The Allman Brothers Band: Live at the Beacon Theatre (2003) (V)

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Release Date:

23 September 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Music

Cast

Gregg Allman	...	Himself (Keyboards) (as The Allman Brothers Band)
Oteil Burbridge	...	Himself (Bass) (as The Allman Brothers Band)
Warren Haynes	...	Himself (Guitar) (as The Allman Brothers Band)
Jaimoe	...	Himself (Drums) (as The Allman Brothers Band)
Butch Trucks	...	Himself (Drums) (as The Allman Brothers Band)
Derek Trucks	...	Himself (Guitar) (as The Allman Brothers Band)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

USA:Not Rated (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Beacon Theater - 2124 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

If you're an Allman Brothers fan and you can find this, its worth the buy...

...However, there is only one minor complaint in watching a band as fantastic at what they do years and years down the line like the Allman Brothers Band on a concert DVD such as this- if you see them for real live, it's a far more rewarding and impressionable experience. To see these musicians, all extremely talented and skilled at improvisation and soulfulness, in the flesh, is a true treat for a rock and roll & blues fan. That experience is only slightly lost when watching a concert form of that on video (this also goes with bands like the Who and Judas Priest). That being said, if you can find this video/DVD wherever they're sold, it's a worthwhile purchase, as the band goes through some of their classics like "Ain't Wastin' Time No More", "Come & Go Blues", "Dreams", and the best, "Whipping Post", along with a few songs from their most recent album Hittin' the Note, and of course their trademark, mind-blower jams.

Some may be wary to check out this concert, especially if you're a 'die-hard', as Dickie Bettes of course is not in the band in this concert. In a way it's not too sad of a loss; his songs of Brothers and Sisters were timeless, but over-played, and some new blood working with Greg Allman was just what the band needed. The fact also stands that Warren Haynes is one of the top five hard-rock/blues guitarists working today, as he alternates between this, the new 'Dead', and Gov't Mule, and the solos he takes are some of the most phenomenal ones in the past few years. His singing, also is a fine substitute for Bettes. Then there is also the dark horse winner in the new formation of the band, Derek Trucks, who also has his own nifty group on the side. His solos are just as impressive, and that he is so young (he joined the group when he was in his teens I believe) is an added incentive to check out his skills. It also makes for some fascinating alternating between the two, as Allman himself balances it out with his own usual skills.

Aspects like the two drummers, both very good at what they do, and the 'trippy' visual effects in the background behind them, are a little much at times, but don't detract from the great stuff in the show. And a venue like the Beacon, which for the Allman's is practically the equivalent of what CBGB's were to the Ramones, is like a second home for them, a good venue with a not exceedingly high crowd (or maybe I'm wrong, I can't remember much of the audience at the show I was at, ho-ho). I can't compare it to any of the other concert DVD's out there from them, but on its own standing it shows the band in sturdy shape, with enough energy to blast off many of the current rock groups off the stage.