Friday, May 15, 2009

Night of the Brothers who Really Aren't
Set 2 The Allman Brothers Band


Until tonight, The Allman Brothers Band has not performed in the Pacific Northwest for ten years and not been on the west coast for four It was a good solid show. The set list was bluesy and it seemed like there was a lot of new material. It certainly came no where near the Come On In My Kitchen, Dreams, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, Mountain Jam>Dazed And Confused>Mountain Jam, Whipping Post March 24, 2007 second set I saw at the Beacon in New York.

But there were some marvelous moments in Portland, more with the examples of some of the band's best songcraft rather than the jams. Melissa, Midnight Rider, and Soulshine, all in the same set? There ain't nothing wrong with that. The tight as can be duet vocals of Warren Haynes and Greg Allman absolutely put shivers up my neck on both Midnight Rider and Soulshine.

Soulshine is as good a tune as Garcia/Hunter ever came up with. And I believe it stands up with Kris Kristofferson at his Bobbie McGee best. What a chorus this song has:

Let your soul shine,
Its better than sunshine,
Its better than moonshine,
Damn sure better than rain.


Statesboro Blues was a highlight for me this time out. The screen visual was a nicely put together montage sequence of most the major Chess Records era bluesmen. Greg Allman propels a Hammond B3 into deep blues territory. I don't know why the universe doesn't celebrate his voice more.

The Allmans are touring more this Spring, summer and fall than them doing for a very long time. There is a lot of press and merch that is commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the band. But they are working for this recognition. The two drummers and the little blond kid with a nose for trouble and sometimes stupid (marrying Cher) outlasted.

A version of No One to Run With also featured illustrative video images. The band was scene in the graveyard with two folks that certainly aren't running with them anymore except in spectral format: Barry Oakley and Duane Allman. Dickey Betts was also there along with Greg, Jaimoe and Butch. Dickey is still among the mortal. He's more like the relative who really screwed up and no one talks about.

In additon to the picture, there was also cutaways of Warren Hayes' old Allman and Mule bassist Alan Woody. The film being projected intercut footage of Woody playing which was intercut of some footage of Duane Allman jamming. It was cut to look like they were in the same band. The thing that gave it away was the bass drum head for Gov't Mule.

The images were great, but No One To Run With is a pretty crappy song, partly because it got kind of popular at one point. I'm thankful it didn't raise the band up to the popularity of Touch of Grey had and one could say helped guide the Dead towards their end.

The longevity of the Allman Brothers Band is truly worth noting. Most folks are aware that there is only one Allman left. Nowadays there is an Uncle and his nephew in the band, Butch and Derek Trucks. Will they ever create a solo project called The Uncle and his Nephew Trucks Band?

Anyway, here is the set list: Hot 'Lanta, Statesboro Blues, Don't Keep Me Wonderin', Soulshine, No One To Run With, Midnight Rider, Woman Across The River, Stand Back, Melissa, Rocking Horse, Les Brers In A Minor, One Way Out It isn't really right to split hairs and be picky about a band which is nearly great all he time, but I still believe that about four of those really aren't A-List Allmans material. May they have a successful tour for the rest of the year and come back here real soon to mine their book of the blues further.
posted by well-executed buffet at 11:49 AM
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