On December 8th, 1947, Gregg Allman, the founding member of the famous Allman Brothers Band, was born in Music City (Nashville, Tennessee). 76 years later to the day, Gregg’s son, Devon Allman, did his father proud by celebrating his musical legacy with the Allman Betts Family Revival in Charleston, South Carolina.
At a venue fit for 1,800 patrons, the Gaillard Center was packed Friday night with fans of all ages. Did they gather to reminisce about the good ol’ days? Perhaps they reckoned Duane Betts played guitar like his father, Dickey Betts- another founding member of the Allman Brothers Band. The talent and the mustache are uncanny to his famous old man, by the way! Or maybe they wanted to check out rockstar musician and female powerhouse, Tal Wilkenfeld. What I don’t think fans anticipated was 3 hours of a jam band covering southern rock, country rock, jazz rock, blues, Americana, and folk music divided between two sets and followed by an encore that left the crowd begging for more.
The all-star lineup included Jimmy Hall, who kicked off the night with a harmonica solo followed by his unmatched vocal range. Duane Betts, Devon Allman, Larry McCray, Johnny Stachela, Ghalia Volt, Ally Venable, Luther Dickinson, Anders Osborne, Mattie Schell, and JD Simo each shredded on guitar and belted harmonious vocals for the entirety of the show. It felt like Tal Wilkenfeld and Justin Dean Corgan both stopped time while playing bass. Multi Instrumentalist and singer Jackie Greene reminded us all of his soulful roots playing guitar. R. Scott Bryan, John Lum, Alex Orbison, Cody Dickinson and David Gomez collectively wowed us on percussion instruments. Finally, organ, keyboard, and piano superstar, John Ginty, stole the show with his unaccompanied performance.
The palm tree-lined street, outside of the historic theater of downtown Charleston made for an electrifying Friday night. While gathered in the mezzanine, the plethora of uniquely designed Allman Brothers Band t-shirts, worn by excited fans, sent my senses into overdrive! Watching men, with long white ponytails, purchase tye-dye merch in the lobby was like going back in time to those glorious hippie days. Why did society deem the nonconformists uncool? I, for one, am glad Birkenstocks are back! Baby Boomers might have been the token crowd at this show with a few Generation X sprinkled in, but to see folks of my grandparents' age absolutely rocking out for 3 continuous hours was a serendipitous event! Charleston came to have a good time and I heard the band say more than once, “You guys brought it!”
When acknowledging his ‘Pops’ birthday, Devon blew out candles on a birthday cake brought onstage and the guys ended the night with my all-time favorite, 1970’s “Midnight Rider” by the Allman Brothers Band. The last words by fans in the front row were, “Legendary talent!” and “Legacy carriers!” and I don't know that a musician can ask to be immortalized any more definitively than that. The Allman Brothers are still so very celebrated and the show goes on...
Remaining Shows:
DEC 12, 2023 Sarasota, FL — Van Wezel PAC
DEC 13, 2023 Jacksonville, FL — Florida Theatre
DEC 14, 2023 Spartanburg, SC — Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium DEC 15, 2023 Nashville, TN — Ryman Auditorium
DEC 16, 2023 Mobile, AL — Mobile Civic Theater
DEC 17, 2023 Austin, TX — ACL Live at The Moody Theater
Set List (via setlist.fm):
● Little Martha
(The Allman Brothers Band song)
● Sailin' 'Cross the Devil's Sea (The Allman Brothers Band cover)
● Statesboro Blues (Blind Willie McTell cover)
● No One to Run With
(The Allman Brothers Band cover)
● I'm No Angel
(The Gregg Allman Band cover)
● Melissa
(The Allman Brothers Band cover)
● Ain't Wastin' Time No More (The Allman Brothers Band cover)
● Blue Sky
(The Allman Brothers Band cover)
● Soulshine
(The Allman Brothers Band cover)
● Dreams
(The Allman Brothers Band cover)
● Seven Turns
(The Allman Brothers Band cover)
● Pony Boy
(The Allman Brothers Band cover)
● Come and Go Blues (The Allman Brothers Band cover)
● Ramblin' Man
(The Allman Brothers Band cover)
● One Way Out
(Sonny Boy Williamson cover)
● Whipping Post
(The Allman Brothers Band cover)Encore:
● Magnolia Road
● Midnight Rider
(The Allman Brothers Band cover)
