NYS Music 202​0

Category: Rock

  • Live From Out There Announces Virtual Festival

    11E1even Group, in partnership with LivexLive, have announced their The Live From Out There festival for four weekends of music. The festival will be accessible by subscription and pay-per-view and will run from May 15th through June 7th. 

    11E1even Group has been putting on their Live From Out There performances which have been providing a wide variety of content streaming for people to view from their homes while raising money for the greater music community through Sweet Relief’s COVID-19 Fund for the last two months. The festival will run as a four-week pay-per-view and subscription series for viewing the festival.

    The lineup includes Big Gigantic, Dispatch, Zeds Dead, moe., Nahko, Umphrey’s McGee, STS9, Turquaz, Hiss Golden Messenger, Twiddle, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Goose, James Petralli & Michael Hunter of White Denim, Zach Williams of The Lone Bellow, Motet and many more.

    The Live From Out There festival will be partnering with Summer Camp Music Festival for its second weekend May 22nd through the 24th for the “Summer Camp Virtual Festival: A 20 Year Retrospective.” This weekend will focus on featuring live music, throwback performances, interviews, workshops, panel discussions, giveaways and more. The Summer Camp team will also take the opportunity to connect Summer Campers with each other through these virtual programs. 

    The subscription series will run from May 15th to June 7th and subscribers will have access to four weekends of live and archival sets, with the majority available on-demand after the live broadcast. Tickets for pay-per-view and subscriptions are on sale today, May 13th and details can be found on the Live From Out There website.The content will be available on all LivexLive platforms either by their website or by accessing their app.

    This Thursday, May 14th at 8PM EST, Live From Out There will host a free performance on the LiveXLive platform to introduce fans to the new platform and prepare them for the upcoming festival. People can watch on LiveXLive.com and apps, social media channels and its OTT channels on Amazon, Apple TV, Roku and Samsung TVs, desktop and mobile/tablet. The performance will feature Rick Mitarotonda and Peter Anspach of Goose performing a very special acoustic set from their home in Connecticut.

    The Live From Out There series has generated over $400K so far. All the proceeds from each subscription benefit Sweet Relief’s COVID-19 Fund. This organization is using donor-directed funding to provide immediate assistance, lodging, clothing, food and more to the musicians and crew involved in the series as well as music industry workers and artists who have suffered a loss of income due to the recent outbreak and resulting restrictions placed on live events and gatherings.

    For more information visit the Live From Out There’s Website.

  • Rock Legend Little Richard Dies at 87

    Rock and R&B legend Little Richard died on May 9th, 2020 at the age of 87. The legend sold more than 30 million records worldwide and was widely recognized as the “architect of rock ‘n’ roll.” Pastor Bill Minson, a close friend of Little Richard’s, told The Associated Press that Little Richard died Saturday morning. The rock icon’s agent Dick Allen later confirmed he was suffering from bone cancer.

    Richard Wayne Penniman, more commonly known as Little Richard, was born in Macon, Georgia. He grew up during the Great Depression and was one of 12 children. As a child he didn’t conform to typical gender expression norms and suffered a small deformity where his right leg was shorter than his left, making him a bit of an outcast.

    He had multiple successful hits including “Tutti Frutti” which made it into the Top 40 and “Lucille,” “Keep A Knockin’,” “Long Tall Sally” and “Good Golly Miss Molly” which were all foundations of rock music according to the New York Times.

    Little Richard was one of the original inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which opened in 1986, alongside Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sam Cooke and others. Little Richard is known for saying, “I am the architect of rock ‘n’ roll! I am the originator!” during the 1988 Grammy Awards due in part to being a founding member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

    He announced his retirement from live performing back in August of 2002 but still could be seen performing the occasional show or on commercials like his appearance in a 2006 commercial for GEICO insurance.

    Little Richard is known for being an influence on many musicians and  claimed he paved the way for Elvis, provided Mick Jagger with his stage moves and conducted vocal lessons for McCartney according to the New York Times. Bruno Mars is known for saying Little Richard was a big influence for him.

    We mourn his loss and send our condolences to his family and friends.

  • Hearing Aide: Birkby ‘Another Planet’

    As the year slowly moves on, more and more musicians are postponing their tours out of respect for public safety. One of those artists is Gabriel Birkby from Buffalo, who goes by the moniker ‘Birkby.’ After cancelling a number of shows around Western NY, Birkby decided to release his first EP, Another Planet, which he had teased to his fans earlier this year. This splendid debut combines uplifting and positive music with vivid lyrics that paint a story line of a society in reform after leaving their homeland. The contrast between the emotional lyrics and the musical style of each song results in a release that is both majestic and captivating.

    The album starts with “Change in the Weather,” a song about growth and new beginnings that is brimming with hope and promise. This upbeat track offers a glimpse at some elements that we’ll see through this EP: the pure emotion in Birkby’s voice, the interplay of dreamy synths and joyous guitar, and a chorus that feels like the clouds are parting and the sun is shining down on you. Also featured is Mike Gantzer of Aqueous, who provided additional percussion and a guitar solo on this opening track.

    Next up is “Underground Republic,” another song with a cheery sound that really benefits from the impressive way Birkby’s voice dances around his guitar work. The lyrics continue to paint a picture of new growth and uncertainty, but the chorus will certainly speak to a lot of listeners in this sheltered time of our lives when he exclaims “How about a little privacy Cause I know how I get And I’m sure I’ll regret.”

    Halfway through the release, we come across “Awake,” which stands apart from the rest of the album. This track is a soulful and synth-heavy jam that features a slower tempo and laid-back vibe, thanks in part to some 808s and beautiful layered vocals in the chorus. Despite the change in style, “Awake” still shares the elements that Birkby excels at throughout this release. His ability to blend multiple elements on his track with mastery is apparent in the way the keys and drums play so beautifully together underneath an emotional chorus pleading, “Can I get a hand over here?”

    Shifting musical gears again, “Inconsistent” is one of my favorite numbers on the EP. Each verse has a wonderful bounce to it and with lyrics that praise the search for clarity, salvation and a trust in what you can see for yourself while being skeptical of what the written word holds. But it’s the emotion and funky feeling of the chorus that won me over and this whole track has a flow to it that’s sure to make you smile, as I found myself humming it for days.

    Birkby saved the title track for the end of this release and it’s a great send-off that once again showcases both his incredible vocal talent and his guitar mastery as he has the two dance together throughout the chorus. “Another Planet” paints a picture of promise, improvement and encouragement, all while reminding you to “Wake and meet the burning day” because there is “Another future on the horizon.”

    Birkby’s first EP release is a must-listen, especially during these days of self-isolation. Another Planet may only 5 tracks long, but it’s a welcomed release in these strange times that only gets better with each listen. You can purchase the digital album or stream it from Bandcamp and the EP will be available to stream on Spotify starting April 20.

    Key Tracks: Inconsistent, Another Planet

  • Warren Haynes to join Virtual New York Guitar Festival’s Celebration of Reverend Gary Davis

    The New York Guitar Festival has added Grammy-winning guitarist Warren Haynes to the already packed line up for ‘Reverend Gary Davis: In Search of the Harlem Street Singer’. Slated to be a virtually accessible twelve song series, NYGF will release one video performance on their Youtube channel nightly at 4 PM EDT. 

    reverend gary davis

    Listen to the full collection of audio recordings from Reverend Gary Davis: In Search of the Harlem Street Singer––as debuted yesterday on WNYC’s “New Sounds”––HERE.

    While access is free, organizers are asking viewers that can, to make donations to MusiCares. Started by The Recording Academy’s MusicCares COVID-19 Relief Fund, their goal is to help the music communities affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. Listen below to Rosanne Cash & John Leventhal performing ‘Tryin To Get Home’

    ‘Reverend Gary Davis: In Search of the Harlem Street Singer’ Program Schedule

    May 6 – Fantastic Negrito

    May 7 – Bill Frisell 

    May 8 – Dom Flemons 

    May 9 – Sonia de los Santos 

    May 10 – Jorma Kaukonen

    May 11 – Kaia Kater 

    May 12 – Brandon Ross 

    May 13 – Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams 

    May 14 – Warren Haynes 

    May 15 – Larkin Poe

  • Video Premiere: The Lost Messiahs “Didn’t Have To Be That Way”

    The Lost Messiahs hail from the Irish Midlands and are comprised of five of Ireland’s top musicians. The band was formed by lead guitarist Ollie Plunkett, with a concept of bringing some of Ireland’s leading musicians into one whole act. Having shared stages with the likes of Van Morrison, Damien Rice, The Waterboys, and Bob Geldof, The Lost Messiahs are able to hold their own with the best in the business. Formed in 2014 as an album project, the indie-rock band is now a full touring band, having released their second album in 2019, and they’re set to bring their style of music to the US in April this year.

    the lost messiahs

    Their latest music video for “Didn’t Have To Be That Way” premiered on February 14 and is gaining recognition nationwide quickly.  For this new single, they have collaborated with Steve Fallone of Sterling Sound in New Jersey. The track delivers a rich palette of atmospheric guitars, dark and brooding synths, and is driven by a relentless hypnotic rhythm. Meditations on love, loss and a search for life’s meaning permeate from the latest single. The video starts with a woman casually approaching a man from behind, and holds up a gun to the man’s back, then the screen shuts black.  The film cuts to the man lying on the ground after taking a bullet to the back and not really knowing what hit him.

    The upbeat music and soothing vocals are contrasting with the unforgiving visuals, yet smoothly blended with the pace of the video. In the following scene, the group walks out mafia-style with guns drawn and looking for some sort of fight, along with a group of women walking out looking for the same. Throughout the video there are constant exchanges of fire-fights from both sides, leading to most of each gang being taken out.  At the end, there is a reunification of a man and woman from both sides in an eerie graveyard setting and fades out as they meet. 

    In addition to their consistent music releases, The Lost Messiahs are proud to announce their month-long tour across the Northeast United States.  The tour kickoff is on April 12 at Bowery Electric, then comes back a week later at Mercury Lounge on April 20, and Rockwood Music Hall the following day on April 21.   

  • In Focus: Terrapin Family Band Shines at Brooklyn Bowl

    There’s something amazing about the music of the Grateful Dead; it is a catalog of songs that has spoken to music fans for generations. It’s a collection of music that, since the 2015 Fare Thee Well shows in Chicago, has exploded, ushering in a new generation of musicians that are carrying the torch of the Grateful Dead Family. These songs are the only collection of music in the world that has a whole scene based around it. One that is growing around the next generation of musicians covering, experimenting and paying tribute to this amazing catalog. Since its formation, The Terrapin Family Band is one of the top bands doing this and has brought a new and fun sound to this music that has new and old Deadheads alike excited for whats new and what’s next.

    Thursday night this remarkably talented group of musicians brought their take on The Dead catalog to the intimate Brooklyn Bowl. The band, led by Grahame Lesh, also includes Ross James, Alex Koford, Jason Crosby, Elliot Peck, and Nathan Grahame, treated Deadheads to two sets of classics like “Bertha,” “New Minglewood Blues,” “Sugar Magnolia,” and “The Other One.” But It was the addition of the TAB horns of James Casey and Natalie Cressman on songs like “Dancing in the Street” and “Brokedown Palace” that show why this music is thriving again – it’s moments like this when the next generation of musicians are taking these classic songs and throwing their vision and musical style into the mix. It’s moments like this that show the magic of the Grateful Dead and why the Terrapin Family Band is so much more than a cover band, they are the leaders in this movement that’s reminding all music fans that family is what the Grateful Dead community is all about.

    Keep an eye out for more upcoming dates, and hopefully some festival appearances from the band this summer. And don’t be surprised if most of this band will be at The Capitol Theatre next weekend joining in the celebration at Phil Lesh’s 80th Birthday Party.

  • Widespread Panic Marks Leap Day With Timely Beacon Run

    In the spirit of the Allman Brothers, fellow Georgia peaches Widespread Panic graced the Upper West Side with a multi-night run of shows at The Beacon Theatre as a prelude to spring. Southern accents and charm were prevalent throughout the crowd, as many fans made the trek for the noteworthy occasion. Included in the shows was a Leap Day show on February 29, which brought together a “time” theme in the second set of the show. 

    The music was complimented by a stunning light rig, with vertical rows of lights in the center and left, and a circle of lights on the right. A beacon of rainbow light was often radiating just above Duane Trucks and Domingo Ortiz on their raised drum stands behind the rest of the band. The stage floor contained powerful rotating lights that often embellished the iconic Egyptian-themed ceiling. 

    widespread panic beacon

    Bust-outs were found throughout the run, including “Vicious” by Lou Reed, which hadn’t been played in over 1000 shows, dating back to the band’s Halloween run at Madison Square Garden in 2003, and the rare “E on a G,” which had only been played eleven times prior. 

    On Friday, the band did not let up in set one, and came out firing as they had the night before. The show started out strong with early Panic classics “Wondering,” “C. Brown” and “Can’t Get High.” Jimmy Herring got loose on “All Time Low,” which followed for the first big jam of the night. Fans were treated to the rare “Dark Day Program,“ last played on in July 2011. To close out this high energy first set, Dave Schools asked the crowd if they wanted to dance and the band unleashed a monster cover of Robert Johnson’s “Stop Breakin’ Down Blues.”

    widespread panic beacon

    A heavy “Sleeping Man” opened the second set, followed by a pair of covers from The Band, “Ophelia” and “The Shape I’m In.” And while it felt like they were about to dive into Pink Floyd’s “Breathe” just out of “Driving Song,” the band treated the crowd to the twelfth ever version of the instrumental “E on a G.” Herring kept his foot on the gas during the set closer of “Chilly Water,” while the crowd sprayed their water and added a visceral soaking sensation. The night wrapped up with a delicious double encore of “Blue Indian” and “Climb to Safety.”

    But how would the band commemorate the quadrennial Leap Day that followed? There are few songs with ‘Leap’ in the title, so a reflection on time was in order, and found throughout much of the second set, in both obvious and subtle ways. Set 1 started with classic Panic numbers “Space Wrangler” and “Walkin’ (For Your Love),” and the newly minted jam-vehicle “Up All Night” which never fails to deliver. A rare “Tortured Artist” followed, along with the fresh “Sundown Betty.” The first set closed with a trio of high energy numbers in “Machine,” “Barstools and Dreamers” and the apropos for Saturday NRBQ cover “Flat Foot Flewzy.”

    widespread panic beacon

    The second set played off of a ‘time’ theme with references throughout, starting with “Blackout Blues” (in the middle of the night), a tease of the theme to Norman Lear’s All in the Family “Those were the days” (which is set in nearby Queens), “Airplane” (must have been a year ago), “Holden Oversoul” (one last time), “Henry Parsons Died” (6 o’clock on Saturday). A trio of ‘time’ songs followed – “Time Zones,” Los Lobos’ “Somewhere in Time” and The Dillards “There is a Time” – but the time references didn’t end there. J.J. Cale’s “Ride me High” (this mornin’) and the first half of the encore “This Part of Town” (the other day) tossed in some subtle but notable references to time on this extra day of 2020. 

    Also notable, there were numerous references to Southern USA, including “Up All Night” (Savannah), “Henry Parsons Died” (Georgia), “Blackout Blues” (Mississippi) and the show closing “Red Hot Mama” (Louisiana). For the second half of the encore, the timeless Neil Young classic “Mr. Soul” wrapped the night up with high energy, and the audience holding out for a rare second encore that did not come to pass. As fans made their way into the brisk night, Dr. John’s “Right Place, Wrong Time” serenaded an audience who caught a show of rarities on a rare day in a classic venue.

    widespread panic beacon

    With five sold out shows at The Beacon this year, and three sold out shows last year at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, one can only hope that Widespread Panic will follow in the tradition of another southern rock band, The Allman Brothers Band, and have an annual residency at The Beacon Theatre for years to come. 

    Setlists – Widespread Panic, The Beacon Theatre, NY, NY

    Thursday, February 27

    Set 1: Porch Song, Rebirtha > Greta > Jam > Stop/Go > Little Lilly, Proving Ground > Bust it Big > Proving Ground > Action Man

    Set 2: Steven’s Cat > Jam > Walk On > Blight > Help Me Somebody > Jam > Fishwater > Drums > Fishwater >Pilgrims, Pusherman > Conrad

    Encore: You Wreck Me > Tall Boy

    Friday, February 28

    Set 1: Wondering, C.Brown, Can’t Get High, All Time Low> Jam> Junior, 1 x 1, Dark Day Program, You Got Yours, Stop Breakin’ Down Blues

    Set 2: Sleeping Man, Ophelia > The Shape I’m In, Surprise Valley > Bear’s Gone Fishin’ > Surprise Valley > Driving Song > E on a G > Driving Song, Don’t Wanna Lose You, Chilly Water

    Encore: Blue Indian, Climb to Safety

    Saturday, February 29

    Set 1: Space Wrangler, Walkin’, Up All Night, Tortured Artist > Sundown Betty, I’m Not Alone, Machine > Barstools and Dreamers > Flat Foot Flewzy

    Set 2: Blackout Blues -> Jam in C* -> Airplane -> Holden Oversoul -> Henry Parsons Died > Time Zones, Somewhere in Time, There is a Time, Ride Me High -> Drums-> Ride me High, Red Hot Mama

    Encore: This Part of Town > Mr. Soul

    *All in the Family theme tease

    Sunday, March 1

    Set 1: From The Cradle > One-Arm Steve > Let’s Get The Show On The Road > Ribs And Whiskey, Bowlegged Woman, Honky Red, Trouble, Hope In A Hopeless World > Postcard

    Set 2: Let’s Get Down To Business, Little Kin, Disco, Diner > No Sugar Tonight > New Mother Nature, Papa’s Home > Drum Solo > Cease Fire > Protein Drink > Sewing Machine
    Encore: Vicious, Ain’t Life Grand

    Monday, March 2

    Set 1: I Wanna Be Sedated, Travelin’ Light, Old Neighborhood, Imitation Leather Shoes, The Last Straw > Pleas, Rock, Jack > Love Tractor

    Set 2: The Waker, Pigeons, Hatfield > Impossible^ > Saint Ex^^ > Tie Your Shoes > Jam, Nobody’s Loss, North

    Encore: City of Dreams, Life During Wartime

    ^The Other One tease
    ^^Won’t Get Fooled Again tease

    • widespread panic beacon
    • widespread panic beacon
    Widespread Panic, Beacon Theatre, NYC

  • Laid Back Festival Returns in 2020

    Laid Back Festival will be making its return this summer after a two-year hiatus, highlighted by an all-star slate of performers. Named after Greg Allman’s 1973 solo debut album, it was first held in 2015 in Wantagh, NY’s Nikon at Jones Beach Theater. The event continued in 2016 — expanding to five cities — and in 2017 saw the likes of Steve Winwood and Sheryl Crow headline. The festivities will return to Wantagh this year on Saturday, August 8 at the Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater and will be continuing the next day in Holmdel, NJ at the PNC Bank Arts Center.

     Presented in partnership by Gregg Allman’s longtime manager Michael Lehman and Live Nation, Laid Back will be headlined by Steve Miller Band and will feature the likes of Brian Wilson (with Al Jardine and Blonde Chaplin), Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Taj Mahal Quartet, Gary Mule Deer, and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe. 

    A celebration of American music and food, the Laid Back Festival serves as a showcase for all of the great cuisine and music upstate New York has to offer. It will feature regional restaurants, food tricks, breweries and wineries. 

    Live Nation presales begin Thursday, February 20 at 10 am ET; all remaining tickets go on sale Friday, February 21 at 10 a.m. eastern time. For complete information and details please visit, www.laidbackfestival.com.

  • Primus Announces Rush Tribute Tour

    Primus is hitting the road this summer and will honor Rush with “A Tribute to Kings,” a full recreation of Rush’s 1977 album A Farewell To Kings, at each tour stop.

    The tour comes in the wake of the death of Rush drummer Neal Peart, although Primus’ Les Claypool noted that the tribute was originally scheduled to be performed in the fall of 2019, but plans were pushed into 2020 when Slayer invited Primus on the road last year. Now, the tour holds more meaning with a plan to honor Rush in more ways than one.

    Primus Rush

    The Tribute To Kings Tour will run for 40 shows, from late May until early August, with stops in New York at the Beacon Theatre in NYC on June 17, and on July 2 in Lafayette at Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards.

    Claypool says of Rush, “Geddy, Alex and Neil had been superheroes to Larry, Herb and I in our teens, so when we all became pals while touring together in the early ’90s, we were pretty delighted; partially because of the musical geek-out factor but mostly because the three guys whom we had admired so much from afar, turned out to be truly great, down-to-earth humans, and like us, a tad eccentric. The ‘Tribute to Kings’ tour will be just as it is implied, a respectful and loving tribute to three spectacular musicians, songwriters, legends and friends.”

    For more information visit Primus’ official website.

    Primus: A Tribute To Kings Tour Dates

    May 26: Irving, TX: The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory *^

    May 27 Houston, TX: Revention Music Center *^

    May 29 Austin, TX: ACL Live at the Moody Theater *^

    May 30 New Orleans, LA: Saenger Theater *^

    June 1 Asheville, NC: ExploreAsheville.com Arena *^

    June 3 Orlando, FL: Hard Rock Live Orlando *^

    June 5 Atlanta, GA: Coca-Cola Roxy *^

    June 6 Charlotte, NC: Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre *^

    June 7 Raleigh, NC: Red Hat Amphitheater *^

    June 9 Cincinnati, OH: PNC Pavilion *^

    June 10 Columbus, OH: Express Live! – Outdoor *^

    June 12 Manchester, TN: Bonnaroo Arts And Music Festival

    June 15 Richmond, VA: Virginia Credit Union LIVE! *^

    June 16 Baltimore, MD: MECU Pavilion *^

    June 17 New York, NY: Beacon Theatre *^

    June 19 Philadelphia, PA: The Met Philadelphia *^

    June 20 Asbury Park, NJ: The Stone Pony Summer Stage *^

    June 21 Essex Junction, VT: Midway Lawn at Champlain Valley Exposition ^

    June 23 Boston, MA: Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion *^

    June 24 Wallingford, CT: Toyota Oakdale Theatre *^

    June 26 Sterling Heights, MI: Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill *^

    June 27 Cleveland, OH: Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica *^

    June 28 Pittsburgh, PA: Stage AE – Outdoor *^

    June 30 Toronto, ON: RBC Echo Beach *^

    July 2 Lafayette, NY: Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards *

    July 3 Westbrook ME: Main Savings Pavilion at Rock Row *

    July 6 Indianapolis, IN: The Amphitheater at White River State Park *+

    July 7 Milwaukee, WI: BMO Harris Pavilion *+

    July 8 Minneapolis, MN: The Armory *+

    July 10 Chicago, IL: The Chicago Theatre *+

    July 11 St Louis, MO: Saint Louis Music Park *+

    July 12 Kansas City, MO: CrossroadsKC *+

    July 14 Denver, CO: The Mission Ballroom *+

    July 15 Salt Lake City, UT: The Complex *+

    July 17 Berkeley, CA: Greek Theater *+

    July 18 Los Angeles, CA: Greek Theatre *+

    July 19 Las Vegas, NV: Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort *+

    July 21 Boise, ID: Outlaw Field at Idaho Botanical Garden *+

    July 23 Bonner, MT: KettleHouse Amphitheater *+

    July 24 Redmond, WA: Marymoor Park *+

    July 25 Troutdale, OR: Edgefield *+

    July 28 Spokane, WA: Riverfront Park Amphitheater *+

    July 29 Bend, OR: Les Schwab Amphitheater *+

    July 31 Paso Robles, CA: Vina Robles Amphitheatre *+

    Aug. 1 San Diego, CA: Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre at SDSU *+

    Aug. 2 Phoenix, AZ: Arizona Federal Theatre *+

    * w/ Wolfmother

    ^ w/ The Sword

    + w/ Battles

  • Allman Betts World Tour 2020: Tarrytown

    2019 was some year for the Allman Betts Band. In March, the band performed its inaugural show 50 years after the first time the Allman Brothers ever played together. June saw their debut album, Down to the River, hit #1 on the iTunes Rock charts the week it was released. The summer brought the band to a host of festivals and sold out headlining shows as well as a European tour. Throw in a medical emergency and a wedding too, and it was some year.

    Berry Oakley, Devon Allman, Duane Betts, Johnny Stachela – Allman Betts Band

    So what do you do in 2020? You go on a worldwide tour, of course. With a second album in the works (recorded at Muscle Shoals) and having taken some down time to recharge, the Allman Betts Band (Devon Allman– guitar, vocals; Duane Betts– guitar, vocals; Berry Duane Oakley– bass, vocals; Johnny Stachela– guitar, vocals; John Ginty– keyboards; R Scott Bryan– percussion, vocals; John Lum– drums) is going global. We caught ABB at the Tarrytown Music Hall stop of their global odyssey. It was coincidental that this weekend we happened to be celebrating two of our founding fathers while listening to the sons of two men who may not have started the blues, but certainly influenced many a contemporary blues or rock musician. 

    Jackson Stokes

    Opening the night was a St. Louis, MO guitarist and singer/songwriter named Jackson Stokes. Stokes is the first person signed to Devon Allman’s new label Create Records. Supported by a solid three-piece band, Jackson offered an unfiltered, raw performance, worthy of his signing to Allman’s new label. Stokes and his band have been playing multiple dates with ABB on this tour.

    JD Simo

    In the middle slot was JD Simo, a Nashvillian by way of Chicago. JD’s blistering guitar work most certainly pulls from those influences . This night he took the audience with him on his therapeutic musical journey as he performed, maneuvering seamlessly through the styles with no questions asked.  A regular on last year’s ABB tour, JD and his band prove to be more than a warm up act, but one that stokes the fire in preparation for a big night.

    Allman Betts Band

    After two kickin’ acts, the house was set. The sold-out show (which is becoming the norm) had a mix of old and young in attendance. People were sharing stories of seeing Devon or Duane separately and looking forward to experiencing the coalescing of their talents.  The band opened up with “Airboats & Cocaine” from the yet to be named upcoming 2nd album. “Shinin’” from their debut Down to the River followed and the groove for the night was in full swing. With almost a year together, the band has jelled into a musical monster to which you are willing to sacrifice yourself.  The set list this tour has been in flux, so no one is sure exactly what each night will bring.  Sprinkled through the night, a few covers found themselves being pulled out.  Berry Oakley took lead vocals on The Dead’s “Shakedown Street” which had everyone up and dancing, while Devon had the crowd waving their cell phone flashlights, a la lighters in the air, to “Purple Rain” adding a special glow to the house. The encore had the band sharing another new tune, “Magnolia Road,” and took it home in reverent fashion with The Allman Brothers’ “Blue Sky.”

    Allman Betts Band at Tarrytown Music Hall

    So what is 2020 to the Allman Betts Band? A new album, lots of travel stickers on their guitar cases and a band to see if their trek takes them to your town.  

    Devon Allman, Duane Betts – Allman Betts Band

    Allman Betts Band set list: Airboats and Cocaine, Shinin’, Left My Heart in Memphis, Autumn Breeze, Ain’t Wastin’ Time, All Night, Good Ol’ Days, Jessica, Shakedown Street, Taking Time, Mahalo, Purple Rain, Long Gone

    Encore: Magnolia Road, Blue Sky.