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Tuesday, March 24th, the date I was to finally get a chance to share the 40th anniversary show at the Beacon. Living in NJ, I was able to make the trip every year since the ABB starting playing there. Most years it was two shows but as ticket prices rise, the attendance declines! First some reminiscing ...... back in the 90's when the Brothers discovered the Beacon, it was exactly what you thought an ABB concert should be! Men with leather jacket and pony tails. Women in low cut leather tops and pony tails. The Beacon filling up with smoke as you were waiting for the lights to go down and then filling up with better smoke once the lights were down! Then you would hear the "Beacon theater, you ready for the real thing, we're the Allman Brothers Band!" The guy next to you would extend an offering and the band would come out and, on most nights, tear it up. The band was raw, emotional, blue collar and the vibe was great! Your feet would stick to the floor and you did not have to leave your seat to smoke. Ah the good ole days!
Then the millennium changed, the band changed and now the Beacon has changed. No smoking, there is cushion under your feet things are just too expensive to share and too risky to light up! I am one of those that thinks the band has lost a bit since Dickey left, but I still enjoy my annuals trek to the Beacon and PNC to see the band (along with local Dickey shows). Seen the bad and the good over the years. Then along comes Tuesday and, HOLY CRAP! From the opening notes of Hot 'Lanta to the closing notes of One Way Out this band just grabbed me and took me along for a three hour ride!!! I am still not recovered. Wait, is that Little Martha and then Blue Sky in the middle of Rocking Horse? Did Oteil really just do the most incredible bass solo you could ever witness that even brought Derek to his knee's? Did Derek just command that the other two guitarists continue the jam and throw the solo's back and forth for a few minutes? Did Warren continue a song to keep on jamming even though it sounded like they just proceeded into the ending process?
Speechless. Incredible. Mind blowing. Wow! I just do not think I will see something like that again. Although I am looking forward to March 2010.
Show ends at 11:35 and by 12:30 I am sitting in my driveway thinking to myself "If I could only bottle this feeling I would be able to retire tomorrow."
To all those that have tickets for the next three nights.... enjoy!!!!