MOG

The Allman Brothers Band Verizon Wireless VA Beach Amphitheater – Virginia Beach, VA August 12, 2007 – 5:30 PM Supporting Acts – JJ Grey & Mofro, Drive-By Truckers

Allman Brothers concerts bring a joy to my life that can not be replicated. Those seven gentlemen are some of the finest musicians you will ever witness. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a summer evening – ahhh, my spirit has been cleansed. The opening bands, JJ Grey & Mofro and Drive-By Truckers, were excellent appetizers. I was feeling loose as a goose by the time the Brothers took the stage, despite the afternoon’s tailgating activities getting terminated early by the bike cops. Around 8:15, Warren Haynes’ guitar tech and doppelganger Brian Farmer appeared on stage, eliciting the usual crowd misfire. I can’t really blame folks for being confused though; as Will pointed out, they do look remarkably similar. At about 8:30, the lights went down, and this time the applause and hollering was justified. I managed to keep up with the setlist for the most part, even in my tipsy condition (haven’t found any Internet confirmation yet, so I apologize if I missed anything)

SETLIST Don’t Want You No More, It’s Not My Cross To Bear, Can’t Lose What You Never Had, Done Somebody Wrong, Hoochie Coochie Man, Come & Go Blues, High Cost of Low Living, song about a .44 (not familiar with this one), Southbound w/ Bruce Katz & the horn players from Mofro, Sky Is Crying also w/ Bruce Katz, End of the Line, Manic Depression, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed >Bass & Drums>Drums, No One To Run With Encore: One Way Out (w/ Patterson Hood from DBT)

There were moments of perfection – sweltering slide riffs, bass & drums locked in unison, with Gregg’s ripened vocals and that B3 wrapping around my soul. The bluesy jam intro to “Hoochie Coochie Man” sent me into another realm. I wasn’t familiar with the .44 song after “High Cost,” but it was sooo good, one of the hardest & heaviest of the night. The “Southbound” with the horn section was tremendous. Bruce Katz, the pianist from Gregg’s band sat in on “Southbound” and “Sky Is Crying.” WHEW – man is a helluva player. JJ Grey played harmonica at some point but I can’t recall which song. Then there was Oteil. After seeing him with the Aquarium Rescue Unit this spring, I commented that his talents weren’t being fully utilized by the Brothers. I stand corrected. He sang lead on “Manic Depression” and I know Jimi was smiling down. “Elizabeth Reed” culminated with a bass solo that raised the hair on my arms. Then it was time for the drums, but Oteil wasn’t finished. Before too long, he was back behind Butch’s drum kit giving us a total of four percussionists hammering away. I was ready for the long haul, so I was pretty surprised when the drum solo ended after only 8 minutes. There was a video montage of Duane, Woody, and Berry to compliment “No One To Run With,” and “One Way Out” ended the evening with a bang.

Just like falling in love, words can not do justice to this feeling of pure bliss. Beyond the music, I had my 15 year old brother with me (his first ABB show), my dad (first ABB show since the 70s), and some of my closest friends, so yeah, I was on cloud nine _thousand_. The best part – I get to do it again tomorrow night!!!