The Allman Family Revival Kicks Up Soaring Solos & Bluesy Nuggets at Los Angeles’ Wiltern Theatre (SHOW REVIEW/PHOTOS)

Are children selling out when they play their fathers’ music? Is it OK to praise a cover band? These are questions that came to mind when the Allman Family Revival tour hits your town. That tour, now in its sixth iteration, is led by Devon Allman and rocked The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles on December 16, 2022. 

Devon Allman and Duane Betts are the children in question. Their legendary fathers are Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts, founders of The Allman Brothers Band. The two second-generation musicians brought along an all-star lineup of talent to honor the music of their fathers. No one in the audience questioned the validity of the premise and the musicians on stage delivered a breathtaking performance that was thoroughly enjoyable.

Naysayers will argue that kids should write and perform their own music, not cash in on the songs of their fathers. Let’s put that argument to rest. Musicians have always played music written by their parents and other composers. Symphony orchestras play the classical music of legends like Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, and Tchaikovsky and have been doing so for centuries. If a song or catalog of songs is great and timeless, they deserve to be played and audiences crave to hear them. There will always be a strong interest in seeing those songs performed live by brilliant musicians.

There is no reason why the same concept should not apply to modern music. After all, The Allman Brothers Band started in the 1960s, was a huge draw until they called it quits in 2013, and are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their excellent music, skill, and epic live shows will always be remembered. It would be a tragedy if their songs were no longer played live. Having them performed by children of the founders and other brilliant musicians who have a connection to the original band is a bonus. That is the concept for the Allman Family Revival tour. Devon Allman and Duane Betts have each developed careers writing and playing original music. However, they always have incorporated songs by their parents in their live shows because it honors their legacy and audiences demand it.

Gregg Allman died in 2017 at age 69. He would have been 75 this year. The tour also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Allman Brothers Band double album Eat a Peach. The Wiltern show was a wide-ranging tribute to Gregg’s and the band’s music with a healthy dose of songs from that memorable album, along with many of their other classics. Unlike most of the other shows along the current tour, where guests performed some of their own music, this show at The Wiltern was almost exclusively Allman Brother Band music. 

Devon Allman and Duane Betts led a group that was a mashup of their other bands – The Devon Allman Project and Allman Betts Band. Slide guitar wizard Johnny Stachela, keyboardist John Ginty, drummer Alex Orbison (Roy’s son), drummer John Lum, percussionist R. Scott Bryan and bass player Justin Corgan all played dazzlingly. The band ran through several Allman nuggets including “Sailin’ ’Cross the Devil’s Sea” and “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More” with Devon Allman’s husky and powerful vocals leading the way. Betts and Stachela traded inventive solos all night and “Blue Sky” was a showcase for Betts to sing and play lead guitar on his father’s famous composition. 

The first guests arrived for “Come & Go Blues” when Mattie Schell and Allie Vogler, known as River Kittens an Americana vocal duo with sweet, compelling voices shined on the blues based song. Award winning blues guitarist Larry McCray came out to sing and play a stirring version of “Soulshine.” When he departed, Devon Allman introduced Wet Willie’s Jimmy Hall who the band through a raging version of “Statesboro Blues.” 

Bassist Tal Wickenfeld, most famously known for touring with Jeff Beck, joined the festivities. She had an epic sit-in with the Allman Brothers Band in 2006 that so impressed Beck, he invited her to join his band. At the Wiltern, Wickenfeld drove the heavy bass line for “Dreams,” with Allman handling vocals. The lengthy instrumental portion of the song featured soaring guitar solos by Allman, Betts and Stachela. Singer/ guitarist Donovan Frankenreiter came out to lead the band through “Southbound,”  as Devon Allman Project’s guitarist Jackson Stokes added a complex and enjoyable guitar solo.

Tal Wickenfeld came back for a fabulous, set-closing version of “Whipping Post” with Maggie Rose taking over on lead vocals and showing off her powerful pipes on the tune. Betts played the scorching guitar riff along with another daring solo and at the end of the song, his searing notes, and Rose’s vocalizations beautifully played off each other. 

The lights went off for a few minutes before Allman and Rose reemerged with acoustic guitars. Allman told the audience that the guitars belonged to his father Gregg and that he and Rose recorded the song they were about to play together to honor him. They played, “These Times,” a Jackson Brown tune that Gregg Allman had recorded as well. Devon Allman and Rose did a beautiful duet as a montage of Gregg Allman photos filled the backdrop behind the band. The crowd cheered and hollered their appreciation. Allman invited all of the guests to come out for “Midnight Rider,” the grand finale that turned into a huge sing-along by the musicians and audience. 

Dumpstaphunk got the crowd fired up when they opened the show with a house-thumping, funky set. Keyboardist and singer Ivan Neville (son of Aaron) is another second-generation musician that has successfully built his career on excellent original music while always paying tribute to the music of his father and family. Gregg Allman and the Allman Brothers collaborated with The Neville Brothers back in the day, while Ivan Neville has joined Devon Allman for live shows recently, so the connection at The Wiltern made sense. Neville led the band through a few of their songs including “Fire & Brimstone,” “Where Do We Go” and “Justice.” Bassists Tony Hall and Nick Daniels III contributed soulful vocals while guitarist Ian Neville, trombonist Alex Wasily and trumpeter Ashlin Parker all delivered fantastic solos.

The Allman Family Revival tour concluded in San Francisco on December 17. After experiencing the magnificent show at The Wiltern that brought to life the amazing music of The Allman Brothers Band, we hope it is an annual tour that keeps the historic songbook alive.

Live photos courtesy of Andy J. Gordon ©2022FB: andy.j.gordon1, IG: andyjgordon1

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