| Allman Brothers Band |
9/4/99 - Lakewood Amphitheater - Atlanta, GA |
The song is called "Back Where It All Begins" and that's where we were last night! As Dickey said when he introduced "No One Left To Run With", 30 years ago the Allman Brothers started in Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA. but the show was no casual walk down memory lane.This band is an institution and continues to prove why it is one of the best bands in music history. The 2nd to the last stop on NASCAR Rocks tour showed that these guys actually get more cohesive as time goes on. Think about it, this is the first tour with a new guitar player, the 2nd new guitar player in 4 years.
Now, I was very apprehensive when Derek joined the band. I thought he was a bad match because of his focus on slide guitar and I thought it was a step back for him b/c he had moved out of Duane Allman's shadow. Derek Trucks Band is NOTHING like the Allman Brothers Band. I will say that Derek never ceases to amaze me. He took the bull by the horns and has really made a niche for himself. His solos never sound like anyone but himself and I love him for it. He is a bad, bad man and he's not even old enough to drink! Lucinda Williams opened the show with a nice set. If you haven't picked up Car Wheels On A Gravel Road do so. She is an excellent songwriter and performer (if she's in a good mood ;-)). There were acts on a side stage but we were late. Because of some friends getting some backstage passes my seat was upgraded to 12th row in front of Gregg. It was a bit farther to the side than I'd like for a great tape but you take what you can get. I tried the X-Y configuration and the tapes came out fine. :-)
The band was tight all night. Gregg continues to sound strong and seems to be playing the B3 a bit more, or at least it's higher in the mix. He's so good at that instrument it boggles my mind why it's no heard better than it is. Dickey seemed to be in a good mood and made very few of his trademark miscues or clunkers. The drum section is the baddest in the land. They always please and why is it that the drummers in these multi percussion bands (ABB, GD) are always *on*? For me, it was a night of firsts. I got my 1st "True Gravity" opener, cool to hear something other than "Don't Want You No More->Not My Cross To Bear" as an opener. I got my 1st "Fast Train To Georgia", a Billy Joe Shaver song that Dickey broke out a couple of weeks ago. Cool song. Oteil and Marc lending some nice harmony vocals. On that note...WHY does Marc sing harmonies with Dickey? He has improved greatly but Oteil is a much better singer. Gregg came out on acoustic for "Midnight Rider" but the highlight of the 1st set was "Blue Sky". "Blue Sky" was one of two times in the show where Derek drove the band to the next level and drove the crowd into a frenzy. Derek has learned the concept of tension well. He built this solo to such a great level and as Michele said, "smoked Dickey." Derek starts out these extended solos w/o the slide and plays these slow thoughtful notes until he gets where he wants to be and lingers, this is when the crowd goes nuts. At that point he pulls out the slide and brings the whole thing down. It's a wonderful thing to watch someone, especially someone so young, play with such control and taste. As usual there was a cute Betty Boop cartoon during the set break.
After a couple of acoustic songs Jimmy Herring comes out for "One Way Out". Jimmy Herring is the guitarist for Aquarium Rescue Unit and Jazz Is Dead. He is a member of Frogwings and a long friend and mentor of Derek's. Other than all that the boy can PLAY! He's alot like Steve Morse, he plays alot but with much soul and style. I love what he does. At this point we have a majority of Frogwings on stage and half of ARU! The 1st thing you notice is that Derek is smiling alot more than usual. He is a very stoic kid and his demeanor is one of extreme concentration but he and Jimmy were up there smiling and talking during the entire song. It was great to see Jimmy up there. The rest of the show was very strong, highlighted by "Dreams", "Liz Reed"...the other moment where Derek took the band and audience to the next level. The drums were spectacular as usual and Oteil's solo was a monster.
The true highlight of the night was "Revival". I haven't seen them do this song since 1991 and it is one of my Top 3 ABB songs. It's such an innocent and joyful song. You can't help but smile when the band sings "Love is in the air"!! The show ended with Dickey's acknowledgment of the band's 30 years and a very good "No One Left To Run With" and the montage of pictures throughout the bands history. I always tear up when I see Duane, Berry & Lamar on the screen. We have lost so many of the great musicians at a young age, many of them younger than I am now. But the photos are up there for us to mourn. The pictures are up there to remind us that we have all been blessed by the presence of such talented people!