When the children of rock and roll legends follow in their parents’ footsteps, it’s fair to wonder: is this gonna be any good? Or are we just in Bronny James territory? (That’s LeBron’s kid, for the sports illiterate among you. And trust me, while the kid ain’t horrible, you don’t want to be in Bronny territory.)
Most of us can count on one hand the children of superstars in rock music whose creative output exceeds, matches, or even comes close to the quality of their predecessors. You may be a fan of Sean Lennon or Jakob Dylan (no judgment), but are they really in the same league as papas John and Bob? My own very short list of juniors who compare favorably with their seniors probably starts and stops with Townes Van Zandt and Jeff Buckley. Your list may have others, but I’m guessing it’s not a long list regardless.
On the other hand, unlike sports or acting, musicians have the option of emulating their parents by playing their elders’ music for adoring fans. Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti’s sons, Seun and Femi, both make pretty good records—but for a huge chunk of their audiences, the highlight of the Kuti offspring’s shows comes when they cover their father’s music. Likewise, although Grahame Lesh has a good thing going with his band Midnight North, it’s a good bet he probably draws more people when he appears on a bill marked as a tribute to his father Phil and/or the Grateful Dead. Again, no judgment. I’m just sayin’.
In that vein, a big nod goes to Devon Allman and Duane Betts, the sons of Allman Brothers frontmen Gregg and Dickey, respectively. My first experience with these scions was at an appearance by The Allman Betts Band at a music festival this summer. I was appropriately dubious of both their originals and their cover band chops until I heard their versions of Allman Brothers classics like “Dreams” and “Midnight Rider,” mixed in with some pretty cool originals. Their sound and skill were consistent with the Allman Brothers’ oeuvre. Not too shabby. To be clear though, it was the covers I liked best.
Watching them, it doesn’t hurt that the junior Allman and Betts share their dads’ genetic exteriors. Betts, in particular, has features that emulate his famous father. Better still, Devon and Duane’s voices have tone and timbre similar to Gregg and Dickey, and their guitar shredding and (for Devon) organ skills would make their papas and Uncle Duane proud. I’m still going to vote for Derek Trucks as the top of a very impressive heap in this generation of Allman Bros. spinoffs—but he actually played in the Allman Brothers, so maybe he doesn’t count. I suppose that bumps D & D up to the pinnacle.
That legacy was the background for the sold-out show at San Francisco’s Fillmore Auditorium on Saturday night. This was the last stop on the well-named Allman Betts Family Revival tour, a tribute (some might say “cover show”) honoring the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers who preceded and begat the two men front and center. For two sets, The Allman Betts Band played Allman Brothers originals and a number of classic blues songs that were also part of the elders’ standard repertoire during the so-called “Duane Era,” before the untimely death of Gregg’s brother and founding slide guitar player.
Devon and Duane were joined by several blues and blues-friendly guest stars throughout the evening. Jackie Greene, pedal steel maestro Robert Randolph, and ukulele phenom Jake Shimabukuro were perhaps the most well-known. Other guests included singers Sierra Green, Lindsay Lou, Lamar Williams Jr., and Erika Orbison. Bluesman Larry McCray also sang a few songs and threw down some guitar leads. Jimmy Leslie joined in on some of the guitar jams. Jimmy Hall, lead singer of Allman Brothers contemporaries Wet Willie and frontman of the offshoot group Betts, Hall, Leavell, and Trucks, sang and played harmonica.
North Mississippi Allstars drummer Cody Dickinson sat in on one of two kits for most of the evening. (Earlier on the tour, Cody’s brother Luther, Anders Osborn, Sierra Hull, and others made appearances.) The rest of the house band, so to speak, was The Allman Betts Band ensemble: Johnny Stachela on lead and rhythm guitar, Justin Corgan on bass, John Ginty on keys, John Lum on the other drum kit, and David Gomez on congas and percussion.
Two young guitarists of note got some time in the limelight. Keep your eye out for blues whiz kid Grace Bowers, an 18-year-old who is turning heads with her Bay Area band, The Hodge Podge. Bella Rayne, who has guested onstage with too many local jam bands to count in NorCal this year, is even younger, but with a future just as bright as Bowers. The blues ain’t goin’ away anytime soon, not with chops like the audience heard Saturday night coming from these up-and-comers.
Keeping with the theme of the front runners, many of these guests likewise tout famous forbearers. Drummer Cody Dickinson’s father Jim was a celebrated producer and recording artist. Erika Orbison’s husband Alex, the usual drummer for The Allman Betts Band (he made an appearance as well on Saturday), is Roy Orbison’s son. Lamar Williams Jr. is the son of Lamar Williams, bassist for The Allman Brothers Band in the mid-70s. (Original Allman bass player Berry Oakley’s son was with the Allman Betts Band when I saw them this summer. Rumor has it his departure was fraught, but I’ll let you Google that dirt—it’s not mine to spread.)
At the beginning and end of the show, as the band took and later left the stage, the house PA played Duane Allman’s acoustic solo track “Little Martha.” That set the tone for the evening, to the point where at least one online version of the setlist reported for the night included the song. The Brotherhood of Light contributed a psychedelic visual feast on a screen behind the band throughout the show—Harleys, mushrooms, sunflowers, fractals, that sort of thing. Trippy stuff. Really well done, actually.
By the way, I don’t think I saw a single electric guitar all night that wasn’t a Gibson.
The setlist (see below) tells more of the story. The magic of the evening was, for many, the masterful instrumental soloing. Devon, Duane, and Johnny Stachela can hold their own playing the classic catalog of Allman Brothers hits, no doubt. Top of the list for your humble reviewer, however, were turns by Randolph, Shimabukuro, and Bowers. Your own results may vary.
Despite running up against the hall curfew, the band and all their guests returned for an encore. After a quick version of “Midnight Rider,” the adoring crowd exited the hall to receive their complimentary Fillmore poster.
SETLIST
(Partial guest list, there were others too.)
Set 1:
Don't Want You No More
It's Not My Cross to Bear
Statesboro Blues (with Jimmy Hall)
Trouble No More (with Lamar Williams Jr. and Robert Randolph)
Blue Sky
Please Call Home (with Sierra Greene and Robert Randolph)
Stormy Monday (with Larry McCray)
Melissa (with Jackie Greene)
Southbound (with Lindsay Lou and Grace Bowers)
Dreams (with Jake Shimabukuro and Robert Randolph)
Jessica
Set 2:
Nobody Knows
Soulshine (with Larry McCray and Grace Bowers)
One Way Out (with Jimmy Hall, Jackie Greene, and Grace Bowers)
No One Left to Run With (with Erika Orbison)
Stormy Monday (with Larry McCray)
Ramblin' Man (with Jackie Greene, Lindsay Lou, and Erika Orbison)
Whipping Post (with Jimmy Hall and Grace Bowers)
Encore:
Midnight Rider (with all guests)
