On December 5, 2024, the Orpheum Theater in Boston welcomed Allman Betts Family Revival. The show was a celebration of the Allman Brothers music hosted by Devon Allman and Duane Betts, the sons of Gregg Allman and Dickie Betts. Devon and Duane brought together some of the premier names in country, blues, Americana and Rock music. The artists were Luther Dickinson, Jimmy Hall, Anders Osborne, Lary McCray, Lindsay Lou, Jackie Green, Robert Randolph, Lamar Williams, Alex Orbson, Sierra Hull, Cody Dickenson, Johnny Stachela, and Sierra Green.
The sold out show was exceptional. The venue was spectacular. The acoustics are amazing, and the crowd was very enthusiastic; and as I walked around with my camera, I kept looking for the ghost of Gregg or Duane Allman but sadly no ghost appeared. The majority of people present at the Orpheum have known very well the history behind the event. It was held as a celebration of the Allman Brothers Band’s exceptional legacy. An American rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969, the Allman Brothers Band founding members were brothers Duane Allman (slide guitar, lead guitar), and Gregg Allman (vocals, keyboards), as well as Dickey Betts (lead guitar, vocals, Berry Oakley (bass), Butch Trucks (drums), and Jai Johanny “Jaimoe” Johanson (drums). They incorporated elements of blues, jazz and country music and their live shows featured jam band-style improvisation and instrumentals.
The band’s first two studio albums, The Allman Brothers Band (1969), and Idlewild South (1970), both released by Capricorn Records, were a success. Their 1971 live album At Fillmore East was a critical and commercial breakthrough. It features extended versions of their songs “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” and “Whipping Post,” showcasing the groups’ jamming style.
On October 29, 1971, the group leader Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident and the band dedicated Eat a Peach" (1972) to his memory, a dual studio/live album that featured Gregg Allman’s “Melissa” and Dickey Betts’s “Blue Sky.” On November 11, 1972, Berry Oakley, the bassist, was killed in another motorcycle accident, one year and 13 days following Gregg Allman’s Death. The group recruited keyboardist Chuck Leavell and bassist Lamar Williams for 1973’s Brothers and Sisters. The album included Bett’s hit single “Ramblin Man” and instrumental “Jessica”, both of which became classic rock radio staples and placed the group at the forefront of 1970s rock music. The group was dissolved in 1976, reforming briefly in 1979 and breaking up again in 1982. The band was reformed once more in 1989 but found stability only in 2000 with bassist Oteil Burbridge and guitarist Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks.
In the Orpheum Theater in Boston the Allman Brothers Band played on Dec 3, 2011.
Three years later, on October 28, 2014 at the Beacon Theater in New York City, the Allman Brothers Band played their final concert. It was a three-set show that included nearly 30 songs from their first albums, as well as three covers. The concert ended early in the morning of October 29, which was the 43rd anniversary of Duane Allman’s death. The concert was recorded and released as a live album titled Final Concert 10-28-14. The album was released digitally on October 25, 2024, and as a three-disc CD on November 22, 2024. The CD package included a 16-page booklet with exclusive photos and liner notes.
Allman Betts Family Revival is an annual live event to celebrate the timeless catalog of the legendary Allman Brothers Band, the best Southern Rock bands ever and known for their 3-to-4-hour Jam Concerts. Based loosely on vibes that recall “The Last Waltz,” as usual this yearly celebration brings together the finest names in Blues, Americana, Country and Rock. For me, personally, with a long career as a photographer and unconditional fans of live music, this was more than a concert; it was a reminder of the music that my generation “Baby Boomer” grew up on. This group of all-star musician’s collective brought the music to another level. They played magnificently. The songs touched our souls, our hearts and kept rolling around in our heads and we wanted more, much more.
Allman Betts Family Revival Setlist
1. Little Martha (The Allman Brothers Band song)
2. Don’t Want You No More (The Allman Brothers Band cover)
3. It’s Not My Cross to Bear (The Allman Brothers Band cover)
4. Statesboro Blues (Blind Willie McTell cover) with Jimmy Hall
5. Trouble No More (Muddy Waters cover) with Lamar Williams Jr) and Robert Randolph
6. Blue Sky (The Allman Brothers Band cover)
7. Please Call Home (The Allman Brothers Band cover) with Robert Randolph and Sierra Green
8. Melissa (The Allman Brothers Band cover) with Jackie Greene
9. Southbound (The Allman Brothers Band cover) with Lindsay Lou and G Love
10. Dreams (The Allman Brothers Band cover) with Robert Randolph and Luther Dickinson
11. Call It Stormy Monday but Tuesday Is Just as Bad (T-Bone Walker cover) with Larry McCray
12. One Way Out ( Sonny Boy Williamson cover) with Sierra Hull and G Love
13. Nobody Knows (The Allman Brothers Band cover)
14. Soulshine (The Allman Brothers Band cover) with Larry McCray and Sierra Hull
15. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (The Allman Brothers Band cover) with Luther Dickinson
16. Ramblin’ Man (The Allman Brothers Band cover) with Anders Osborne and Lyndsay Lou
17. Whipping Post (The Allman Brothers Band cover) with Jimmy Hall and Luther Dickinson
Encore
18. End of the Line (The Allman Brothers Band cover) with Sierra Hull (acoustic)
19. Midnight Rider (The Allman Brothers Band cover) with all guests except Robert Randolph
20. Little Martha (The Allman Brothers Band song)
