Allman Brothers rock SPAC

The Allman Brothers Band brought their friends for their concert at SPAC Sunday night, providing the edge of the Adirondacks with a marathon concert of marathon jams.
JJ Grey and Mofro began blowing their horns and playing massive riffs around 5, as the sun baked the early birds in their lawn chairs and blankets. The North Mississippi Allstars kicked it up another notch and included some covers like Al Green's "Love and Happiness" in their set. The people danced at the front of the lawn. Sun, smoke, a gathering of the tribe. Fans young an old were assembled, enthusiastic two-year-olds running around - this was a Kids-under-12-get-in-free show, perfect for a band touring with a mushroom as its symbol.
The Allmans are among the pantheon of American rock and contend for the title of top Southern Rock band because of their live shows - Skynyrd had a far better songwriter in the late Ronnie Van Zandt. The 2007 Allmans don't much resemble those of 1971 - two drummers, Butch Trucks and Jaimoe, remain along with Gregg Allman, who was once married to Cher (very briefly). The more talented of the actual Allman Brothers, awesome guitarist Duane, was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1971. Original member and guitarist Dickey Betts was kicked out of the band in 2000 for "personal and professional reasons."
But the band still has the one Allman, and its done a fantastic job replacing its guitarists. Warren Haynes of Gov't Mule renown and Butch's son Derek Trucks now man the axes. (Yes, so the Trucks Family Band would be a more appropriate name, but not a better one). There are three drummers - a guitarist or bassist lined up in front of each - four on one jam as the bassist switched instruments. Darkness fell and the band became visible on screens and from deep inside the ampitheater. Gregg, off to the side along with fans who had special seating, muttered something that might have been SPAC was the first ampitheater the band played, back in the early 70s.
It's harder to dance in the dark, but the lawn crowd - not just at its front edge, but practically the entire thing - was on their feet moving for at least the first hour of the Allmans' set. Haynes and Trucks wowed throughout, and the music could carry you somewhere. The smell of marijuana assisting the music for some concertgoers became prevalent once the stars came out and the Allmans came on. I'm not an Allmans' expert, and the only song I recognized of the whole set was a cover of Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisisted," not one of the highlights. But it was a fine set and a fine show.
"Jessica" was the encore, unsurprisingly. The light show behind the band turned from mushrooms and abstract shapes to leaping dolphins and orcas, underscoring the feeling of surfing the crests of the tallest waves that that song gives you, perhaps more than any hit excepting "Wipeout."
Shockingly, no "Ramblin' Man." I was honestly stunned. But the crowd accepted it, having enjoyed the 5 and a half hour show, and headed home.
-By Ted Reinert

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