605: Joe Russo – Just Be Yourself

When you think of Joe Russo chances are you think of the Grateful Dead, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead or, at a minimum, jambands and improvisational music. Although you’d be accurate in your thinking, it wouldn’t tell the whole story of Joe’s influences and his nearly-myopic taste in music for a large portion of his playing career – until he moved to Colorado, that is. From there his eyes were opened to all styles of music and he was forced to look himself in the mirror and grow as a musician – and that he did.

Joe Russo talks about:

• His early musical influences
• The importance of more mature musicians
• How he got into composing
• Why he almost “retired” from playing music
• Playing with the Grateful Dead
• Stumbling into creating a Grateful Dead tribute band
• The struggles he’s facing dealing with the pandemic

Resources/Links mentioned:

• Contact Joe: Instagram