Hearing this a lot and wondering how much this has to do with Gregg's health and stamina both of which, all signs this year suggest, are in a bad way.

I think it's a combination of many things..(I was there Tues. night)....it's pretty obvious that Gregg is pacing himself...these shows are almost anti-climatic after the unfortunate "rescheduling"...I wouldn't go so far as to say that they are mailing it in..there were some fine moments the other night...BUT it seems the intensity just isn't there.. Yes, I agree that it's great being at the Beacon, the fans Are great, etc,,but for long time time fans I think it's clear that it's time...they have said all they have to say musically...

Thanks for the thoughts TJ. That seems like a spot on read to me.

For all the "mailing it in" and "it was an average show" talk, it is still killing me not to be there. One of the things that I have always loved about the ABB is that even an "average" show or one that is "mailed in" is never (that I know of) a bad show. There is nothing more fun that the pre-game on the Upper West Side and a Allman Brothers show at the Beacon.

Totally agree. Based on reports of Tuesday and my opinion of last night the band is "going through the motions" so far. I'm hoping the weekend shows and the final two will get better. And yes, the ABB is still worth seeing bit expectations were set very high for these six shows. Including a $50 premium for orchestra seats the last two nights.

Hopefully this is the lull before the storm. Their emotions are now getting the better of them. I think they are going to aclimate to to the enormity of the moment and really bring it home in their last performances.

I suspect it's a few factors that might leave someone feeling less than blown away: expectations (who can't have super high ones) along with the the fact that there are no special guests, who for me did add variety and excitement and worked well at the Beacon more often than not.

The other big thing is that they are clearly trying to keep up the recent Beacon tradition of playing a wide variety of songs with as few repeats as possible. This is appreciated when much of the audience will have future opportunities to the see the band (sometimes the next night or at least next year). However, if you are came in for just last night's show (your last ever), you didn't hear Jessica, Whipping Post, Stormy Monday, Revival, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, Blue Sky, Dreams, Hot' Lanta, Don't Want You No More, It's Not My Cross to Bear, nor Please Call Home. I realize that some were played the night before. If you came in for both Tues & Wed you didn't even get their most iconic song and possibly their best live one, Whipping Post (but you did get a few songs not even associated with them like Breaking Up Someone's Home). I think that's having affect on some reviews.

However, most reviews have been positive and believe me I would have loved to have been there to hear True Gravity, Desdemona, Dreams, Hot'Lanta, Not My Cross to Bear, Mountain Jam one more time!!!

Sorry to hear you all feel that way. I can't speak for Tuesday but I was there last night(Wed) and thought it was great. It seems Greg's voice has lost a little bit of its edge but I felt it was a fantastic show. All the folks around us - who were not in our group - agreed.

Some of the particular high points for me were Black Hearted Woman > Circle. I thought this absolutely smoked. And Desdemona was a monster.

By the way - the original set list had Whipping Post as the encore - but I guess they switched to One Way Out due to time restrictions?

Looking forward to Saturday.

Attended both shows an they were completely solid. Derek and Warren don't mail it in. Ever. They just dont.
Gregg is what he is. I'm sure he's doing the best that he can.

I thought last night's show was very good. I'm not sure why you'd suggest anybody not go because it's a personal decision, and anyway people are making this decision for emotional reasons more than anything else. It's a chance to say goodbye. Although if you're trying to drive down prices for me so I can get a ticket Tuesday, thank you. And again, I thought they sounded very good. The first part of the first set was especially strong and Mountain Jam was great.

hotlantatim, thanks for one of the only positive comments I have read. I'm up for the final show (and going to try for Monday) and truly just so excited to go I can't think straight. I'm just amazed at all of the whining and complaining on the site. These dudes are older than me, for the most part, and I'm one old dude! I'd love to see Dickey again, I'd love to see guests, I'd love to hear every damn note of Fillmore, but if I get to dance to the Brothers one last time, that's all I need.

Bullsheet - I was there Tuesday and have been to many shows and I believe it was not "mailed in" - while maybe you were looking for extended jams, they were not there and I believe that probably was due to Greg's health and wanting to give the fans as many songs as they could - Considering all that Greg has gone thru this year, it was a damn good show and yes Greg missed a few words during NOLTRW encore but he was trying to put in his ear thingy and that threw him off. I even enjoyed the drum solo.

Have to disagree with the mailing in comment, I thought last nights show was solid. If I could afford and score tix for the rest of the run, I'd do it in a heart beat. I'll never see this band again and I'd love to enjoy it once more. I've done every beacon run with my son who was 13 when we started, he's 31 now and a father...... I just wish he could share the ABB experience with his kids like I did with him...... Mailing it in .......?? Not from where I sat!!

I have to agree . Tues nights show was sleepy and boring at times . Even the vibe on stage was weird . It seemed like they were just going through the motions . I've never been to a just alright Beacon show until Tues .

I am about as tough a critic of this band as you will find. Wednesday show was not mailed in. To me, songs like Gilded
Splinters, Rain, Dusk til Dawn and Melissa are throwaways, but the BHW and MJ alone were worth the price of admission.

It was very clear that Gregg was getting / directing lots of clarification during the song breaks on Wednesday . We've now seen that the setlist was adjusted real time. Warren sang back up for Gregg more than I've seen of late......telling me that Gregg is indeed trying to insure he makes six nights. Personally, for me, I thought Gregg sounded stronger / better in March than last night. I wouldn't go as far as the band "mailing it in"' . ....it was a good show. I loved the second set.

I find that all of the members, besides Gregg, deliver an A++++ performance every single night. The only performance that varies is Gregg's. He was engaged last night and pretty animated......and while his effort is strong, his results do vary.......some of it as simple as the volume / clarity of his lyrics. Last night was mixed for Gregg in my opinion. ......and unfortunately that lessens the grade of the group as a whole.

[Edited on 10/23/2014 by tumbleweed]

Last night was by no means the best Allmans show I've seen but there was some smoking interaction between Derek and Warren (as usual). Greg did look like death warmed over and was definitely pacing himself but he was doing his best, at least it seemed that way to me. But I can certainly see why Derek said what he did about going out on a high note.

On the other hand, there was way too much audience chatter to the point of distraction. The guy next to me actually had his back to the stage much of the time, talking someone in the row behind him about his wonderful career, his house, his car, etc. Why did he bother paying all that money to blab to anybody within earshot? And it wasn't just him. It seemed there was a steady drone of chit chat through a lot of the show and I wonder if that affected the band's enthusiasm.

I have no regrets about the money I spent and I'm looking forward to one more time on Tuesday. So I respectfully disagree with the OP. If you can go by all means do.

Although if you're trying to drive down prices for me so I can get a ticket Tuesday, thank you.

Haha! That was my hope when I saw this thread!

I've not been to a show - yet. But what I saw at Lockn' was a band pushing itself harder than any band I've ever seen. Did it fall apart during Blue Sky? Yes. But Warren, Derek, Oteil, took the front of that stage, stared each other down, and challenged themselves to hit the note. The percussionist are melodic but relentless and driving.

I know the two shows I'm going to will be worth the time and money.

Besides that, Have you checked out the weather report for Monday and Tuesday? I know I'll enjoy hiking through Central Park under sunny skies with temps in the sixties surrounded by Fall color. The Allman Brothers are the catalyst for my trip but I'm going to make sure that 45 hours is as robust a 45 hours as I can muster.

My expectations of the shows are super high. I won't be complicit in not meeting those expectations.

@ralphie: I go to 6/7 shows at the Beacon every year. Tuesday nights crowd was by far the most obnoxious. Drunks. Loud, rude, FALLING DOWN, drunks.
Total waste of a ticket.

On the other hand, there was way too much audience chatter to the point of distraction. The guy next to me actually had his back to the stage much of the time, talking someone in the row behind him about his wonderful career, his house, his car, etc. Why did he bother paying all that money to blab to anybody within earshot? And it wasn't just him. It seemed there was a steady drone of chit chat through a lot of the show and I wonder if that affected the band's enthusiasm.

I'm so tired of posers at concerts. I've got to get a STFU! shirt.

Did anyone go to Tuesday's show and see then really drunk woman walking up the center aisle WHILE texting?

@Billy: You're going to have an incredible time.

Although if you're trying to drive down prices for me so I can get a ticket Tuesday, thank you.

Haha! That was my hope when I saw this thread!

I've not been to a show - yet. But what I saw at Lockn' was a band pushing itself harder than any band I've ever seen. Did it fall apart during Blue Sky? Yes. But Warren, Derek, Oteil, took the front of that stage, stared each other down, and challenged themselves to hit the note. The percussionist are melodic but relentless and driving.

I know the two shows I'm going to will be worth the time and money.

Besides that, Have you checked out the weather report for Monday and Tuesday? I know I'll enjoy hiking through Central Park under sunny skies with temps in the sixties surrounded by Fall color. The Allman Brothers are the catalyst for my trip but I'm going to make sure that 45 hours is as robust a 45 hours as I can muster.

My expectations of the shows are super high. I won't be complicit in not meeting those expectations.

ayfkm?

just cause you say it.....................don't mean that it is ..................so!

No, but I saw the guy in front of me get thrown out because he kept on going in the aisle after security told him not to. I felt bad for him .

ahahah. I TOTALLY saw all that happen.

I had a drunk ahole next to me yelling "Whipping Post" all night. I tried to tell him if they do it - it would be in the encores. But nope, all night long "Whipping Post". And it's my favorite ABB tune too but I almost smacked him. I don't know how to really explain it - I know Warren nor Derek know how to not play well but it just seemed rushed all night. Nine songs in the first set was definitely pushing it

From my vantage point in the very last row of the upper balcony both the band and the crowd are beginning to feel the significance of the final run of shows. Upper balcony was filled with a great bunch of listening , dancing ( sides and very back of the balcony,) taping and filming dedicated Allman Brother fans. Sound upstairs was fine ( not great) all night . Really didn't matter to me what they played but there were some highlights that really made the show a great one for me. You Don't Love Me, True Gravity and Elizabeth Reed were all over the top incredible performances by the band. Ive been going to these shows since the beginning of The Beacon runs ( over 150 shows) and the emotional part of losing the Allmans is getting the best of me. I don't think this a time for criticizing set lists that the band is doing their best putting together. I appreciate the fact that the band cared enough about this run and every Beacon run to spend about a week before each run preparing and rehearsing. Any comments about this band ever mailing it are irresponsible and uninformed. My only regret at this point is not spending more time in the very back of the upper balcony for all of the other shows I've been to at The Beacon over the years.

@bump: I totally heard that dude too, unless there were several. I was next to THAT ahole that kept screaming out: "Freebird." There's always one...

I had a drunk ahole next to me yelling "Whipping Post" all night. I tried to tell him if they do it - it would be in the encores. But nope, all night long "Whipping Post". And it's my favorite ABB tune too but I almost smacked him. I don't know how to really explain it - I know Warren nor Derek know how to not play well but it just seemed rushed all night. Nine songs in the first set was definitely pushing it

I don't get the whole Gregg is pacing himself and can't keep up talk.
I saw him this August in Newport with his band
He does a 1:45 minute show where he sang all but one song when he took a break. He was engaged and lead the way and really broke it out when they played hot lanta.
I know an ABB show is different but he does plenty when he's with his own band