The Allman Brothers Band at the Greek 05/18/09
Allman Brothers @ The Greek 05/18/09
Not much has changed about the Allman Brothers since the old days except, they’ve gotten better. One of the tightest, most succinct jam-bands still alive, it was only fitting my mom would be my plus one on their 40th Anniversary Tour.
It’s clear that the Allmans are dedicated to a very real, very rich, very down home deep echoing-canyon style of backyard jam progressions. The boys had three percussionists – two drummers, one Latin percussion player wielding a full rig of congas, timbalis, bongos, chimes, ringers and tingers – added the perfect touch of trebling percussion between the two equivalently rigged drummers. And even though Derek Trucks still looks to be the age of twelve, he stands poised with calm caution and smooth precision, ripping and wailing hide off his hands. Covers of Bob Dylan’s “Highway 61″ and “It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry” with surprise guests Tom Petty (and his Heartbreakers) were otherworldly, save Petty’s signature nasal-rich Bob Dylan imitations. The Allman Brothers were all surprises – 15 minute drawn out jams aside. I had heard a rumor Petty would be at the show, but the spotting of Bruce Willis taking the stage with harmonica in hand made my music heart tremble with fear, until he started commanding the thing, with his whole body, during “Morning Dew.” I immediately knew that could easily have been the sexiest thing I’ve seen. The boy’s got talent.
The Doobie brother’s opening up for the Allman’s was nary the shocker, for reasons too obvious to note, but a great decision for the song “Black Water.” No, these are not forgotten oldies. With 2 drummers, and 7 members total, the Doobie’s know how to light up a crowd – very literally. I look over at the cute mom to my side, who is persistently sneezing, who looks up at me and says, “All those doobies are making me sneeze!” You think only twenty-somethings know how to party?
