Pop Break Live: Allman Betts Band at The Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ
Words & Photos by Will Marks
The Allman Betts Band stopped by Count Basie Theatre (also know as The Basie Center for the Arts and the Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre) in Red Bank on February 18 and took us all for a ride down South! They are on tour right now promoting the release of their new album Down to The River and celebrating the music of The Allman Brothers Band. Devon Allman and Duane Betts are keeping their father’s music alive and well and it was obvious that the fans are loving it.
I must admit that I was hesitant at first about how this show was going to be. My entire family have diehard Allman Brothers fans for as long as I can remember, and I wasn’t sure if The Allman Betts Band were going to live up to their father’s legacy. I can honestly say that after last nights show they can keep up! Devon Allman has strong vocals and solid guitar riffs that drive the beat of their jams. And Duane Betts can shred through some southern style guitar just as good as anyone.
Last nights show had a little something for everyone. They played some great songs off their album Down to The River. Some included their upbeat driving hit Shinin’ as well as Autumn Breeze which takes you on cosmic adventure of a jam. They also busted out some great covers of the Allman Brothers Band celebrating their upcoming fiftieth anniversary. Some of the covers included Ain’t Wastin Time No More, Blue Sky, and In Memory of Elizabeth Reed. They even busted out a great funky version of The Grateful Dead’s Shakedown Street which got the place groovin!
This band is carrying the torch of The Allman Brothers Band and running with it. They have that same Southern rock drive as well as the head trip jams to back it up. Fans were saddened at the passing of Gregg Allman and were not sure what was going to become of the music that they had loved for so many years. The Allman Betts Band are keeping the music of The Allman Brothers alive and well and bringing their own songs along for the ride as well. If you are thinking about checking them out I would highly recommend it these guys do not disappoint!
Setlist:
Airboats ‘n Cocaine
Shinin’
Autumn Breeze
Magnolia Road
Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More (The Allman Brothers Band cover)
Play Video
Blue Sky (The Allman Brothers Band cover)
Taking Time (Duane Betts cover)
Mahalo (Devon Allman’s Honeytribe cover)
You Got Lucky (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers cover)
Good Ol’ Days
All Night
Melodies Are Memories
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (The Allman Brothers Band cover)
Shakedown Street (Grateful Dead cover with J.D. Simo)
Encore:
Down to the River (with Jackson Stokes)
Long Gone
