The Allman Brothers Band

What can I say that hasn’t already been said ? Hmmmm, let’s see now…..

An historic night. Made all the sweeter for my brother and I (both just arrived from England a couple of days before) by the fact that we were not consciously aware of the significance of the date. So when they ripped into Statesboro Blues, with the Fillmore cover as the backdrop, we were just absolutely gob-smacked ! And then, when they continued to play through the rest of the album (climaxing with that epic Whipping Post !). Well, I think that we could have both died happy there and then (especially since it was the first time we’d ever actually seen the band play Whipping Post live, despite 3 previous years of transatlantic pilgrimage) !

How do you follow that ?

Well: the Brothers complete the Fillmore ‘homage’ by opening the second set with Mountain Jam ! And then, aided and abetted by Chuck Leavell (!), go on to climax the set with an effervescant Jessica ! Then that encore: A stunning rendition of The Weight (without Chuck, but WITH Susan Tedeschi !). What a night, what a night.

The only ‘disappointment’ (if you can call it that ?), for me, was that I was so sure that Butch had just wanted to continue straight into Mountain Jam at the end of the first set ? But hey – you can’t have everything !

I’m back home in England now, typing this. And already it seems like some glorious, distant dream. But: What a dream ! What a memory !! What a night !!!

Will there be an official ‘Anniversary of The Fillmore’ CD ? We can only live in hope. But at least we can say, “We were there !” (and I have the mini-discs to prove it !).

Long Live Rock And Roll !!!