After 11 shows the Allman Brothers Band’s 2013 March Madness run at NYC’s Beacon Theatre came to a close on Sunday evening. This special St. Patrick’s Day show was added after the first 10 shows of the residency were announced and started an hour earlier than the other performances. The 2013 Beacon finale had plenty of guest spots, a surprise cover and plenty of jamming, though the set times were shorter than past ABB shows at the venue.
Over the course of the run, the Allmans treated fans to 77 different songs and dozens of special guests. In the first set, the band dusted off High Cost of Low Living off of 2003’s Hittin’ The Note for its initial 2013 performance. The Brothers mixed material from throughout their career dating all the way back to Black Hearted Woman from their 1969 debut all the way up to one of their newest originals – Haynes’ Dusk Till Dawn. Meters guitarist Leo Nocentelli emerged for the One Way Out first set closer which also featured percussionist Bobby Allende and a guest drummer spelling Jaimoe.
Gregg Allman came out for the second set sporting an acoustic as a stripped down version of the band performed Melissa. Warren Haynes Band vocalist Alecia Chakour and guitarist Oz Noy lent a hand on Haynes’ Rivers Gonna Rise which led into the biggest setlist surprise of the night. Four years prior to the day, at the Allmans’ St. Patrick’s Day show in 2009, the group debuted their version of Can’t Find My Way Home by Blind Faith which featured special guests Sheryl Crow and Brian Mitchell. The Allmans dusted off the Blind Faith cover again last night, this time with Conan Band/Levon Helm collaborator Jimmy Vivino singing and playing guitar on the classic tune.
Following Statesboro Blues, the ABB brought out the run’s final guest – trumpeter Maurice Brown – for Dreams which featured a scorching guitar solo from Derek Trucks. A well-jammed Jessica that saw impressive interplay between Trucks and Haynes brought the final set of the 2013 Beacon Run to a close. The Whipping Post encore gave the band one last chance to jam and the fans one more chance to enjoy the group’s improvisational prowess.
Set One: Stand Back, Leave My Blues at Home, High Cost of Low Living, Worried Down With The Blues, Black Hearted Woman, Dusk Till Dawn, One Way Out (w/ Leo Nocentelli, Bobby Allende and guest drummer)
Set Two: Melissa (Gregg on acoustic w/ Oteil, Butch and Warren), Rivers Gonna Rise (w/ Alecia Chakour and Oz Noy), Can’t Find My Way Home (w/ Jimmy Vivino), Statesboro Blues, Dreams (w/ Maurice Brown), Jessica
Encore: Whipping Post
Considering how last year’s run ended, with Gregg Allman missing the final show due to health issues, expectations were tempered this year. However, Gregg was in fine form throughout the 11-show residency and the Allmans did a fantastic job of mixing up their setlists and bringing in guests who added to the experience. The group did the Beacon run’s reputation justice in 2013.