Graphic created by Bill Underhill
The Allman Brothers Band at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado 6/12/99
and Sandstone Amphitheater in Bonner Springs, Kansas 6/16/99
Perhaps the hottest live band going has hit the road again with a new lineup,
new songs, and a new sponsor: NASCAR.
This reporter has been lucky enough to catch the first and fourth shows so far
and I can tell you this: while the weather may be cool as yet, the Brothers are
HOT!
This year The Allman Brothers Band opened at what has been called the finest
outdoor venue anywhere, The Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison,Colorado.
Anyone that has been to Red rocks has been awed. Anyone that has seen a concert
at Red Rocks has been amazed. Anyone that has seen the Allman Brothers at Red
Rocks has been transported. This year was no different. Gregg, Dickey,and
company have conspired once again to keep the ABB at the forefront of live
musical performance.
Playing old standards, introducing new material, and jamming at every
opportunity,the band opened their summer tour to a happy, and very expectant
crowd. The news had gone out: founding member Butch Trucks nephew Derek
was officially part of the Brothers lineup. With his twentieth birthday just a week
past, the tall, blonde young man had something to prove: that he was, is, indeed an
Allman Brother.
The opening song would tell the tale. Going back to their roots the ABB opened
with an old fave: Don't Want You No More, an instrumental with more than a little
snap, that is traditionally followed by the blues anthem, It's Not My Cross To
Bear. Tough numbers played to a veteran crowd. When it came to be time for
Derek's first official shot at an Allman Brothers guitar lead, he hit his Gibson SG
hot and hard. Although somewhat shorter than I expected, young Mister Trucks
proved to be competent,if somewhat stiff initially. After all, he had some major
reputations to live up to:Duane Allman (God rest ye), Jack Pearson, and Warren
Haynes had all been frontmen for this band, and Derek was likely aware of the size
of all of those shoes. However,by the end of the first set, some of his nervousness
seemed to have waned, by which time he had won the approval of the crowd.
Dickey Betts came on strong from the first. His rhythm work during
Southbound was hot and slick, while his lead during the newest Betts instrumental;
J. J's. Alley was outstanding. Dickeys willingness to work with Derek showed
well;conferencing with the young man before starting the next tune all through the
evening.
Gregg Allman smiled and pounded his Hammond B3 all night, providing some
snazzy leads and his usual soulful vocals.
Oteil Burbridge stayed hot and heavy, while the three-man drum team of
Butch Trucks, Jai Johanny Johanson, and Marc Quinones kept up the driving beats
that the Allman Brothers Band is known for.
After a 15-minute break, the band hit the stage once more and opened their
second set with two acoustic offerings: Seven Turns and Melissa. These were
followed by an intense electrical set featuring an extended version of Blue Sky.
Two high points worth mentioning: the drum solo, and a nice pick-up by the
newest member of the band.
The drums came out during the instrumental Les B'rers In A Minor. After
having seen this band live nine times, that particular drum solo was one of the
finest I have ever witnessed, the communication between the three men was truly
amazing.
Now, Derek's cover. During the latter part of the encore, Jessica, Dickey
seemed to have broken a guitar string during his solo, and had to hand the guitar
off in exchange for another. Yet the sweet strains of the melody never stopped
because Mr. Trucks had stepped in and picked up the lead and remaining perfectly
in time while doing so. Very impressive. Altogether a fine effort by one America's
premier rock bands.
I left that show tired, happy, and wishing I was already at the next one.
With good reason I was soon to find. A cool evening at The Sandstone
Amphitheater in Bonner Springs, Kansas, just outside of KC, brought The Allman
Brothers Band to a packed venue of veteran Brothers fans and new enthusiasts.
From the first, Derek Trucks showed the crowd what being a lead guitarist for
this band really means. His improv style was gritty and free, lending a hard edge
to Dickey Betts instrumentals, and impressing an already enthusiastic crowd.
This show was the fourth in the band's schedule for the summer and having the
first to compare to I noticed something two minutes into the first set: the band
had knitted. Derek has definitely found his niche, and the rest of the band has
also warmed up to this tour. This fourth show was extremely powerful. Both
guitarists played expansively. Gregg Allman's Hammond sounded sassy, particularly
during the classic In Memory of Elizabeth Reed. In fact, that number was exemplary
of all the band members: a hot extended drum solo from Butch Trucks, Jaimoe,and
Marc Quinones was followed by Oteil Burbridge and his jazz bass guitar/scat singing
solo, which was then followed by a short sweet by-play of drums and Derek and
Oteil playing off each other. Much smoke during that number. I found this band
very ready to take on their tour. I have to say that no matter how much energy I
expend at an Allman Brothers outing, I always leave wanting more,more, more.
Thank God we've got our tickets for Dallas already.
Cliff Lake
6/19/99
Copyright © Clifford Lake 1999
The Allman Brothers Band 
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