Allman Brothers at the Beacon - 3/30/2007

I just got back to DC after witnessing my first Allman Brothers concert at the historic Beacon Theater. I've seen them many times before, but never indoors like this. I will post a full review shortly, but I wanted to jot down some quick thoughts and get the setlist posted. The show was excellent despite the fact that Warren Haynes was noticeably restrained in his singing and guitar playing. Rumors were swirling inside the venue that he wasn't feeling well, and the message boards back that up today:

Skydog, Yes Warren was very, very sick. He wasn't even supposed to play last night but showed up at like 8:10. They designed the setlist for the whole show under the impression he wasn't going to be there. They even had a Puke bucket on the side of the stage for him. Amazing he made it through the whole show, i'm sure the energy from the crowd is what kept him going. Hope it's just a 24 hour thing and he's feeling better by the time tonight's show rolls around.

Whereas Warren's usual soulful vocals and emotional guitar leads were missed in the way that we've come to expect from a susperstar such as him, this provided an opportunity for Derek and the other guest musicians to step up and fill the void. Don't get me wrong, Warren was definitely in the mix and sounding great, but I did feel that he was not as prominent as usual. Sit-ins from guitarists Eric Krasno of Soulive, Greg's son Devon, and Jr. Mack ensured that there was never a lack of six-string firepower on each song. And filling in for Warren's usual vocal offerings was wife of Derek, Susan Tedeschi. She has one of the most beautiful, soulful voices I've ever heard. Listen to her sing anything, and you'll believe that she is in a select class of top female vocal talent. This was most evident on their performance of The Weight, which was clearly an attempt to recreate the Aretha Franklin/Duane Allman version of the song rather than the original version made famous by The Band. Derek, as he normally does, nailed the Duane leads.

Listen to the excellent Aretha/Duane version of the The Weight by visiting the Hype Machine and searching "Aretha, The Weight". Click 'Listen' and enjoy!

3/30/2007 Beacon Theater, NYC

Set 1:
Don't Keep Me Wondering
Trouble No More
Ain't Wastin' Time No More
Hot 'Lanta
Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever1
Lost Lover Blues1
Statesboro Blues
Les Bres In A Minor4

Set 2:
Midnight Rider2
You Don't Love Me2
Key To The Highway2,3 (no Warren)
Dreams5
The Weight1,4,5 (Oteil is on Butch's kit)
Mountain Jam4
Lovelight4 (Oteil on Vocals, no Gregg Allman, Butch Trucks, or Warren Haynes) > Drums (Oteil on Butch's kit)
Mountain Jam (reprise)

Encore: Anyday1 (Jaimoe /drum Tech in for Jaimoe)

1w/ Susan Tedeschi - Vocals/Guitar
2w/ Devon Allman - Guitar
3w/ Junior Mack - Guitar
4w/ Eric Krasno - Guitar
5w/ Mike Merritt - Bass

Photo Courtesy of Charles Ton, Beacon Theater, 3.30.2007