Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, photo by Dino Perrucci

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead returned to New Orleans on Saturday to continue their longstanding custom of shows in the city during Jazz Fest. In keeping with the wildly collaborative citywide musical celebration, the premier Grateful Dead cover band welcomed a few esteemed peers throughout their performance for a night that honored the Dead’s Crescent City connection and influence on a wide range of torchbearers.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead – featuring Russo on drums, guitarists Scott Metzger and Tom Hamilton, keyboardist Marco Benevento and bassist Dave Dreiwitz – slowly brought Saturday’s show to a rolling boil with an improvisatory introduction for the Sonny Boy Williamson-penned blues standard “Good Morning, School Girl.” The band turned over to the Dead’s catalog with a radiant “Eyes of the World, “New Minglewood Blues,” “Shakedown Street” and “Good Lovin’,” which saw Hamilton and Metzger trading lead vocal duties. To wrap up the first frame, the band called on Tedeschi Trucks Band vocalist and frequent live collaborator Alecia Chakour for Ike & Tina Turner’s Phil Spector-produced classic “River Deep, Mountain High” and a closer of “Georgia (on My Mind),” both of which she debuted with JRAD back in 2024.

When Joe Russo’s Almost Dead returned for their second set, they were joined by the acclaimed saxophonist Branford Marsalis, who frequently performed with the Grateful Dead in the ‘90s and later sat in with offshoots like Phil Lesh & Friends and Dead & Company. Marsalis, a New Orleans local, has also collaborated with JRAD several times, including memorable sets at Red Rocks Amphitheater in 2024 and at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas last year. On Saturday, he lent his talents to a full set of Dead essentials like “Let It Grow,” “Scarlet Begonias,” the Jerry Garcia Band’s “Cats Under the Stars,” “I Know You Rider” and “Throwing Stones,” plus a debut cover of Keith Jarrett’s “Spiral Dance.”

This medley reached a staggering peak as singer, songwriter, guitarist and Gov’t Mule frontman Warren Haynes casually walked onstage to steer the band into an electrifying take on The Allman Brothers Band’s “In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed.” JRAD, Marsalis and Haynes continued with a soul-stirring “Viola Lee Blues,” then unleashed a frame finale of “Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?” and a heartfelt encore of “Touch of Grey.”

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead will return at the end of May to set off their stacked summer tour itinerary with a performance at Richmond, Va.’s Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront; find tickets and more information at joerussosalmostdead.com. Read on for the full setlist from Saturday night.

After a busy few days in New Orleans with his Dreams & Songs symphonic concert and a Gov’t Mule stand, Haynes’ action-packed Saturday continued with an appearance during The Meters’ reunion show. Read more about that guest-heavy concert here.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead

The Fillmore – New Orleans

5/2/26

Set I: Good Morning School Girl, Eyes Of The World, New Minglewood Blues, Shakedown Street, Good Lovin’, River Deep Mountain High*, Georgia (On My Mind)*

Set II: Let It Grow+, Scarlet Begonias+ > Spiral Dance+^ > Cats Under The Stars+ > I Know You Rider+, Throwing Stones+ > Cats Under The Stars+ > In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed+#, Viola Lee Blues+#, Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?+#

Encore: Touch Of Grey+#

* w/ Alecia Chakour

+ w/ Branford Marsalis

^ debut, Keith Jarrett

# w/ Warren Haynes