C. J. Walsh
Allman Brothers, Wanee Festival, Live Oak, FL 2011
The Allman Brothers
Wanee Festival, Live Oak, Florida
April 15 & 16, 2011
View: Fourth row, stage left
The Wanee Festival is The Allman Brothers’ version of a backyard barbecue, headlining for two nights. Though they all have solo projects in the fire, it’s when they’re together that things become truly festive - so many excellent musicians with an unprecedented catalogue to draw upon. From Friday night’s opening Hot ‘Lanta through to In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, peaks were scaled and flags planted. The latter saw a half-hour journey where the baton was passed from one player to the next and drum solos where the bathrooms didn’t beckon. The encore of One Way Out had North Mississippi All Stars’ guitarist Luther Dickinson and Lee Boys’ Roosevelt Collier on pedal steel; zooming in and around Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks - an embarrassment of riches.
Gregg Allman’s new liver is clearly functioning quite well, on Melissa he sounded more engaged than he has in years. Highlights were Haynes slow burn on Who’s Been Talking and Black Hearted Woman, where Busby Berkeley movies played in the background.
They would better it on Saturday night, with a show that went just south of three hours. Taj Mahal came out to shout about having the Statesboro Blues and later Gregg announced “This is a song I wrote back in 1968”, then delivered a poignant, tremulous Dreams. Closing with the definitive encore, Whipping Post, the Allmans remain formidable live. Forty years after his passing, one would imagine Duane Allman being quite proud.
Set List First Night: Hot ‘Lanta, Midnight Rider, Trouble No More, Woman Across The River, Come and Go Blues, I Walk On Gilded Splinters, Egypt, Statesboro Blues, Who’s Been Talking, Preacher Blues, Black Hearted Woman, In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed, Melissa, One Way Out
Set List Second Night: Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’, Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More, Done Somebody Wrong, Rockin’ Horse, Southbound, Blind Willie McTell, You Don’t Love Me, No One To Run With, Leaving Trunk, Statesboro Blues, Dreams, Into The Mystic, Encore: Mountain Jam, Whipping Post
Published in Record Collector Magazine
