The Allman Brother Band’s annual run of shows at New York City’s Beacon Theatre is always magical, but 2009’s 40th anniversary run was unique, with over 60 guests sitting in with the band. But on March 26, 2009–the 40th anniversary of the original lineup’s first performance–the band honored the legacy with a show that belonged to the Allman Brothers Band, and no one else. That special night, where they played their first two albums in their entirety, back to back, was filmed and is being released on DVD as 40, out April 30 via the band and EOne Entertainment.
The current band decided to honor the band’s original six by playing the group’s first two albums–The Allman Brothers Bandand Idlewild South–back to back, track by track.
This historic show captures the band at a very powerful height, as this incarnation of the ABB had played together over 12 years, and were certainly comfortable at the Beacon, a venue they have performed at over 230 times. The group tore through their first two albums with spirit and fire, proving that they are one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Like a tiger unleashed from a cage, the band pounced from the opening moment of “Don’t Want You No More/Not My Cross to Bear,” and the power and fury only went up from there. Seven men were playing as one, each feeding off the energy from the others, communicating in a non-verbal, mutually understood musical conversation. Just a glance of the set list reads like a canon of classic American rock: “Trouble No More,” “Dreams,” “Whipping Post,” “Revival,” “Midnight Rider,” “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.”
Upcoming tour dates are below:
DATE CITY VENUE
Fri 4/11 Live Oak, FL Wanee Music Festival
Sat 4/12 Live Oak, FL Wanee Music Festival
Thu-Sun 6/5-6/8 Hunter Mountain, NY Mountain Jam
Thu-Sun 8/14-8/17 Scranton, PA Peach Music Festival
Thu-Sun 9/4-9/7 Arrington, VA Lockn’ Music Festival
