The Allman Brothers Band kicked off its annual residency at New York’s Beacon Theatre last night (March 9) with an epic set highlighted by a cover of the Band’s “The Weight” and a guest appearance by longtime Howlin’ Wolf guitarist Hubert Sumlin.
Introduced by guitarist/vocalist Warren Haynes as “someone who has influenced everybody,” 74-year-old Sumlin joined the Allmans for the first three songs of the second set, kicked off by a Gregg Allman-sung take on the late Wolf’s signature, “Smokestack Lighting.” One of the few remaining original Chicago bluesmen, Sumlin basked in the opportunity and took a seemingly unexpected turn at the mic, leaving band members smiling.
An annual tradition in New York since 1992, the Allmans’ Beacon stand routinely offers the iconic act an opportunity to spread its creative wings and tinker with the set list, as opposed to playing the hits-driven set expected on summer shed treks. This year’s 14-night Beacon run continues through March 26.
Source billboard.com.
