Allman Brothers Band @ the Beacon: Finale – Dr. John, Bruce Katz, Hook Herrera

Back in 1969, during the Allman Brothers Band’s first year of existence, New England area promoter Don Law was so impressed with the group’s sets opening for the Velvet Underground at his Boston Tea Party nightclub that he invited them back up from Macon a few weeks later to open for Dr. John. Nearly 42 years later, the good doctor and the Allmans are both Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and met up again last night at the Beacon for three songs as part of the Beacon run finale.

[Allman Brothers Band on Moogis.com]

Dr. John wasn’t even the first legendary performer to sit in with the Allmans at the Beacon last night. Blues legend Hubert Sumlin (Howlin’ Wolf) showed he can still rip even as he approaches his 80th Birthday. Sumlin, along with keyboardist Bruce Katz and harmonica player Hook Herrera, guested on blues standards Smokestack Lightning and Key To The Highway. Dr. John came out next and led the Brothers through Walk On Guilded Splinters, Come On (Let The Good Times Roll) and Right Place, Wrong Time as if he’s been in the band for 40 years. Nearly everyone in the venue was on their feet throughout the raucous Right Place, Wrong Time which featured Susan Tedeschi and Nigel Hall on backing vocals.

Set One: Hot `Lanta, Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More, Midnight Rider, Every Hungry Woman, Kind Of Bird, Smokestack Lightning*, Key To The Highway*, Walk On Guilded Splinters**, Come On (Let The Good Times Roll)**, Right Place, Wrong Time***

Set Two: Dreams, Black Hearted Woman > The Other One Jam > Black Hearted Woman, Who’s Been Talking^, It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry^^, One Way Out#, Jessica##

Encore: Little Martha > Whipping Post

* – w/ Hubert Sumlin, Guitar, Hook Herrera, Harmonica, Bruce Katz, Piano
** – w/ Dr. John, piano then guitar
*** – w/ Dr. John, Susan Tedeschi & Nigel Hall , Backing Vocals, James van De Bogart, Drums, Jaimoe and Marc, BOTH on Percussion
^ – w/ Hook Herrera & Bruce Katz
^^ – w/ David Grissom, Guitar, James Van De Bogart, Drums
# – w/ Grissom
## – w/ Katz

[via Allman Brothers Band Forums]

The second set was also filled with guests as Herrera and Katz came back out for Who’s Been Talking, guitarist David Grissom (Dixie Chicks) tore up It Takes A Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train To Cry and One Way Out and Katz did Chuck Leavell proud on Jessica. Yet, the Allman Brothers Band was at its best when it was just them up on stage. Guitarist Derek Trucks had another incredible night with his psychedelic solo in Black Hearted Woman standing out as one of the highlights of the evening. For the encore, the ABB took the stage by themselves and delivered an incendiary 20-minute-plus Whipping Post that ended the run on yet another high note.