinished
$ – With Music Never Stopped Teases (TH), an unknown Tease (MB), New Speedway Teases & lyrics, a “Memphis Soul Stew” (King Curtis) Tease (OB), “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough (Michael Jackson) Teases (SM & MB).
% – First split New Speedway
^ – With an Uncle John’s Band Tease (Band)
& – With Truckin & Tennessee Jed Teases (TH) & a “Humdinger” (WOLF) tease (SM)
* – Unfinished
+ – Instrumental, incomplete version of a Phish Cover (No lyrics were sung), First Time Played By Almost Dead.
@@ – First verse sung in 11, with an “In With the In Crowd” (Ramsey Lewis) Jam, a “Bathtub Gin” (Phish) Tease (MB)
## – Donovan Cover, Instrumental with 2 choruses only sung, First Time Played By Almost Dead. Basis for the Allman Bros “Mountain Jam” but closer to the original Donovan version.
$$ – With a “Night in Tunisia” (Dizzy Gillespie) Jam, an Estimated Prophet Tease (TH) & an “Stash” (Phish) Tease (SM)
%% – A cappella at their positions with vocal mics, not at the front of the stage

Photo credit: jeremy_williams_photo