Pop Break Live: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead at The Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park, New Jersey on Friday May 22, 2026
Written by Kelley Lauginiger
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead turned the Stone Pony’s Atlantic seawall into misty fractals Friday night May 22, threading surf, fog, and psychedelia into one long dance party. It looked like rain all evening but never broke, providing perfect weather for moving and grooving. The theme of the evening was, “if you’re cold, you should be dancing!” Motown set break even included the Temptations’ “I Wish It Would Rain,” though the skies refused.
Scott Metzger (guitar) spent the night slipping Chuck Berry riffs into everything from “Bertha” onward. During “I Need a Miracle,” he somehow produced full shofar-like hornsounds with just his mouth. From what we could see there was no harmonica, no trick,
just raw, weird, massive talent. Metzger remains JRAD’s secret weapon: understated, endlessly inventive, authentically showing up as the cohesive unit who can fuse all the member’s strengths into a mind-blowing jam. He’d credit anyone else, but we feel his alchemy each show.
Bassist Dave Dreiwitz played a gorgeous red and white Rickenbacker that sparkled in the sun and danced in the dark. During the signature bassline of “They Love Each Other” and the chorus of “Touch of Grey,” Dreiwitz danced and dipped to the beat, at one point hamming it up with Metzger and choreographing their movements together. His beloved Carpet the Cat perched upon an amp beside him, overlooking the crowd from the best seat in the house.
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Second set opener chaos arrived right on schedule. Everyone thought “Deal” was coming until the band swerved late into “The Wheel,” sending audible laughter through the crowd. Marco Benevento (keys) grinned and laughed out loud with the crowd at the collective confusion. Metzger threw in some “Mountain Jam” teases as Russo seemed to hint at Deep Purple’s “My Woman from Tokyo.” Russo then took the lead, picking up the pace into some double-time footwork that got the whole crowd going. Benevento’s haunting, gospel organ blasted through for a notable solo that had him reaching across both sets of keys, piano and synths. Exploratory and free as Benevento’s hair, the on the sea breeze to the curvature of the moment.
Joe Russo, JRAD’s namesake drummer, spoke to the crowd at least twice, which is rare. His comfortability being at home with his friends and family present only made the community feeling that a JRAD show creates, even more palpable. Russo’s gratitude for the experience remains a gift to all of us and it’s just so fun to be a part of it. “The Eleven,” showed off Russo’s chops and ethos of exploration driving the band through 11/8 time with Tom Hamilton’s vocals keeping the crowd engaged. He belted out “Five men writing with fingers of gold…” as it hung across the moat, while the spinners spun circles around the bar, and the lights blasted to the beat.
The Good Ole’ Grateful Dead.
A guest appearance from friend of JRAD and the band RANA, Matt Trowbridge, came towards the show’s end. Rowbridge sang Van Morrison’s parts from The Band’s “Caravan.” In historical cosplay excellence, Rowbridge donned a jacket in the same fashion as Van-the-Man’s in The Last Waltz, while giving high kicks into oblivion, just like the movie. We love a historically accurate fashion baddie; thank you, Matt Rowbridge for giving us your all.
Speaking of fashion, the crowd was killing it. The audience was kind, funny, helpful, and there to have a good time. Fashion highlights included hand-embroidered dancing bears patches on a worn blue-jean jacket, full floor-length patchwork leather jacket with matching feather in hat, hand-painted Vans with psychedelic galaxies, drug rugs from someone’s boyfriend’s trunk, blankets as capes, flowers in her hair, and at least 420 Sphere Dead & Co. hoodies. Russo wore a patch of his dog, Ted, on his hat with a Stone Pony hoodie, and of course, MVP, Tom Hamilton’s Scarf ™.
Pushing curfew with a lack of “Grateful Dead song amount of time,” the band covered Eddie Cochrane’s “Summertime Blues,” to close. Perfect for an unseasonably cold, misty JRAD summer season kickoff at the Jersey Shore.
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead Setlist (via setlist.fm)
Set #1:
Fire on the Mountain
Bertha
Play Video
Dark Hollow (Bill Browning and His Echo Valley Boys cover)
I Need a Miracle
Cassidy (Bob Weir cover)
The Eleven
Hot ‘Lanta (The Allman Brothers Band cover)
Set #2:
The Wheel (Jerry Garcia cover)
Playing in the Band
They Love Each Other (Jerry Garcia cover)
Touch of Grey
Jack Straw
Caravan (Van Morrison cover with Matt Trowbridge)
Sugar Magnolia
Summertime Blues (Eddie Cochran cover)
