Joe Russo’s Almost Dead stole the show at Lockn’ with two late night sets full of energetic Dead classics and surprise guests. 

The biggest highlight came on the second night when Bob Weir took the stage not once, but twice, as he emerged early on for three songs (“Black Throated Wind,” “Good Lovin'” and “Jack Straw”) only to return later in the set unexpectedly for “Samson and Delilah” and “One More Saturday Night.” The appearance marked the second with Almost Dead, as Weir previously joined the band in Oakland for an acoustic set.

On the previous night, it was old friends Jim James of My Morning Jacket and Nicole Atkins (probably the most frequent Almost Dead guest in the band’s lifespan) who helped them out at various points. James led the ensemble on Jane’s Addiction’s “Been Caught Stealing” and “Brown-Eyed Women” while Atkins took on tunes like “Little Red Rooster” and “Cassidy” before both sang on the closing “Brokedown Palace.”

Watch both sets in full below. 

August 25