This group definitely needs their own thread here. For anyone who doesn't know the group consists of - Devon Allman - son of Gregg Allman, Duane Betts - son of Dickie Betts, Berry Oakley Jr. (son of original Allman Brothers Band bassist Berry Oakley), Johnny Stachela (slide guitar) and percussionists R. Scott Bryan (Sheryl Crow) and John Lum. I saw this group last night in Little Rock and they put on a great show. The set list consisted of original songs from their forthcoming album, several cover songs from Tom Petty, Prince (!) and of course The Allman Brothers Band. As you might imagine several of the songs contained extended guitar solos from Devon, Duane, and John. In reviewing the setlists from previous shows, it varies a bit each night. The Little Rock show included In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (with a tease of Les Brer in A Minor) and Dreams. Here is a summary of songs played on the tour - The Allman Betts Band Tour Statistics | setlist.fm As mentioned, they have recorded an album over 5 days at the legendary Muscle Shoals Studios. The album is due to be released on June 28th. Here is an interview where Devon and Duane discuss the recording process (all analog) and how the band formed. - And here is a list of upcoming dates on their worldwide tour - April 29 — Kansas City, MO @ Knuckleheads April 30 — Iowa City, IA @ Englert Theater May 1 — Bloomington, IL @ Castle Theater May 3 — Memphis, TN @ Graceland Soundstage May 4 — St. Louis, MO @ Atomic Cowboy Pavilion May 6 — Oklahoma City, OK @ Tower Theater May 8 — Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theater May 9 — Salina, KS @ Stiefel Theatre May 10 — Dallas, TX @ Kessler Theater May 11 — Houston, TX @ Heights Theater May 12 — Austin, TX @ Mohawk May 14 — Lubbock, TX @ Cactus Theater May 15 — Albuquerque, NM @ National Hispanic Cultural Center May 16 — Tucson, AZ @ Fox Theater May 17 — Flagstaff, AZ @ Orpheum Theater May 19 — Chandler, AZ @ Chandler Center for the Performing Arts June 8 — Garberville, CA @ Redwood Run June 15 — Utica, NY @ Stanley Theatre June 18 — Kent, OH @ The Kent Stage June 22 — Kokomo, IN @ Foster Park June 23 — McMinnville, TN @ Cumberland Caverns June 25 — Bristol, TN @ Paramount Theater June 26 — Rocky Mount, VA @ Harvester PAC June 27 — State College, PA @ State Theatre July 8 — Ocean City, NJ @ NJ Music Pier July 23 — Cologne, GER @ Kantine July 24 — Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso August 11 — Fargo, ND The Hall @ Fargo Brewing Co. August 29 — St. Charles, IL @ The Arcada Theater August 30 — Fort Wayne, IN @ Sweetwater Performance Pavilion September 1 — Lakeville, PA @ Cove Ent Resorts September 13 — Colo Springs, CO @ Pikes Peak Center November 1 — Auburn, AL @ Jay and Susie Gouge Performing Arts Center Festival Dates: May 18 — Dana Point, CA @ Doheny Blues Festival June 13-16 — Bethel, NY @ Mountain Jam June 29 — New Marchtinsville, WV @ Back Home Festival July 20 — Maidstone, UK @ Ramblin’ Man Fair July 25-28 — Scranton, PA @ Peach Music Festival July 25-28 — Breitenbach, GER @ Burg Herzberg festival August 10 — Duluth, MN @ Bayfront Blues Festival August 22-25 — Arrington, VA @ LOCKN’ Festival September 5-8 — Las Vegas, NV @ Big Blues Bender Final word - if you get the chance, go see them. If you are an Allman Brothers Band fan, you won't be disappointed.
So this is the Allman Brothers, except not as good? I've got all of the originals but I wish them well.
Well that is what they are trying to avoid and not just be an Allman Brothers cover band. But if anyone is going to be an ABB cover band, it seems that these guys would be the best to do it. Their original songs are pretty good. It will be interesting to see where they go on the new album and where they go from there.
I'll be interested, too. I took a glance at the setlist and there were so many covers that maybe I'm selling their originals (which I haven't heard) short.
I briefly considered trying to go see them. But their ticket prices are like those of a band with success or (imagine that) an album released. At any rate, when they release an album, I’ll give it a listen.
On this tour they are playing smaller venues and theaters. I thought the ticket prices were decent - $45 - and the theater here was excellent. Small theater, not a bad seat in the house, and great sound.
Proves my theory that musical talent is genetically inherited, which also explains why I suck at guitar even after 50 years. My parents and grandparents never even listened to music.
A lot of truth in the inheritance of musical ability. But I do wonder if Devon Allman can play keyboards.
Just bought tickets for their gig in Berlin (4 German tour dates were recently announced and are not in the above list of tour dates). Really looking forward to it. Saw the Devon Allman Project Ft. Duane Betts last year and they were great. In june they release their debut album and Berry Oakley Jr. is in the band as well. And btw, Devon doesn't play keyboards and although he plays guitar better than his dad they have 2 other guitarists that are (arguably) better than him. That being said Devon is a good front man who leaves plenty of room for the other band members to shine. And although he is always compared to his dad i don't think he's a copycat. Has a great voice of his own.
All very true. The band has a hell of a lineup as far as guitar playing skills. Devon does have his own voice and is not trying to sound like his dad. Only fairly recently did Devon and Duane begin playing Allman Brothers songs in concert. In interviews they state they only do it as a tribute to their fathers.
I'd be interested in seeing this if their original stuff is good, but I wouldn't drop money on it until I can hear their record and find out. I love the Allmans, and I want their legacy to stay alive, but I'm not really of the belief that bloodline necessarily would make them a better ABB tribute band than any of the other Allman tributes out there. But if their original stuff is good, I'll be interested.
No. All of these guys have played for many years in other bands. Granted none of them have made it "really big" they have had some success and played in more than just "bar bands".
Not the world's biggest Allman Brothers Band fan, though I like them well enough. However, I saw these live last year (as the Devon Allman Band Featuring Duane Betts), and they were excellent. Full of enthusiasm and not a little skill, they had a pretty decent sized crowd eating out of their hands. If you're in two minds about seeing them, take the plunge!
Will do. The opener was JD Simo, a power trio and they kicked ass. Allman Betts has brought a big production and there are more than 700 people here.
JD opened the show here in Little Rock also. I am going to guess he listened to a lot of Ted Nugent. Several of his guitar licks and guitar sound reminded me very much of Nugent's Stranglehold days. Glad to hear you decided to go to the show. I doubt you will be disappointed.
Sorry to say, I am. Apart from their genes, they are a just OK Allman Brothers tribute band, and I've heard better ones. Obviously, your milage may vary. The musician who most impressed me this evening was JD Simo's bass player. She had the goods.
Sorry to hear that....I've seen them a couple of times and really enjoyed the shows...excited to see what they can become as they are a relatively new group. There is a lot of talent there and they are striving not to be a tribute band, but a band who pays tribute to their roots and play their own stuff. I've enjoyed both Devon and Duane solo stuff as well as the new tunes they have written together for the upcoming album... but would also be disappointed if they didn't sprinkle in a few ABB tunes.
Really looking forward to their new album , releSed this month! Here’s a song from it on Spotify. Shinin'