Guest Book

The Allmans hit Atlanta yesterday and it seems anyone who has any connection with the band gets in on the party. Always a tense situation for me, lots of requests and scrambling to get in touch with touring rock musicians to ask for favors...trying to coordinate movements, synchronize watches, meet up with dozens of people, etc...and then try to enjoy the show. LOL...well the carnival has come and gone, made it through another year....and it was one of the best nights of the year for me, as it is every year. We got to the lot early and didn't have to wait long for friends to start arriving...my brother, Byrd, said it was hotter than 12 yards of hell. It was...then we got a little shower and it cooled everything off real nice for the remainder of the evening. Brother Rashaan had everything under control, he faced the onslaught and it got hairy...but he persevered. Kirk faces a guest list of 200 to 300 people for Atlanta, a logistical nightmare. He handled it and by the time the Brothers hit the stage, he was back in good spirits, the rock had not rolled back over him and down the hill. We get in the venue and are hanging out in the concession area and I see people I know everywhere. Can't swing a cat without hitting someone I am very happy to see. I love it!! ABB in ATL....As we visit with our fellow freaks, Oteil and Band are throwing it down, a might fine set....we try to make our way to our seats for Derek and it takes a long time, as we stop and greet one friend after the other...get seated and again, we see people we haven't seen in a while who come over and chat and hug and smile...Derek's set was out of sight, I was in the Derek zone for the first time in a couple of years, first time I had seen Derek at a shed where he got the full PA and the DTB delivered a very intense set. When the set is over I head back to find Jaimoe and run into Barry Richman, one of my dearest friends, so we go back together and we know he is going to get on stage with the ABB this night. Not sure who was more nervous, Barry or me, LOL...I ask Barry if he brought his guitar and he says yes...and I say, which one? It was the 58 Les Paul, so I go fetch it from his car...and I carry a 1958 Les Paul onto the Allman's stage... 😎 Atlanta always gets a great show, the band gets off playing in front of the home crowd and as most of their friends are also in attendance, they bear down even harder. On the Instant Live you can hear Gregg say it sure is nice to see y'all again, and someone, Warren?, not sure, says, 'for real'...they just love being in Atlanta and always burn it down... There is no one who was influenced more by Dickey and Duane than Barry Richman. He took what those two laid down and incorporated the emotion of their playing, not the notes, into his style, which is basically a fusion of jazz, jazz fusion, blues, rock, and country, and it has been his life long dream to play with the Allman's. He has played with each member individually, but never as a group. To see my friend and guitar hero up there on stage with the ABB was such a high for me, I will not come down for a long time, and Barry was humbled and grateful and joyous to be able to realize his dream after 30 something years in the business. He will be high off this for a long time....He only played one lead, on the encore, played a fine solo, too, and that is what I will always remember from the 06 Atlanta show.... It was great seeing the GB and forum gang gathering again, great seeing a dream concert with three of my favorite bands, and one little sit in by my pal, and great seeing the ABB inner family once again in one spot...hanging with Chank, skoots, and so many other dear friends...what a party!!!!! WooHoo!!! As always, thanks to Jaimoe and Kirk and the ABB for the hospitality!!! EAPFP