The Allman Brothers Band's final shows at the Beacon Theater in New York City

Even though I have accepted that it is the end, of one of my all-time favorite bands, there is still one more thing to write about as we close the book on the history of the Allman Brothers Band.  The last pages of that book, have been written, after 45 years, and many triumphs, as well as trials and tragedies.  I've been following this band every year for the last eleven years, having seen them, four different times during that span.  It is hard for me, as a fan, (not so much as a blogger, but as a fan), to write about these guys, without getting choked up.  Their music, means a whole lot more to me than I ever could express in writing.  Their music has inspired me, and has pushed me to be a better musician.  It also, helped me through struggles and successes, during my college years.
 
More than that, though, the Allman Brothers' music has become a part of me, that is very difficult to describe in words.  I said it in my review of Saturday night at the Peach Music Festival.  During their performance of "Mountain Jam", I just welled up.  Very few bands have had such a positive, uplifting impact on my life, as the Allman Brothers Band has.  The records and memories, will still be there.  But, it is so hard to accept that these guys are going away for good, even if it may be for the best.

Here are the final set lists from the Allman Brothers concerts at the Beacon Theater in New York City for each day of their six night run there, which follows a run in March, that was postponed.

Tuesday, October 21st, 2014

Set 1

1. Don't Want You No More
2. It's Not My Cross To Bear
3. Hot 'Lanta
4. Just Another Rider
5. Done Somebody Wrong
6. Feel Like Breakin' Up Somebody's Home
7. Ain't Wastin' Time No More
8. Come On In My Kitchen
9. True Gravity
10. You Don't Love Me >
11. Will The Circle Be Unbroken?

Set 2

12. One Way Out
13. Stand Back
14. Spots of Time
15. Revival
16. The Sky Is Crying
17. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed

Encore:

18. No One To Run With

Notes:

"Just Another Rider" is a track from Gregg Allman's latest solo record, "Low Country Blues" that he wrote with Warren Haynes.

"Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home" is an Albert King cover song.

"True Gravity" is an instrumental from the band's 1990 recording "Seven Turns", written by Dickey Betts.

The Allman Brothers have covered "Will The Circle Be Unbroken?" before, and it, of course was written by The Carter Family, as a gospel song.

"Spots of Time" is a Grateful Dead cover, and the Grateful Dead and The Allman Brothers, played many shows together during the heydays of both bands.

"The Sky Is Crying", is an Elmore James tune that has been covered by many blues influenced artists.

Wednesday October 22, 2014

Set 1:

1. Statesboro Blues
2. I Walk On Gilded Splinters
3. Trouble No More
4. Who's Been Talking
5. Rain
6. Don't Keep Me Wonderin'
7. Midnight Rider
8. Blackhearted Woman

Set 2:

9. Melissa
10. The Same Thing
11. Come & Go Blues
12. Desdemona
13. Southbound
14. Mountain Jam

Encore:

15. One Way Out

Notes:

*"I Walk On Gilded Splinters" is a Dr. John tune the band has played off and on for the last few years.  "Trouble No More" is a Muddy Waters tune that first appeared on "Live At Fillmore East".  "Who's Been Talking" was originally recorded by Chester "The Howlin' Wolf" Burnett.  "Rain", is a Lennon and McCartney penned Beatles song, that Gregg originally recorded solo, with a choir and orchestra.

Friday October 24, 2014

Set 1:

1. Hot 'Lanta
2. No One To Run With
3. Leave My Blues At Home
4. Worried Down With The Blues
5. Soulshine
6. True Gravity
7. Dreams
8. Black Hearted Woman

Set 2:

9. Done Somebody Wrong
10. Come & Go Blues
11. Rocking Horse
12. Trouble No More
13. Midnight Rider
14. Blue Sky
15. You Don't Love Me

Encore:

16. Whipping Post>
17. Will The Circle Be Unbroken>
18. Whipping Post

Notes:

"True Gravity", is an instrumental from the 1990 album "Seven Turns", and was penned by Dickey Betts originally.

"Will The Circle Be Unbroken", the gospel song by The Carter Family, was weaved between both ends of "Whipping Post" once again.

Here is a review of the show, from JamBase.  

http://www.jambase.com/Articles/123132/Blue-Skies-For-Allman-Brothers-Band-At-Beacon-Night-Three

Saturday October 25, 2014

Set 1:

1. Don't Keep Me Wonderin'
2. Statesboro Blues
3. Woman Across The River
4. Ain't Wastin' Time No More
5. Stormy Monday
6. Dusk Till Dawn
7. Stand Back
8. Hot 'Lanta

Set 2:

9. Midnight Rider
10. I Walk On Gilded Splinters
11. Jessica >
12. Will The Circle Be Unbroken
13. Jessica
14. Trouble No More
15. Into The Mystic
16. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed >
17. Politician 
18. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed

Encore:

19. Come On In My Kitchen
20. One Way Out

Notes:

"Dusk Till Dawn" is of course, the new song the band wrote.  Yours truly, saw them play that at the Peach Music Festival.

"I Walk On Gilded Splinters" is a Dr. John cover.

"Jessica" once again had The Carter Family's "Will The Circle Be Unbroken", woven into it.

Cream's "Politician", was woven into "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed", and sung by Warren Haynes (as shown by a video posted on this blog from another of the shows), to honor Jack Bruce.

Robert Johnson's "Come On In My Kitchen" was covered as the first encore.

Monday October 27, 2014

Set 1:

1. Done Somebody Wrong
2. Leave My Blues At Home
3. Worried Down With The Blues
4. You Don't Love Me
5. I Found A Love
6. That's What Love Will Make You Do
7. Midnight Rider
8. Black Hearted Woman

Set 2:

9. Come And Go Blues
10. Les Brers In A Minor>
11. Will The Circle Be Unbroken >
12. Les Brers In A Minor
13. Blind Willie McTell
14. Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home
15. Dreams
16. Whipping Post

Encore:

17. No One To Run With
18. Black Hearted Woman

Notes:

"Worried Down With The Blues" is a song Warren Haynes originally wrote and performed for Gov't Mule.

"I Found A Love" is a song written and performed by Wilson Pickett with his group The Falcons, and it has also been covered not only by the Allman Brothers, but also, by Etta James and Johnnie Taylor.

"That's What Love Will Make You Do", is a song written by Little Milton Campbell, who was inspirational to Gregg Allman as far as singing, and also, has performed with Gov't Mule.  He was a good friend of the Allman Brothers Band.  Yours truly saw this song played on night three of Peach Festival, (the first of the two Allman Brothers shows), on August 16th.

"Will The Circle Be Unbroken" was woven into a different tune on the 27th, ("Les Brers In A Minor", from "Eat A Peach").

"Blind Willie McTell" is a Bob Dylan song.  Dylan recorded it in 1983 and it did not appear on one of his recordings until 1991.  The Allman Brothers have covered it numerous times.  The Band, also covered it on their 1993 album, "Jericho".

"Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home" is an Albert King song.

http://www.jambase.com/Articles/123156/Allman-Brothers-Band-Play-Penultimate-Show-Of-Career

...And here, folks, is the grand finale.  The set list from the final ever Allman Brothers show, last night, on October 28th.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014 (the last show of the Allman Brothers Band's career)

Set 1:

1. Little Martha
2. Mountain Jam
3. Don't Want You No More
4. It's Not My Cross To Bear
5. One Way Out
6. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
7. Midnight Rider
8. The High Cost of Low Living
9. Hot 'Lanta
10. Blue Sky
11. You Don't Love Me

Set 2:

12. Statesboro Blues
13. Ain't Wastin' Time No More
14. Black Hearted Woman
15. The Sky Is Crying
16. Dreams
17. Don't Keep Me Wondering
18. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (with drum solos)

Set 3:

19. Melissa
20. Revival
21. Southbound
22. Mountain Jam
23. Will The Circle Be Unbroken
24. Mountain Jam (reprise)

Encore:

25. Whipping Post
26. Trouble No More

Notes:

*For this final show, the Allmans played the majority of the great songs in their catalog, which included only the blues standards that they've covered for so many years like Spencer Davis' "Don't Want You No More", Elmore James' songs "One Way Out" and "The Sky Is Crying", Blind Willie McTell's "Statsboro Blues", and fittingly, closing out with The Carter Family's "Will The Circle Be Unbroken", in the middle of "Mountain Jam", and ending the show with the first tune they ever played as a band... "Trouble No More", by Muddy Waters.  

Rolling Stone magazine's David Fricke, sums up the whole show.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/live-reviews/the-allman-brothers-band-take-a-final-bow-at-epic-beacon-theatre-show-20141029

The band ended the show at 1:30 A.M. this morning.  What an amazing way to close out a career.  Will the Allman Brothers return?  It's very hard to say.  45 years is a long, long time, and with Warren and Derek's solo band's, it seems unlikely.  But, one thing is for sure, the music will live on forever.  These guys are truly, my favorite band, and I mean that in the most sincere way.  Their music has had a major, positive impact on my life.  It is very sad to write these final words on the band's legacy.  I have followed them, for the last decade at least, ever since they released "Hittin' The Note", which will ultimately be their last studio record, and the only one with the lineup of Derek and Warren on guitars.

But, it is safe to say that their legacy in the pantheon of musical history, is secure.  Long live The Allman Brothers Band!  Thanks for the memories, guys.