It was the fall of 1991 and I thought I was a seasoned fan of Rock n' Roll, I'd seen Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and The Who. I'd been wanting to see Little Feat since it was one of my uncle's favorite bands, and they were playing Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in Raleigh but they were the opening act for the Allman Brothers. I took a shuttle bus from the local mall because I was planning on putting a big one on, I sat next to a older guy and he asked me if I had a ticket yet.He hooked me up with a seat on the 3rd row, now I'm excited I'm going to see Little Feat from the 3rd row. I asked him about the Allman Bros. he just smiled and told me there the greatest. Little Feat was great but it was starting to get dark, I wondered to myself if these guys are better than Little Feat it's going to be incredible. I'd already taken a couple doses and smoked some so I'm ready to go! Man when the Brothers hit the stage I couldn't believe how powerful and beautiful the music was, Statesboro Blues the crowd was on their feat dancing and raising hell, I was in paradise. Then the liquid light show kicked in and their singing 'bout gone to Carolina now I've got chills from head to toe! Nobody Knows was next, the music was coming off the stage like waves of sound crashing over me and sucking me in. I had to walk out onto the lawn for a minute because it was overbearing. They start playing an acoustic set so I went back to my 3rd row seat and then boom Hoochie Coochie Man, I'm thinking wow this is the greatest band in the world. I was blown away, Elizabeth Reed was like a psychedelic dream the weaving and interwining guitars. I sat in awe on the third row as they played Dreams and Jessica. Then the Whipping Post hit me like a ton of bricks, I'd never experienced music like this before or felt so excited about music. I had found what I'd been looking for The Allman Brothers Band. I'd heard all their songs before but seeing them live brought a whole new perception of their music. I've seen them every show they've played in Raleigh and Charlotte since 1991 and I've also seen them in New York City, Atlanta, New Orleans, Richmond and Indianapolis. I'm so grateful to have been able to see them so many times. To me they're the "greatest band in the world".
[Edited on 12/26/2014 by southbound]
Great review SB!
My first experience was back in the mid 70's. It is hard to pinpoint the exact date as it was almost 40 years ago but I believe it may have been one of the November 1975 dates at the Richfield Coliseum in Cleveland. I was going to a small college in western Pennsylvania at the time and we had a small group of friends who decided to hitchhike to visit a friend at a college in Cleveland, who offered a place to crash, and see the show. We split up into two man teams to hitch to Cleveland about 2 hours away. Back in those days there was no issue hitching on the interstates so we made it after only a couple of rides.
On our way to the show we had some decent ganja with us and we ended up walking through Skaker Heights, which was a pretty ritzy neighborhood back then, to catch a street car into the city smoking fatty after fatty. I remember a well groomed young couple dressed to the nines walking their poodle and looking at us long haired hippies in horror as if we were aliens who had just landed in their neighborhood. We all laughed for about 10 minutes at the looks on their faces.
By the time we reached the venue we were well prepared for the show but continued smoking as the arena was a haze of ganja smoke to where you could get a second hand smoke buzz just being there. God I miss those days when you could light up at a concert without the threat of getting thrown out.
I was pretty stoned that night and from what I can remember the Brothers played their asses off and the fans did not want to leave as we kept calling them back for encores. While I was already a big fan that night will always be special to me as it was my first chance to see the Brothers live.
Duane and Dickeys' harmonizing guitars, with the percussion,leslie organ & 'thundering' bass in the background hypnotized me and I've never seen nor heard anything like it since. Duane was so unassuming & giving onstage & set the mood.
I've seen hundreds of major concerts since but always weaved back into the Allman Brothers performing live in their various incarnations. Duane with Dickey will always be the best ! That particular chemistry Duane established will always be linger in my mind no matter how many times I see them!
[Edited on 12/27/2014 by bettyhynes]
Summer of 1972. The Dead and ABB - my first concert for either. Went a very very long time
Dead
Set I
1. The Promised Land
(Chuck Berry cover)
2. Cold Rain and Snow
3. Black-Throated Wind
(Bob Weir song)
4. Sugaree
(Jerry Garcia song)
5. Playing in the Band
(Bob Weir song)
6. Tennessee Jed
7. Jack Straw
8. Deal
(Jerry Garcia song)
9. Mexicali Blues
(Bob Weir song)
10. Stella Blue
11. Cumberland Blues
12. Me and My Uncle
(Judy Collins cover)
13. Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo
14. Sing Me Back Home
(Merle Haggard cover)
Set II
15. Ramble On Rose
16. Truckin'
17. Drums
18. The Other One
19. He's Gone
20. The Other One
21. Looks Like Rain
(Bob Weir song)
22. Sugar Magnolia
23. Not Fade Away
(The Crickets cover) (with Dickey Betts and Berry Oakley)
24. Going Down the Road Feelin' Bad
(Henry Whitter cover) (with Dickey Betts and Berry Oakley)
25. Hey! Bo Diddley
(Bo Diddley cover) (with Dickey Betts and Berry Oakley)
Encore:
26. Johnny B. Goode
(Chuck Berry cover)
Can't find the setlist for the ABB
for a kid just turned 16 it was a turning point in my musical (as well as cultural) maturation
wow,you have a very good memory
My first ABB show was 12/19/81 Boston Garden.
We had 4th row on the floor.
Molly Hatchet opened.
First ABB show July 70 St. Pete Fla. Became a fan instantly.
Nice story. The Betts/Haynes/Woody era was a great introduction to the band for anyone.
After seeing them once in 1975, I lost interest after the breakup and never followed the Arista years at all. Then in 1994 I saw the band with Betts/Haynes/Woody. That was all I needed to hear............I became a serious fan and never lost it again.
[Edited on 12/26/2014 by robslob]
July 1996 Jones beach, 4th song in was You Don't Love Me. Had that version in my head for a week, picked up their CDs I didn't have and I was hooked for life.
I was at that Jones Beach Concert too; you didn't even say hello?
Hate to admit it; but as I became more and more entrenched with the Beacon shows I found it harder to see the ABB at the Beach. The Beach is for lighter fare such as Jimmy Buffett.
April 24, 1979 Palladium -NYC. I was a fan since 1974 but didn't start going to hear live music till 1976 . Excitement of seeing The Brothers for the 1st time was indescribable. Didn't really sink in till much later at what I had missed not getting to hear original band or Chuck, Lamar version. So thankful that they really kicked into gear again the right way in 1989. 150 plus shows later for me and still seems like they still have room to grow as a band. As Warren has stated its a bittersweet time with The Brothers calling it quits this year. Sad that it's over but wonderful to go out the same way they came in: THE BEST BAND IN THE LAND.
"
In my backyard in 1974....
Ok, here's the full story: July 20, 1974, 2 days before my 13th birthday, the ABB played at the first ever Knebworth Pop Festival, Knebworth, England ( http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/kneb74menu.html). I never got to see Duane and Berry, but I did get to see Gregg, Dickey, Jaimoe, Butch, Lamar, and Chuck.
My family had just moved to England, into the buccolic English country side. Our house had been a servants house for a large English estate, Knebworth House. At the time, taxes in England were so high that large estate owners had to raise money, so the owners of Knebworth House opened their up for a "pop festival" (rock concert.)
So shortly after my family moved in, hippies started to show up, a stage was set up, and the next thing we knew their was a concert pretty much in our back yard (ok, about 1/4 mile away across a field, but close enough!) Bands included Tim Buckley, the Alex Harvey Band, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Van Morrison, the Doobie Brothers, and the Allman Brothers.
For a kid just turning 13, it was a pretty eye opening experience! I saw some of the concert from the field, but I could also see (and hear) from my bedroom window in a converted attic room (which gave me a great view.)
I've been a fan of the Allman Brothers ever since, and have seen them at the Palladium, Nassau Coliseum, the Beacon, United Palace Theater, etc...
The set list for the show was:
1. Wasted Words
2. Done Somebody Wrong
3. One Way Out
4. Stormy Monday
5. Midnight Rider
6. Blue Sky
7. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
Set II:
8. Statesboro Blues
9. Come and Go Blues
10. Ramblin' Man
Encore:
11. Trouble No More
12. Jessica
13. You Don't Love Me
14. Les Brers In A Minor
Encore II:
15. Whipping Post
Oakland, Ca. Sept. 1973 followed by the Cow Palace 1-1-1974
My second concert
July 74
Nassau Coiiseum
Grinderswitch opened and did a great job
the Brothers killed it that night. The greatness of Dicky's solo during Blue Sky still sticks with me
I was 16, couldn't drive, and I went to see the ABB with my mom since she is a longtime fan.
Allman Brothers Band 06/25/99
Sony E-Center, Camden, NJ
1. True Gravity
2. Ain't Wastin' Time No More
3. You Don't Love Me
4. Good Times (Don't Fade Away)
5. Southbound
6. Midnight Rider
7. Good Clean Fun
8. Blue Sky
Set II:
Acoustic:
9. Seven Turns
10. Melissa
Electric:
11. J.J.'s Alley
12. Trouble No More
13. Change My Way of Living
14. Dreams
15. End Of The Line
16. Back Where It All Begins
17. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
Encore:
18. No One To Run With
I'm glad to have seen them a lot over the years/decades, and to have seen them at the Beacon a few times, with Jack Pearson, and with Jimmy Herring. I also have seen Gregg and Dickey Betts both with their bands and I enjoyed those shows as well as the Mule, Derek Trucks shows I've seen.
[Edited on 12/29/2014 by The_Newt]
Dickey still was introducing new songs in (JJ's Alley and Good Times don't Fade Away) while Gregg had nothing new to offer in that set list from 1999. A shame things disintegrated like they did after Back Where It All Begins. Still even in a diminished state The Brothers were making an impact on music fans in 1999. The sum of the parts were always what differentiated The Brothers from other bands.
In my backyard in 1974....
Ok, here's the full story: July 20, 1974, 2 days before my 13th birthday, the ABB played at the first ever Knebworth Pop Festival, Knebworth, England ( http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/kneb74menu.html). I never got to see Duane and Berry, but I did get to see Gregg, Dickey, Jaimoe, Butch, Lamar, and Chuck.
My family had just moved to England, into the buccolic English country side. Our house had been a servants house for a large English estate, Knebworth House. At the time, taxes in England were so high that large estate owners had to raise money, so the owners of Knebworth House opened their up for a "pop festival" (rock concert.)
So shortly after my family moved in, hippies started to show up, a stage was set up, and the next thing we knew their was a concert pretty much in our back yard (ok, about 1/4 mile away across a field, but close enough!) Bands included Tim Buckley, the Alex Harvey Band, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Van Morrison, the Doobie Brothers, and the Allman Brothers.
For a kid just turning 13, it was a pretty eye opening experience! I saw some of the concert from the field, but I could also see (and hear) from my bedroom window in a converted attic room (which gave me a great view.)
I've been a fan of the Allman Brothers ever since, and have seen them at the Palladium, Nassau Coliseum, the Beacon, United Palace Theater, etc...
The set list for the show was:
1. Wasted Words
2. Done Somebody Wrong
3. One Way Out
4. Stormy Monday
5. Midnight Rider
6. Blue Sky
7. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
Set II:
8. Statesboro Blues
9. Come and Go Blues
10. Ramblin' Man
Encore:
11. Trouble No More
12. Jessica
13. You Don't Love Me
14. Les Brers In A Minor
Encore II:
15. Whipping Post
WOW..... amazing!
The first time I got to see the brothers was 1991.... I'd been a huge fan for years. I'm glad that all three times I did see them Dickey was still in the band... not that I don't love Derek in the band but to me that configuration was the second best after the original band.
In my backyard in 1974....
Ok, here's the full story: July 20, 1974, 2 days before my 13th birthday, the ABB played at the first ever Knebworth Pop Festival, Knebworth, England ( http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/kneb74menu.html). I never got to see Duane and Berry, but I did get to see Gregg, Dickey, Jaimoe, Butch, Lamar, and Chuck.
My family had just moved to England, into the buccolic English country side. Our house had been a servants house for a large English estate, Knebworth House. At the time, taxes in England were so high that large estate owners had to raise money, so the owners of Knebworth House opened their up for a "pop festival" (rock concert.)
So shortly after my family moved in, hippies started to show up, a stage was set up, and the next thing we knew their was a concert pretty much in our back yard (ok, about 1/4 mile away across a field, but close enough!) Bands included Tim Buckley, the Alex Harvey Band, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Van Morrison, the Doobie Brothers, and the Allman Brothers.
For a kid just turning 13, it was a pretty eye opening experience! I saw some of the concert from the field, but I could also see (and hear) from my bedroom window in a converted attic room (which gave me a great view.)
I've been a fan of the Allman Brothers ever since, and have seen them at the Palladium, Nassau Coliseum, the Beacon, United Palace Theater, etc...
The set list for the show was:
1. Wasted Words
2. Done Somebody Wrong
3. One Way Out
4. Stormy Monday
5. Midnight Rider
6. Blue Sky
7. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
Set II:
8. Statesboro Blues
9. Come and Go Blues
10. Ramblin' Man
Encore:
11. Trouble No More
12. Jessica
13. You Don't Love Me
14. Les Brers In A Minor
Encore II:
15. Whipping Post
Harvey was at this show too. He wasn't 13 though! 😉
I missed it as I was living in Germany at the time.
My first ABB show was very memorable: July 1990, Chastain Park in Atlanta
I walked in a greatest-hits ABB fan and walked out a changed man. I was a bigger Skynyrd fan and loved the 1987-1988 LS reunion....they would disappoint me starting with 1991. I was a bigger Rush fan, but by the time I was old enough to see them they got too steeped in syntheisizers in the 1980s. The ABB was much further down the list of favorites for me, mostly because they were dormant for much of the 1980s when I was in high school.....but I had serious respect for them.
The ABB came back with performances ~and~ new music to rival the 1970s. I had heard Good Clean Fun and Seven Turns on the radio, but I remember being blown away by True Gravity in particular. Not only did Warren, Allen and Johnny sound the part, they looked it too (and Neel had thankfully packed away the synths that were played on the 1989 tour by the time they recorded & toured in 1990).
We got a nice long show that night with old hits and warhorses to go with a nice collection of Seven Turns songs. My roommate quickly bought the CD (the one where everyone is backwards and looks like left handed players) and I ate up everything I could about the then current ABB. 1995 is the only years since then that I missed seeing them. What a 24 year ride it was!
August 12, 1990, Sandstone Ampitheater, Bonner Springs, Kansas
1. Don't Want You No More
2. It's Not My Cross To Bear
3. Statesboro Blues
4. Blue Sky
5. Low Down Dirty Mean
6. Seven Turns
7. Good Clean Fun
8. Gambler's Roll
9. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
10. One Way Out
11. True Gravity
12. Whipping Post
George Thorogood opened
The thing I remember the most (being a bass player) was being utterly fascinated by Woody, and the way he tore up Whipping Post on that big ol' Gibson Thunderbird...
...this was little over a month after I had seen the Grateful Dead for the first time on July 4th at the same venue...
Cold Rain and Snow
Walkin' Blues
Mississippi Half-Step
Queen Jane Approximately
Loose Lucy
It's All Over Now
Loser
Promised Land
Victim or the Crime>
Foolish Heart>
Just a Little Light>
Scarlet Begonias>
Fire on the Mountain>
drums>
The Wheel>
Gimme Some Lovin'
Stella Blue>
Sugar Magnolia
U.S. Blues
I was 19 when I saw the GD, then turned 20 before I saw the ABB. Completely changed how I looked at the world, other people, the beauty of kindness and the communal spirit, just about everything. I owe all of those fine musicians a lot...:D:D:D:D:D
I can't remember if it was '72 ( Berry ) or '73 ( Lamar ). I was 15 or16 . It was at MSG and I went by myself because all my friends were into LZ , Pink Floyd , etc and no one wanted to go with me. But ever since I heard AFE I knew the Brothers were the band for me . I remember I had a few " Thai sticks " which were awesome back then. I had a great time with all the people up top at the Garden and left very happy. I don't know exactly how many times I've seen them since but I bet it's close to a hundred. And I loved every one of them !
In my backyard in 1974....
Ok, here's the full story: July 20, 1974, 2 days before my 13th birthday, the ABB played at the first ever Knebworth Pop Festival, Knebworth, England ( http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/kneb74menu.html). I never got to see Duane and Berry, but I did get to see Gregg, Dickey, Jaimoe, Butch, Lamar, and Chuck.
My family had just moved to England, into the buccolic English country side. Our house had been a servants house for a large English estate, Knebworth House. At the time, taxes in England were so high that large estate owners had to raise money, so the owners of Knebworth House opened their up for a "pop festival" (rock concert.)
So shortly after my family moved in, hippies started to show up, a stage was set up, and the next thing we knew their was a concert pretty much in our back yard (ok, about 1/4 mile away across a field, but close enough!) Bands included Tim Buckley, the Alex Harvey Band, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Van Morrison, the Doobie Brothers, and the Allman Brothers.
For a kid just turning 13, it was a pretty eye opening experience! I saw some of the concert from the field, but I could also see (and hear) from my bedroom window in a converted attic room (which gave me a great view.)
I've been a fan of the Allman Brothers ever since, and have seen them at the Palladium, Nassau Coliseum, the Beacon, United Palace Theater, etc...
The set list for the show was:
1. Wasted Words
2. Done Somebody Wrong
3. One Way Out
4. Stormy Monday
5. Midnight Rider
6. Blue Sky
7. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
Set II:
8. Statesboro Blues
9. Come and Go Blues
10. Ramblin' Man
Encore:
11. Trouble No More
12. Jessica
13. You Don't Love Me
14. Les Brers In A Minor
Encore II:
15. Whipping Post
Nice story! I enjoyed that.
I'm curious..........to your knowledge is that the last time ABB went to Europe? I suspect that it is.
No the Brothers played in Europe in 1980? and again the summer of 90.
In my backyard in 1974....
Ok, here's the full story: July 20, 1974, 2 days before my 13th birthday, the ABB played at the first ever Knebworth Pop Festival, Knebworth, England ( http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/kneb74menu.html). I never got to see Duane and Berry, but I did get to see Gregg, Dickey, Jaimoe, Butch, Lamar, and Chuck.
My family had just moved to England, into the buccolic English country side. Our house had been a servants house for a large English estate, Knebworth House. At the time, taxes in England were so high that large estate owners had to raise money, so the owners of Knebworth House opened their up for a "pop festival" (rock concert.)
So shortly after my family moved in, hippies started to show up, a stage was set up, and the next thing we knew their was a concert pretty much in our back yard (ok, about 1/4 mile away across a field, but close enough!) Bands included Tim Buckley, the Alex Harvey Band, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Van Morrison, the Doobie Brothers, and the Allman Brothers.
For a kid just turning 13, it was a pretty eye opening experience! I saw some of the concert from the field, but I could also see (and hear) from my bedroom window in a converted attic room (which gave me a great view.)
I've been a fan of the Allman Brothers ever since, and have seen them at the Palladium, Nassau Coliseum, the Beacon, United Palace Theater, etc...
The set list for the show was:
1. Wasted Words
2. Done Somebody Wrong
3. One Way Out
4. Stormy Monday
5. Midnight Rider
6. Blue Sky
7. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
Set II:
8. Statesboro Blues
9. Come and Go Blues
10. Ramblin' Man
Encore:
11. Trouble No More
12. Jessica
13. You Don't Love Me
14. Les Brers In A Minor
Encore II:
15. Whipping PostHarvey was at this show too. He wasn't 13 though! 😉
I missed it as I was living in Germany at the time.
I was indeed at that show (as was Martyn = mushroom54) ... and you're quite right, I wasn't 13 ... thanks Gordon!
I was studying at the University of Hertfordshire (aka Hatfield Polytechnic) about 10 miles south of Knebworth at the time ... and had only just discovered the ABB the previous year with the release of Brothers & Sisters ... of course by the time of this concert I had backtracked and uncovered all of the previous wonderful recordings with Duane and was ABBsolutely hooked ...
It was a glorious blue sky English summers day and a day of music that has not been bettered ... despite trips to the Beacon & Wanee ... and not to mention many other fine artists that I have been fortunate enough to see over the years ... including Lynyrd Skynyrd at the same venue in 1976 ... it was such an eclectic mix of music that day and every performance just got better and better culminating with the ABB at the top of the bill ...
I have a recording of the show ... it was recorded by the BBC but never got transmitted as for some reason the bass and drums did not get properly picked up from the soundboard and so it is very top heavy ... Gregg, Chuck and Dickey sound fine ... but the rhythm section is very weak ... none-the-less it is nice to have the memory ...
I have to admit that we didn't expect the second encore and were walking back across the fields to the car when the unmistakeable bass riff of Whipping Post struck up ... heady days!!!
It certainly is a great line-up, Colin.
Van Morrison's Caledonia Soul Orchestra were fantastic and the Doobie Bros were at the top of their game then.
And all for £2.75! Unless I'm mistaken, that wasn't much more than the cost of a single album at the time. You could expect to pay what, £100 these days?
And Dan - the European tours were in 1980 and 1991.
Always an ABB fan in high school in early 70's but if I remember right didn't get to see them until Nov 1995 at WCU, my alma mater, Cullowhee, NC.
I second the Betts/Haynes/Woody era. What a show, Gov't Mule, just getting their touring legs under them opened up. Warren had pony tail for Govt Mule and hair down for ABB.
The music was down all night!
Mike
8/16/2014 Peach Festival was my first show. Worth the trip 
Ain't Wastin' Time No More (with Danny Louis, piano)
Les Brers In A Minor
Melissa
Mountain Jam
One Way Out
Trouble No More
Stand Back
Blue Sky
Little Martha
Encore
That's What Love Will Make You Do (with Danny Louis, piano)
Black Hearted Woman
1991 Fall Tour - Columbus, OH
3 of my buddies and I were 15 and we recruited a 4th who just got his license so he could drive us ((( what great friends we were !!! )))
I think it was a school night, too, and did some serious sweet talking with the parental units to swing that one. We weren't into weed or psychedelics yet, and all we could muster was a bottle of peach Schnapps.... didn't really matter. Allmans were loud, long, and in our faces the whole time. Totally blew us all away and I've been hooked ever since!
Still have my concert T from that show. No rips or stains!
5/23/79 - Uptown Theater in Chicago - backup was Henry Paul Band, right after Grey Ghost came out. They ended with a great Green Grass and High Tides. Then the ABB came on...when they got to Liz Reed I just relaxed back in my seat and said to myself 'This is why I am here...........'. Saw them a few times after that.........
