The Deal: Allman Bros. bring some regional friends for six-hour shindig in the 100-degree heat.
The Good: JJ Grey served up some Delta blues that got the small crowd into the groove early in the evening. Drive-By Truckers got the rest warmed up on the way to a two-and-a-half-hour Allmans set. The slide guitar work of Derek Trucks is mesmerizing, while Warren Haynes does a fine job in his own rite. They were joined by Paul Riddle for “Soulshine,” “Jessica” and “You Don’t Love Me.” Highlights of the night included “Statesboro Blues” and “Elizabeth Reed.” The set was capped off with an encore of “Melissa” and “One Way Out.”
The Bad: With the guitar powerhouses of Haynes and Trucks, could there really be anything bad? I’ve heard people say the Truckers could replace the Allmans sometime down the road, but they have a lot of work to do to even come close. There could have also been a bigger crowd, but those in attendance were ready to go despite the weather.
The Verdict: Southern rocking Allmans show why they’re still at the head of the class.
This article appears in Aug 22-28, 2007.
