6. Play Instrumental Illness
It’s been nine years since your last proper studio album, Hittin the Note. Most of that meaty disc’s 11 tracks remain ABB concert staples — Desdemona is the arguable classic, up there with your greatest originals — but what the hell happened to Instrumental Illness? For about five years, the song was a regular — an almost-nightly break out — and it yielded some seriously potent jams. Then, it vanished. Its last full airing, according to the ABB setlist database, was 3/27/07, and it hasn’t been in regular rotation since at least 2006. Newer instrumentals like Egypt and Bag End can anchor a set, but both sound a little familiar: loosely defined melodic heads that give way to Liz Reed or Whipping Post-style jams with too little sonic variation. Illness, on the other hand, comes from the Kind of Bird school of Allman Brothers instrumentals: a sturdy composition with lots of room for exploration that sounds like nothing else in the Allmans catalog. Time for some more Illness.
7. More solo spots or small group combos.
Some folks think breaking out small combinations of Derek and Warren, or Warren and Gregg, or Gregg alone, or the drum corps for their usual throwdown distracts from the energy of the overall show — the more time the full band is onstage, they argue, the better. I understand that school of thought, but the variety those sub-combos can offer adds a nice touch of surprise, especially later in a show.
During the 2005 Beacon run, second sets began with three of four songs’ worth of that format, usually a Gregg solo spot or two, followed by a Warren-and-Derek duo blues. It was a nice variant — and offered a chance to hear some rarely-played songs from the repertoire– even if it did eat up valuable second-set setlist clock.
8. Open up in unexpected places.
In recent years, some of the best ABB innovation hasn’t come from new songs or new covers but rather from new ideas inside of songs fans already know well. The galloping Other One jam that erupts out of Black Hearted Woman and clears all the cobwebs out of the room when the song should logically end? Totally thrilling, and these days, a guaranteed crowd-slayer. That starry-eyed, psychedelic jam that Rocking Horse turns into? Very cool — it adds an exploratory element for a song that for years was a fairly unremarkable placeholder. Even Whipping Post has seen a few new kicks; Warren seems to like beginning his solo portion in a different, more upbeat key before dropping into the song’s traditionally dark waters just as the guitar storm is starting to rage.
In 2011, you did it again: a surprise encore version of Into the Mystic on 3/25/11 that didn’t end short and sweet but pushed into jam territory and wrung a lot of beauty from just a little extra exploration. Here’s hoping for more of that surprise expansion and deviation from “the norm” this year.
9. Dig deep in the catalog.
Once in a long while, you’ll dig out a deep-catalog chestnut or a cover associated with an earlier era of the band or one of its members — something that doesn’t feel like merely a guest accommodation. Want to light a fire under your most jaded fans? Hurtle into something like the 31st of February version of Morning Dew, maybe, or a forgotten early ’90s gem like Get On With Your Life or Loaded Dice. And hey, it’s been since 2001 that we heard the ace instrumental High Falls, and yeah it’s a Dickey song, but that didn’t stop you from making Jessica a setlist staple again.
10. Go easy on the graphics.
Totally understand that the visual projections are a long-running part of an Allman Brothers show, and the exploding mushrooms definitely float my boat. I can do without creepily superimposing images of dead band members over current band members, however, and also the weird, greasy, psychedelic stripper action during songs like Black Hearted Woman. Personal preferences again, guys, but I don’t think I’m alone.
Regarding the vintage blues black-and-white videos, I go back and forth. They’re great at set break; I’ll take all the Muddy you have while I wait for round two. They’re less great during the show; for some years, you were playing a Big Mama Thornton segment during Statesboro Blues that added something really fun to watch but arguably distracted from what the band was playing.
All in all, boys, thanks for everything you’ve given and continue to give us.
– CB
The Allman Brothers Band’s Beacon Run starts on Friday, March 9 and runs through Sunday, March 25 in New York City.
25 Responses
Great work Chad! Really well thought out, and you bring up some great food for thought. Definitely making me want to grab a ticket to a show or two now.
Nice piece. Hope Gregg’s in better shape than he was at the Orpheum in November.
thx chad, think a lot of your points are spot on here. i agree 100% that we need to get instrumental illness back into rotation and while we’re at it…where the hell has “Nobody Knows” been?!? what a great tune…they KILL this one…and yet they never dust it off. yes its a dickey tune, but we get a healthy dose of southbound so where’s the logic?
Nice job Chad–particularly with the High Falls suggestion. Been dying to hear this version of the band do this gem again.
I have one more to add…play that extended outro on Midnight Rider from the United Palace shows. It gave that tired old warhorse new life.
And, oh yeah, plays Dreams nightly. It’s perhaps the greatest song in the canon and one that Derek & Warren positively OWN.
What a load of obnoxious self centered crap. Dear Chad, get over yourself you little obnoxious punk. You don’t speak for the public and people shelling out their hard earned dollars. What a jerk.
@Gary and @Rage Agreed on all counts.
@Bob Good call on that Midnight Rider suggestion. Every so often it seems like they fool around with opening that up, and it never seems to stick.
@Michael Never presumed to speak for anyone else, but I’m a longtime paying customer of these NYC runs. Instead of dopey personal attacks, tell me which of the suggestions here you find fault with.
All of them Chad. They are obnoxious on there face. You sound just like some message board twit who thinks you can speak for the public.Should the make a new record? Sure, but they don’t. You or 25 people on a message board can’t speak to what the general public does or doesn’t want to see. I love the jazz sit ins, but that doesn’t mean that the public at large likes them better than Phil and Bobby. I’d be happy if I never saw Bobby again, but you know what, that is just my personal taste and I sure as heck would never say it to a Bobby fan to ruin his enjoyment.
People on message boards or even an article like this, it is beyond laughable that you all think you can speak to everyone’s experience or about how a show should be paced batter. For instance lots of fans want an acoustic set but the band probably is way more aware that many others don’t. They should play whatever the heck they want to play, and if they start doing it in a way the public doesn’t like then guess what, the public will stop coming.
@Michael Never said I was speaking for the “public”; it’s made pretty clear above that these are my opinions. I’m an invested fan sharing some thoughts after many years and hundreds of dollars’ worth of Beacon and United Palace tickets. I’m not getting how that translates to me looking to ruin a fellow fan’s enjoyment — fan discussion is such a great part of what preserves this community we’re all part of, no?
You’re right, the public’s going to do what the public’s going to do. From this fan’s perspective, however, I like when the ABB try new things, and I say that knowing there’s a fan contingent that’d still be happy even if the band returned to a stock setlist approach and never experimented. I think the Beacon shows are pretty expensive for a band that’s still one of the most reliable in the world but in recent years, to my ears, has also shown diminishing returns and become a tad predictable. I was excited when Phil and Bobby walked on stage with the Brothers in ’09 and then felt disappointed that they all couldn’t step a little more outside of the box than three sluggishly played Dead tunes.
I’m telling you what I like, not what I presume the public wants. You’re not ruining my experience no matter how many of your opinions I disagree with, so tell me what you like and don’t like.
Great read Chad…definitely one of the most interesting articles on the Brothers that i’ve read in some time.
@Michael – chill out, he never said he was speaking for anyone but himself. Its just one mans (well thought out) opinion in an article on a music blog. There are more important things to get mad about…
Lesh/Weir sitting in in 2009 that was an unmitigated disaster according to everyone I know and the tapes. Doesn’t mean they’re not great musicians, it just means it was a bad match at the end of an AMAZING 40th anniversary run.
Like you said, have guests fit better & on ABB tunes–a-la Clapton on Dreams & Liz Reed that same year. Damn that was sweet!
Either way, these are great thoughts. Wish I could make the Beacon this year. Kills me I haven’t made that journey in 11 years.
Chad you framed this article with a “Dear Allman Brothers Band”.For me that gives the whole article a patronizing tone. “You are old and have aged well” Sorry dude, but that strikes me as condescending as all get out. So by starting that way you got my dander up. So I will apologize right here for going overboard in my initial response.It has no relevance in my opinion to discuss what I or you want the Allman Brothers to do. We would probably have a better discussion if we emailed on this stuff. I don’t have time right now to discuss this fully. I do check this site and and usually enjoy your work.
Hey Chad. I’ve been doing the annual rite of spring with ABB ever since they started playing every spring in NYC 23 years ago. I agree with much of what you have to say. Would love to hear High Falls, had enough of the strippers during Black Hearted Woman (one of my favorite songs). The night with Phil and Bob bored me to tears. But the two nights that same year with Clapton brought me tears of joy. I have always said that the guests should be fitting into the ABB music, not the ABB playing backup for them. I like to hear what the guests can bring to the time-honored ABB music. However, I am always happy to hear the Jukes horns play southbound. The year with Peter Frampton/Jukes Horns – that was an amazing rendition of Southbound. I love Instrumental Illness and have missed it. Don’t really get off on Bag End or Egypt. I’m always hoping for something new, whether I like it or not. Just nice knowing they are trying to bring us something new. I have never missed an opening night in NYC. One thing that I really enjoy about the ABB is seeing how they start out that first night and watching how the music develops over the run. It might be a little rough around the edges that first night – but there is that first night electricity and promises of what is to come. I have tix for 6 shows this year but might add one or two more. It seems I just can never get enough, and just can’t stay away. Hope we’ll have a another great time this year.
@Michael Drop me a line anytime, always appreciate a good back-and-forth.
@Skydog and Peechee Agreed that those Clapton nights sure were special, not only for the historic sit-in but also because of the song selection. Eric really cooked during that Liz Reed — cooked during most of his sit-ins, really — and had some fire that’s been missing from his headlining shows for many years.
Most guests the Brothers have are pretty good, but the folks that REALLY add something are few and far between. Having spent some time listening to all of the 2011 Beacon shows, I’d put the first part of the second set on 3/14, with Bill Evans, and the first part of the second set on 3/21, with Randy Brecker, as the strongest music of the run. Bill and Randy (and Scofield, during his sit-in) took hold of their sit-ins and really tried to add, and anytime a guest does that, it pushes the ABB to take their game higher, too, particularly Warren, imho.
Great read. I appreciate your thoughtful & well reasoned analysis and found myself nodding at some of the points. Clearly your article was driven by love and passion for the band, which is far more admirable than someone posting obnoxious flame hate in the comments section.
p.s. I would support a national moratorium on bands covering Watchtower.
As an Allmanac myself, I really dug this article. I agree with so much of this, and have had similar disscussions and/or rants. How about some Rogues shit? “Just aint easy” could be great, or blowing up “Pegasus” perhaps……I dissagree with you on the lightshow, I love the trip graphics. And personally I like the Watchtower the Bros. do
One more thing. You hit the nail on the head with Shakedown. I mean why not go old school and throwdown a 30 minute lovelight?….That has a relevance and thread to Duane,Jerry, Berry, pig etc. Or at least make phil and bobby throwdown on a post or something wacky like that…..again great article man.
I want to hear new music instead of 10 different versions of midnight rider and van morrison covers!!
I think the point of any article is to get people interested enough to actually read the article.
It sparked my interest and I enjoyed the opinion piece.
Thanks Chad. Good job. It is a job, right?
well said Chad – i agree with just about all your suggestions – and Michael, that’s all they were so relax bro – especially the last one about the graphics. I know the band and the fans both respect what Duane, Dickey and Berry did in the early years, but to superimpose them on the screen while Derek, Warren and Otiel are shredding is a bit disrespectful to the current members.
I do disagree on the Lesh/Weir sit-ins – i say bring those cats along EVERY year!
well maybe just Lesh – Weir is pretty much toast these days
imo ymmv
stfu and enjoy.
much ado…..
Hey Chad,Goddamn you really hit the mark w/this article,….more jazz fusion guests(Mr. McLaughlin or Bily Cobham,anyone?!?),less meandering Dead poopoo and delve deep into the back catalogue,rework/reintroduce some of those gems(Nobody Knows/Mean Woman Blues) and shake a leg,mofos……………..CHEERS
Bring back the “Southern” to the worlds greatest Southern Rock band….The bad jazz is obnoxious..
Stared new concoct:
http://marva.web.telrock.net
Blog with daily sexy pics updates
http://sexypic.erolove.in/?post-monica
kiss shy guy how to draw manga maids and miko download handsworth high school north vancouver femdom post nude wow log in loadings wallpapers