The Allman Brothers Band - At Fillmore East

You’ll probably end up noticing that a lot of the albums that influenced me and that will be in my reviews, are live albums. And without a doubt, this was one of my favorites. I didn’t initially own the album, but my best friend Greg Thwing did. He and I listened to this album endlessly in the summer of ‘71 and throughout our senior year in high school.

The duo of Dwayne Allman and Dickey Betts and a driving two drummer rhythm section are at the center of this phenomenal jam band and founders of “Southern Rock”. The death of Dwayne Allman on October 29th 1971, and bassist Berry Oakley just one year and two weeks later, could have ended the band. But they persevered for decades.

From around 2005 through 2008 my buddies Randy and Anthony, along with a few hangers on, would make our pilgrimage to NYC and the Beacon Theater. In March of the 2000’s version 4.0 of the band would play a 20-night run at the Beacon. This later version featured Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks trying to fill the huge shoes of Allman and Betts. They preformed admirably and were able to transport us all back in time for three amazing hours.