Inside Red Bank, NJ's Count Basie Center for the Arts this Friday May 19, 2024 evening, fans of Southern rock eagerly anticipate a live King Crawler Tour performance by The Allman Betts Band.
The Allman Betts Band was formed in 2018 by the sons of two members of the legendary Allman Brothers Band — Devon Allman, son of keyboardist Gregg Allman, and Duane Betts, son of guitarist Dickey Betts.
The group has recorded and released two critically-acclaimed albums, 2019’s Down to the River and 2020’s Bless Your Heart.
Following opening act, J. D. Simo, the members of The Allman Betts Band — guitarists/vocalists Devon Allman and Duane Betts, along with keyboardist John Ginty, bassist Justin Corgan, drummers John Lum and Alex Orbison, and slide guitarist Johnny Stachela — take the stage.
Opening with Bless Your Heart’s “Magnolia Road,” Betts sings in his distinctive natural voice, “My old man said this before/An empty lane is what you are looking for/Never waste your time/The days are long but the years fly by.”
On the chorus, Devin Allman joins in with his bluesy drawl crooning, “Sweet magnolia road/Take me home/They pull your heavy load/Keep on rolling,” on this Southern rocker that also features tasteful slide work by Johnny Stachela, an inspired guitar solo by Betts, and a cascading keyboard solo by John Ginty.
The crowd avidly applauds, and Allman exclaims, “We’re gonna be rolling all night!” as he and the band segue into “King Crawler,” another number from Bless Your Heart.
On this rocking tune, Allman’s and Betts’ vocals are accented by Stachela’s smooth slide playing before the singers harmonize with their guitars.
Music lovers cheer, and Allman inquires, “How we doing tonight, Red Bank?” Drums roll and guitars twang as the group continues with Bless Your Heart’s “Airboats ’n Cocaine,” where Allman and Betts share the lead on this swampy Southern rocker which also has Allman accompanying himself on guitar.
Ginty plays a honky-tonk piano solo and Stachela is featured on slide guitar before the band jams while images of cash trickle down on the screen behind them.
Following a spacey sounding intro, Betts handles the lead vocal on Down to the River’s “Autumn Breeze.” Ginty’s organ swirls on this rhythmic 6/8 Southern blues number and drummers John Lum and Alex Orbison keep the rhythm going as guitars harmonize and lights dance across the stage.
The crowd stands and applauds, and Betts announces, “Thank you, it’s so good to be back,” as the group soars into “Blue Sky.” The crowd happily joins Betts in singing, “You’re my blue sky, you’re my sunny day/Lord, you know it makes me high when you turn your love my way,” on this feel-good Allman Brothers staple written by his dad, Dickey Betts.
Music lovers also stand and sing along with Allman on “Midnight Rider,” an Allman Brothers classic created by his father, Greg Allman, as he soulfully croons, “But I’m not gonna let ’em catch me, no/Not gonna let ’em catch the midnight rider,” while accompanying himself on acoustic guitar.
Concertgoers hoot and holler, and Allman exclaims, “We’re gonna take you Down to the River!” where he sings in his smoky voice, “Just go down to the river/Down to the river now,” on this title track from their debut album before bending his guitar strings and making his instrument cry.
Instructing the audience to sing the lyric, “Down to the river,” in several ways including “sweet and nice,” lights shine on the crowd as Allman asks, “Are we having a good time tonight?’” and concertgoers respond by whistling and cheering.
Betts explains that the group’s next song is “about my grandmother’s property down in Florida.” His distinctive voice carries Bless Your Heart’s “Rivers Run,” a countrified story song which features strumming acoustic guitars and a bouncy bass line played by Justin Corgan.
Allman announces, “We’ve got a deep cut for you” as Betts dedicates “Seven Turns” to relatives in the audience. Allman plays acoustic and Betts solos on electric on this folk-rocking Allman Brothers Band cover.
At the conclusion, music lovers stand, and Allman thanks the crowd stating, “We are honored to sing these songs for you. Thank you for supporting live music made without any tracks. This is 100% organic music.”
The musicians sail into the epic Bless Your Heart instrumental, “Savannah’s Dream,” where Allman and Betts are spotlighted playing the melody in harmony on their guitars.
Stachela renders a slide guitar solo, Ginty is featured on Fender Rhodes and organ, and Corgan plays a bass solo on this mystical 6/8 number which ends with an energetic audience standing ovation.
“You guys aren’t getting tired!” exclaims Allman, adding, “Come on, Jersey! Help me count this one out here — 1, 2, 3, 4,” as he and the band launch into another Bless Your Heart track, the slow rocking “Carolina Song,” where Allman’s powerful vocal leads the way crying, “Carolina, won’t you hear my song?”
Allman announces, “We’ve got a really long set for you tonight!” and concertgoers cheer when they recognize the intro to The Allman Brothers’ “Dreams.” After soulfully singing, “Pull myself together/Put on a new face,” Allman captivates the crowd soloing on his guitar with his eyes closed.
Picking with style and talent, Betts solos, and Stachela is featured on slide guitar before the rest of band brings things home to avid hoots, hollers, cheers, and applause.
The musicians wave and exit the stage but soon return for an encore of The Allman Brothers Band’s “Statesboro Blues.” Music lovers sing along with Allman as he cries, “Wake up momma, turn your lamp down low,” before playing a solo and tossing his guitar pick into the crowd.
The audience cheers, and Allman declares, “We love you all!” To conclude tonight’s show, Allman and Betts perform the first song they ever composed together, the Down to the River country-rocker, “Long Gone.” Soulfully singing, “And we’re long gone/It’s time to get back home,” Allman emotionally connects with the crowd.
As the band continues to play, the arrangement builds with precision and heart bringing audience members to their feet one last time before The Allman Betts Band musicians meet together center stage to take a well-deserved bow and exclaim, “Thank you, Red Bank!”
To learn more about The Allman Betts Band, please go to allmanbettsband.com. For information about upcoming performances at the Count Basie Center for the Arts — including Keb’ Mo’ on June 10, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo on July 7, and Dweezil Zappa on August 31 — please click on thebasie.org.
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