Guest Book

EddieP - great review! Very happy to read comments about the sound. I don't know who handles the boards for the band but he/they are doing a great job. WoodyCA - I know what you mean. Gregg sings " I make my living pouring out my pain" and somehow speaks for those of us who do not have the words. Alan Paul - THANK YOU! And keep writing. HTN overproduced? It's a 7-piece band! There is going to be a lot of sound. Dig? Derek emotionless? Are we listening to the same guy? High Cost of Low Living? Desdemona? Rastaman Chant? So Close, So Far Away?... Bobcat - New Port Richey is indeed sparkling! It's the "downtown" part that is funny because it is the size of a postage stamp. EAPFP!

Thank you for the review. Sounds like a wonderful night of music, I wish I could have been there. This ABB line up is indeed stunning. Can't wait till the shows start circulating. I always considered Layla just as much of a Duane tune as an EC tune and I guess a lot of people agree.

Well now that I've sort of recovered from last night and I think I can put a sentence together...some thoughts on last night: First off the pre-show party at the Beacon Hotel was a blast as always. Great to see people from around the country come to hear The Brothers and celebrate together. Terri, Jody, Gerald, Randall, Johnny (JFC), Jacquie, Stormy, Brofan, Karen and Lynn, Stacie, Jeanne, were just some of the fine folks at the suite, thanks guys, what a great bunch! Now on to Friday nights show. Since I happen live to live only 45 minutes from Beacon, I've had the good fortune of attending every Beacon Theatre run since 1991. The awesome shows with Warren, Woody and Dickey in '95 and '96, The great acoustic shows with Jack Pearson (3/20/98 w/ 2 Liz Reeds) and the cool guest appearances w/ Chuck Leavell in 2000. They have all been special in their own way and I have many amazing memories each and every one of them. That being said, the show last night was a train out of control! I was sitting 15th row in the orchestra on Greggs side and from the opening notes of "Done Somebody Wrong" it was clear this would be a powerful performance from the worlds best live band. This is not Warrens band or Greggs band or Dereks band...this is clearly The Allman Brothers Band and they are on a mission. The first set was 11 songs long and not a letdown in the bunch. I believe this band is playing at an all-time level because of many reasons. First, every song is played to the fullest with nothing left on the table. Tension and release at every turn, climbing the mountain, riding the wave... taking us too the limit every time. This band are true sculptors of sound. The sound / mix was perfect - Every instrument was loud, clear and present - a perfect balance of the whole band. The volume seems to have come up a little this year but very clear, never muddy at all. Another thing is apparent and that is the unpredictability of the song selection. I believe they have now played 51 different songs during the run, an unprecedented number of tunes for this band. You simply don't know what coming next. "Ain't Wastin Time" was gorgeous, Dereks solo almost blew the top of my head off! "44 Blues" was next and it is meant for this band to play it. Warren can sing with a true bluesmans conviction as well as anyone and this one is right up his alley. Desdemona was absolutely out of this world, I love the song and last nights performance was stunning. Saying Gregg has never sounded better is becoming an everyday occurence on the guest book and might be redundant at this point...but you know what? Gregg has NEVER sounded better! The emotion in his voice was completely heartfelt. Clean living has really ageed with him. He is lean, healthy and was very animated in exchanging smiles with the other band members. The guys were having fun up there. Oh yeah, Hot 'Lanta another crowd favorite was next up and it was also played at an all-time level, Oteil way-up in the mix holding the bottom end beautifully. By the way Oteil played his brand new Bass, a six-string made by Fodera, on many of the songs last night. It sounded incredible! Somehat similar to his Modulus but cut through much better - you can actually hear the wood in this new instrument. Its almost Blonde in color and sounds just gorgeous. He played it on all the Jazzy numbers last night. Derek played his red Gibson SG the entire show and Warren went back and forth from his Les Paul to the big red ES-335 for a more "pointed" tone. I thought the first set would end after a blistering "Leave My Blues at Home" one of my favorite songs and it literally could not have been played any better. But no they weren't done yet, not even close! The first set would actually end 2 songs later with a 12-15 minute "Same Thing" w/ a 3 piece horn section from Greggs solo band. A KILLER first set. I mean KILLER! I was spent and the set break was welcome for a trip to the bar. The second set picked up right where the first set left off - no acoustic stuff tonight folks just more Down and dirty electric Blues, Jazz, funk and of course a spacey and powerful Derek "Dreams" thrown in for good measure. "Don't Want/Cross To Bear" opened the set and took us back to the bands roots. "Rockin Horse" really shook the walls, Damn. "No One to Run With" scorched my brain - this one had great shots of Allen Woody and Duane on the screen behind the band and the crowd went nuts. The horns made a reappearance in the second set for none other than Van Morrisons "Into The Mystic" with Warren strumming the 335 and singing it like no one but he can. Like I said this band is throwing it all at us these days!Southbound with horns and everyone taking turns soloing was next - awesome. A long Jazzed out "Illness" with as good as a drum segment as you'll ever see closed the second set. Oteils new Bass again makes an appearance during the solo/scat part of the song. This song is being played so tightly, its ridiculous! Its now up there with the other great instrumentals the band has done through the years. It really has a direction now and they know exactly what they are doing with this technical tour de force. Well as if this wasn't enough - It's now encore time and I can clearly see Warren, Derek and Oteil huddled in the middle of the stage so you knew something special was coming. You knew they weren't gonna do an old reliable - no not tonight! Gregg moves over to the piano and looks like he's means business, shuffling through the sheet music, And then... the very familiar opening theme to "Layla" once again. In case it wasn't clear the first time they played it, Derek handled all of the slide work complete with the Duane quotes and phrasing from the original but putting his stamp on it as well. It rocked, it soared, it gave me goose bumps. Yes Gregg nailed the piano part - I mean note for note! The discs should bear this out when they start to circulate - Gregg really went for it! And of course lets not forget Warren sang the hell out of it. Duane and Mr Dowd were smiling down from the heavens once again. Slowhand, I think we'll keep this one for a while. This is now an Allman Brothers song! Well there you have it, another grand night of music from the Worlds Best Live Band! Peace Friends Eddie .

hello tattoneil and all- hey tattoneil- what part of the "queen city" do you live in? i lived in cincinnati way back in the late sixties/early 70's. as a "young hippie musician" i played with the "LemonPipers" and "the SacredMushroom" (larry goshorn's band before he became famous with Pure Prairie League), jesse colin young (when he was with the Youngbloods out of Antioch College) "the James Gang,( joe walsh(the Eagles) and REO Speedwagon, Styx and other infamous midwest bands before moving down the rock and roll road and moving up to Santana, the Doobie Brothers and Little Feat. the old Ludlow Garage was a great place for rock and roll in the queen city!!!! my point was not that Duane would roll over because of playing a cover tune-God knows that Duane played with anybody on THEIR songs (and God right now is taking guitar lessons from Duane) but that Duane would roll over because a "cover tune" from the RS's was on an ABB cd. we wait nine years for a new cd from the ABB and "have to" listen to a cover tune. what, gregg didn't have another song for the album? i humbly propose that gregg has tens of songs that could have been on the cd instead of a cover tune. i humbly propose that warren wanted "heart of stone" on the cd. oh well, i can't wait for the next solo gregg cd to hear more great songs from gregg. if i wanted to hear more warren haynes i would buy Gov't Mule. warren haynes is a great guitar player. derek trucks is a great guitar player. but warren and derek ain't the ABB. warren = Gov't Mule and derek = the DTB. as the Greatful Dead is not the same band without Jerry, the ABB is not the same band without Dickey. at least the Dead renamed their new band. please don't get me wrong- the " new ABB" is still one of the best bands around- they just ain't the ABB anymore- they are "Gov't Brothers Band's Mule". Eat A Peach and Pray For Peace Long Live Duane Long Live Berry Remember Dickey

oh poopy pants:bounce:

Tell you this: If HTN was "overhanded and overproduced" by Warren as one guy said he sure did a helluva job beacause this album cooks!! I am so happy for the guys that they were able to pull it off. Can't wait to see them again.

Greg Allman Tribute Tonight! just a reminder, I 'm doing a pre Beacon warm up at 6pm at IGGY'S KELTIC LOUNGE 132 Ludlow (Between Stanton and Rivington) NYC Walker(solo) no Brotherhood of the Grape Absolutely Free, cheap Beer, For NY All musicians welcome! hope some can stop by!!!!! Peace and chicken grease...walker

What a privilege it has been to see this Beacon run and really enjoy a NEW CD from the band. If Gregg Allman is on stage, playing his B3 and singing, then its heaven for me. The fact that Butch and Jamioe are still the driving beat of the band makes it even more special. Do I wish Dickey was here? Of course - dumb question for any ABB fan I think. I think of him during this run and hope that he is well - miss you DB. I do know that I am grateful for this band and the fact that they are still so powerful. There will be a day when we won't be so privileged and long for a run like this. Enjoy your nights, take it all in, remember Dickey. Remember Duane and Berry. Remember Tom Dowd too. And enjoy. Peace - Dyerwulf

to all, but especially nypeachead, bird72, wahwah- first of all- thanks for your responses. "nypeachead"- i am not upset with anyone/anything on this board- i have been "lurking" here on this board ever since it started. i "love" this board and I LOVE THE ABB!!! i have just found/observed that this board is centered around certain posters. bird72- i support you and your campaign concerning Hepatitis C (as a healthcare professional), wahwah- again, repeating, i am very familiar with warren haynes. i know how many friends warren has. i have been involved with warren's "christmas jams" since they started at "45 Cherry Street" so many many years ago. and you are right, warren's fingerprints are all over the latest CD from the ABB- in my point of view he has "too many fingerprints all over the CD". the ABB has "layers" all over their sound, they don't need "layers" on the CD production. Gov't Mule is a great band, but they are "overhanded and overproduced". listen to "deep end" and all you hear is a wall of sound. listen to "let it roll" by little feat (caveat emptor, i played on this CD) and what you hear are all the instruments. nuff said.

I think the original lineup is untouchable from anyone, ever. Comparing to that just seems silly when you lsten to the absolute magic on the old recordings. That old stuff is to me in a league that will never, ever be touched again. Is the new ABB good? They are very good. Dickey Betts is very good. Would some of the magic come back with him in the band now? I personally doubt it, not due to his musical ability, but due to the chemistry of that old magic is gone and it is indeed 30 years later. That is life and evolution. Humpty Dumpty can't be glued back togethor, unfortunately, due to fate and change. It is depressing to see the Beacon run bring out the naysayers each year, but it shows the depth of emotion the original line up brings out in us. I sense bitterness that is useless maybe???