I've been listening to this classic 2005 ABB show lately and it's really blowing me away. Jessica, Egypt, High Cost of Low Living, Whipping Post and Layla are all serious contenders for best version of that song played by the most recent ABB lineup, in my opinion. This show is just so, so good.
It might even take the place of 10/4/09 as my go-to show to represent that version of the Allmans. The setlist is fairly heavy on songs like Egypt and High Cost that only existed with the Derek/Warren lineup. Much like the Fox shows from 2004, it really crackles with the energy of a band that was peaking in 2004-2005, still playing new songs and still pushing the envelope creatively.
I'd be interested to hear memories from folks who were at this show. I wasn't there, but I can only imagine what a great experience it must have been in person. It still holds up very well as one of the finest shows the Brothers played in the last decade.
Best version of Egypt, especially Warren solo. The sq on this show is also stellar.
That Egypt really is special, possibly the highlight of the whole show. I've always found that tune mesmerizing, and this version really goes somewhere.
When they brought Egypt back recently, they simplified and shortened it a great deal. Back in 2005 it was a sprawling 15-20 minute epic that could carry a show on its back. There is just so much going on in this version, so many subtle dynamics to the performance, little riffs here and there that stand the test of time 10 years later.
Again, one of the reasons I created this thread is because this show has killer versions of ABB classics like Whipping Post and Jessica, but the two tunes that stand out the most to me are High Cost and Egypt. That is what makes it the quintessential show of its era, and maybe the ultimate high water mark for the Derek/Warren lineup. The new material was holding its own against the big guns in the catalog, and meeting the challenge of living up to the ABB legacy.
Starting in 2006, it seemed that the band lost faith in some of their newer material and started leaning on the classics more, as well as a steady stream of well-done covers. Desdemona, High Cost and Egypt deserved a chance to become the new centerpieces of the ABB live show, but I guess they never really felt comfortable giving them the space to do that. Plus, the fans come to hear the hits, etc.
If you want to check out some great shows from the 2005 summer tour, listen to the ones where Jack Pearson filled in for Warren.
The 8/13 Chicago and 8/14 Detroit shows are prime examples. I was at the Chicago show and it was great. They didn't play anything later than anything from Brothers & Sisters. Jack singing "Dimples" was great. Ron Holloway played on most of the songs.
The next night in Detroit they did an epic Mountain Jam.
While we all love Warren, the interplay between Derek and Jack was awesome.
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
I agree that they really dropped some key tunes out of the regular rotation after 2005. I also enjoy 8/19/05 with both Jack and Warren. The 'blues hour' is really terrific. I get addicted to certain months or periods of shows from time to time (Summer 1996, late 2003, July/August 2005, 2009 (whole year is good), Beacon 2013, etc)
The 2005 shows with Jack Pearson are indeed awesome. So is the 8/20/05 show with Chuck Leavell. There were lots of good shows that summer.
2005 was a great year in general for the band. The band played something like 70 shows, a number they never approached again, so the quantity was there, and the band was tight from playing so much. The very first Wanee was a special thing, and always stands out to me. I did a run of a few shows in May 2005, working the booth for Hititn' the Note, and every show I saw was good. The 10/1/05 show in Atlanta is another favorite of mine that includes an excellent version of Egypt.
One of the strongest arguments for this show is that 2005 is the best year for that lineup. If you agree that 7/24/05 is the best show of 2005, it's hard to argue that it should hold a very high place in the overall history of the Derek/Warren version of the band.
2009 was great too, but it is more of a crazy outlier, like an aging athlete who has a great season out of nowhere at age 42. To stretch the analogy further, the energy and excitement around the 40th Anniversary acted like a performance enhancing drug 😉 2005 feels like the last real peak the band had.
definantly Rob,I was at that show in 2005..Jessica sounded awesome as an opener..Egypt just about blew the roof off at Spac,I had never heard the song before...There is something about the 2005 tour that was heads and shoulders above the other tours. They were so fresh and powerful.
Despite my passion for this music, I have had trouble staying engaged over the last several years. 2005 reminds one of what this band was (and is) capable of. I always found the Beacons runs to be fascinating - laboratories for exploration and improvisation. Then the summer tours were kinda of a let down. They would play a few truly inspired shows but many would feature fan friendly set lists. I understand there are market forces at work. However, as these shows in 2005 proved, stretching out on unknown tunes like Egypt can be more captivating than romping through midnight rider or one way out for the 3000th time.
Great thoughts about 2005!
It was a great year for the band. Hittin The Note was only two years old and the amount the band worked definitely felt like they were a full time operation. The crowds had rebounded from Dickey leaving 5 years earlier and Derek had really become a draw for the band and Warren's Dead association had raised his profile even higher. We had a good show in Atlanta with moe as the opener (I think it was supposed to be Skynyrd but they canceled). I remember my buddy John asking me when we arrived at the Lakewood parking lot where/how all these young people got into the ABB (of course those "young people" are now in their 30s!).
I saw the band at the Beacon a couple nights and then again at Lakewood Amp in Atlanta. I got Egypt twice that year. It was awesome that Jack and Chuck appeared multiple times with the band during the year (as did Johnny Neel at least once). The band was embracing their history with past members (minus the obvious), cementing the Warren/Derek lineup as the ABB and forging new ground with recent songs in the setlist.
Possibly my favorite recording by the ABB final lineup was 3/21/05. I was the night before the Big House benefit at the Beacon and they did a lengthy show. Chuck was there for an extended sit in and they did a beautiful version of Blues Sky with him among others. Wish I had been able to stick around for that night!
Of note on that trip to the Beacon were the parties the Hospitality Suitees and the LeftCoast crew through at the Beacon hotel. Hanging with that large group was a blast. I saw the the ABB Thurs at the Beacon, Van Morrison Friday at the Apollo theatre and the ABB again Saturday night back at the Beacon. Quite a musical feast!
I will go track down the 7/24 show.
The 2005 shows with Jack Pearson are indeed awesome. So is the 8/20/05 show with Chuck Leavell. There were lots of good shows that summer.
2005 was a great year in general for the band. The band played something like 70 shows, a number they never approached again, so the quantity was there, and the band was tight from playing so much. The very first Wanee was a special thing, and always stands out to me. I did a run of a few shows in May 2005, working the booth for Hititn' the Note, and every show I saw was good. The 10/1/05 show in Atlanta is another favorite of mine that includes an excellent version of Egypt.
One of the strongest arguments for this show is that 2005 is the best year for that lineup. If you agree that 7/24/05 is the best show of 2005, it's hard to argue that it should hold a very high place in the overall history of the Derek/Warren version of the band.
2009 was great too, but it is more of a crazy outlier, like an aging athlete who has a great season out of nowhere at age 42. To stretch the analogy further, the energy and excitement around the 40th Anniversary acted like a performance enhancing drug 😉 2005 feels like the last real peak the band had.
I was at the 8/20 show with Chuck. People were speculating all week if Chuck and any other members of the Stones would show up. When the started setting up the keyboard at the other end up the stage I knew Chuck was going to sit in. Great versions of Desdamona, Jessica, and Southbound.
