Guest Book

I did what some people suggested. I went and listen to some CD's of the band from last year and looked at most of the DVD. I will be my usual self and that is being up front. This is my opinion and in no way is it meant to cut anybody down, or to be disrespectful. First brother Gregg needs to sing from his diaphragm. Sounds like he is singing from his throat. Maybe a little running of some wind sprints would help. He does not seem to have to air to finish his lines. Short cut off and no feel to the end his lines, is not what I call his style. Vocal has no feel, no power to it like it used to. I mean you used to see him get down on his lines. Arch his back with his shoulders up and back with one turned to the front and leaning into the mic. You do not see that. Looks like and sounds like he ready to go home before he starts. There are a few good spots but not enough to cover the other. Look and listen to Warren. The man gets down in his vocals. You can feel his vocal. Not Gregg. You used to be able to feel his stuff, but I am afraid the man has put it on the back burner. like I said wind sprints would be a good start in then right direction. I know Gregg, and running would not fit his style of life. He might get out there for a short time. That is why I said sprints. Rap it all up kick. It will also build the wind of quicker. I could hear the band take off when Gregg would play his solos. This is the same way the band did when Betts was the lead guitar. Gregg still has the touch of the keys when he wants to. The Bass does not drive the bands as much as it sounds like trying to lead. Shuffles are good. Bass hangs in the pocket better. On a lot of the other material the bass seems to come out of the pocket to much. I call this flare outs. Songs have a good feel to them and you are moving then these jazz lines on the bass come flaring out and you lose the feel. You have to be super good to do the things the Oak used to do. There is an art and right way to do the flare out thing with the brothers. The Oak was a master at this, and bringing it all back around without losing the drive and feel to the song. Jaimoe is a master at this also with all the playing around what Butch lays down. Butch is like a lead drummer. He would jump on what Betts was playing and go. Jaimoe would be over there laying down the rhythm. In the old days they could flare out at the same time and make it sound like one. That has been gone for a while. its like Marc and Butch do most of the playing. I do think that Marc over plays in a lot of places and is to loud. Plays on to many songs where a percussionist is not needed. Its just makes it crowded, and takes away from the stuff Jaimoe could be playing. Guitar players do not take me on a trip. Good licks and all, but most of the time they seem to be playing without feel. Not much pretty stuff. Lot of feed back which makes me think of the Dead or the Mule. Warren excels there. Power player he is. He does have that down, but I think he needs to work on putting the feel to his guitar lines like he does with his vocals. Young Trucks needs to get a little more power his playing. The Jazz stuff he does is great, but with the blues you need to have some power to go with the faunas. The Music is still great. It is not Allman Brothers. Just the same for the other Bands. Greggs solo and Dickey's solo bands are good. Dickeys being the better. No body can get on Dickey's solos like Butch, Gregg and Jaimoe can. I do not hear that push with this line up of the Brothers. Playing a song note for note correctly is O K, but is not always the way to go. Like with the brothers its better to go with the feel, get lost and have to play like hell to get back. I could on, but think I have said enough. -- SUPPORT THE TROOPS.