A show that started out as an intimate guitar duet between talented blues rockers ended up as delightful friends and family affair in Venice, California. Duane Betts and Johnny Stachela have been playing together for some time and their gig on July 21, 2022 at The Venice West solidified their successful collaboration. Fans in the small venue were treated to surprise guests, extraordinary acoustic guitar forays, and songs that spanned the blues rock catalog.
Betts and Stachela are members of the Allman Betts Band that is currently on hiatus. That project formed with Devon Allman a few years ago and added a powerhouse blues and southern rock vibe to the scene. Both Betts and Stachela have a history with the Allman Brothers Band (Duane is Dickey Betts’ son and he was also in Dickey’s Great Southern solo project while Johnny often sits in with Allman Brothers offshoot projects). The Venice West gig was billed as a duet, but the boys had some secret plans for the loyal audience.
Betts and Stachela opened as an acoustic duet playing “Ride It Out” from Betts’ 2018 EP and “Rivers Run” from The Allman Betts Band. Betts sang lead and sounded hauntingly like his father. The duo stayed acoustic all night and that source material along with deeper tracks was revisited throughout the set.
The first surprise guests were longtime friend and fellow guitarist Marc Ford (formerly with The Black Crowes and Magpie Salute) and Alex Orbison (Roy’s youngest son) on a small drum kit. Ford formed an acoustic guitar trio as the new quartet played “Shake For Me,” a rapid blues tune that featured skillful solos by Ford, Betts, and then Stachela on slide. Ford took over lead vocals for the next two songs, a slow country-infused ballad and a faster blues rocker. Each song featured an excellent interplay between the musicians as they took turns performing solos.
Alex’s wife Erika Orbison joined for backing vocals. Unfortunately, her voice could hardly be heard in the mix and she was relegated to attractive window dressing. Betts introduced and sang the Billy Joe Shaver country tune “Live Forever.” At this point, Marc Ford departed for the night. Erika Orbison stayed for several songs including more of Betts’ solo material and Allman Betts Band songs. Another surprise guest, Paul Ill (bassist with Pink and Hole among others) came out for “Colors Fade,” a brand new song that will appear on a new Betts Stachela album that is being mixed for release later this year. The song is a slow, blues rocker with fantastic finger-picking sequences by both Betts and Stachela plus a tantalizing slide solo by Stachela.
After the new song, Ill departed and was replaced by bassist Damon Webb for a few songs. Webb and Alex Orbison drove the rhythm as Betts and Stachela took turns showing off their fantastic guitar chops. Orbi sang lead on “Out of My Mind” which featured more intricate, alternating guitar solos. Webb departed and Ill returned for the last few songs. Betts opened the next song with a lengthy tease of Grateful Dead’s “Franklin’s Tower” but it smoothly transitioned into “Blue Sky,” his father’s signature song. Betts masterfully sang the lyrics and traded beautiful solos with Stachela. The audience sang loudly along with Betts to close out the song.
Erika Orbison left the stage before the band revisited The Dead catalog with an appropriately acoustic and striking version of “Althea.” They followed with another Dickey Betts and Allman Brothers classic “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.” The instrumental masterpiece was a final chance for the guitar duet to stretch out.
The set ended with “Taking Time,” another of Betts’ solo songs from his EP. The southern rock, honky tonk vibe was strong as Betts sang and played beautifully. Stachela played more exceptional slide guitar riffs and traded another solo with Betts as the unexpectedly expanded band wrapped up the night with an exclamation point.
Live photos courtesy of Andy J. Gordon ©2022
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