A Phishy Night For The Allman Brothers Band

Fresh off their reunion concerts in Hampton, McConnell and Anastasio of Phish joined Guy and the Allmans for a blistering take on Southbound that found all the extremely talented musicians on that stage taking turns at tearing the song a new a-hole. Anastasio couldn’t contain his enormous smile and whispered sweet nothings in Guy’s ear while Trucks showed off his massive skill set. We had four of the most badass guitarists in the world going at it and each axeman added a different spice to the stew.

After a brief setbreak that found even the most jaded of Peacheaters praising the Phishies appearance, the band returned to the stage without Jaimoe and with Trey and Page. The ensemble noodled around with the intro of Blue Sky before drummers Marc Quinones and Butch Trucks started the shuffling beat of I Know You Rider. Both Page and Trey were set up with microphones and shared vocals with Gregg Allman and Haynes. Warren led the way on both the vocals and the solos, but not before Page and Trey added long melodic solos on the tune which they had rocked out with Phil Lesh and Friends back in 1999.

Following Rider, Anastasio and McConnell stayed on for an In Memory of Elizabeth Reed that found them gelling with the Allmans in a way that had eluded them during their previous sit-ins at the Beacon throughout the years. Trey patiently toyed with a few of the themes from the famed Live at Fillmore East Liz Reed before turning it up to a level I’m not sure I saw down in Hampton for rapidfire runs across the fretboad that whipped the crowd into a frenzy. Anastasio kept building and building the jam to multiple crescendos with some of his signature machine gun licks. I could’ve died a happy man right there and then after finally seeing Phish’s Jersey boys shoot and score during an Allmans’ show.

We were about 40 minutes into the set when Trey and Page left the Allmans to their own devices. Now, I had seen the Allmans a few times on the last Beacon run back in 2007 and I was a bit underwhelmed with what I saw. Derek and Warren seemed uninterested and Gregg’s voice wasn’t as booming as usual. That wasn’t the case tonight as each member was firing on all cylinders. They played to a high level both individually and as a unit during 20 minute takes on Dreams and Jessica.

Now, we can’t ignore bassist Oteil Burbridge’s role in the madness. I feel bad for his bass. He beat the piss out of that thing all night long laying down some wacky melodies that led the soloists in different directions. Oteil’s bass tech must have to rebuild that four-string Fender every night after the brutality Burbridge brings to that poor instrument. The Brothers feature one of the best bassists in the game and he’s more confident than ever with his role in the band.

All in all, we got an hour-plus four song second set that was by a longshot my favorite I’ve seen from any incarnation of the Allmans. I’d say there was about five minutes of singing mixed into the massive improvisations as each member was feeling it on this evening. The Brothers were on all night and I can’t even imagine how good they’ll sound by the 15th and final show on March 28. Head to either the Beacon or Moogis tomorrow night when they return for the fourth show of the run, you won’t be sorry.

SETLIST

Set 1: Little Martha (Derek and Warren), Trouble No More, Leave My Blues At Home, Who’s Been Talkin’, Black Hearted Woman/The Other One Jam/BHW, Can’t Lose What You Never Had, The Sky Is Crying (w/ Buddy Guy), You Don’t Love Me (w/ Buddy Guy), Southbound (w/Buddy Guy, Trey Anastasio, Page McConnell)

Set 2: I Know You Rider (w/Trey & Page), In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (w/Trey & Page), Dreams, Jessica > Drums > Jessica

Encore: Statesboro Blues > The Blues Is Alright > Statesboro Blues

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28 Responses

  1. i want an audio/sbd of that ‘Southbound’ asap…anyone?

    Scotty B, anyone ever tell ya, you got some good timing?
    wow. Am I ever jealous. What was the crowd reaction to big red and page? HOw’d Buddy sound last night?

  2. Great Review Scotty. So many times rumors are just that but what an amazing one to come true. Page and Trey on Liz Reed?!?! My 16 year old self now hates my 30 year old self for being lazy and broke and not heading to the Beacon last night!!

    Ryan
    TheWeight

  3. Anyone know where I can hear that Elizabeth Reed? My favorite Allman tune and with Trey and Page!!!! I must hear

  4. ahhhhhhhh!
    feeling very lucky today – can’t believe the one and only night i bought tix for was Page & Trey night! took my pops for his birthday so it was an outstanding night all around.
    how long till Jones Beach????

  5. Great work Scotty. Would love to have seen this, but hitting up the show on the 40th Anniversary show on the 26th – which I’m sure will be loaded with a ton of guests, can’t wait.

  6. Scotty B, anyone ever tell ya, you got some good timing?
    wow. Am I ever jealous. What was the crowd reaction to big red and page? HOw’d Buddy sound last night?

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