Gregg Allman Coming to Newport Aug 10 – Talks to GoLocal

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Ken Abrams, GoLocalProv Music Critic

 

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Gregg Allman

A true music legend, and one of the most famous “Brothers” in Rock and Roll history is coming to town. Next weekend, the Newport Concert Series welcomes Rock Hall of Famer Gregg Allman to the Newport Yachting Center.

Gregg’s Band

Of course, most people know Allman as the husky throated leader of The Allman Brothers Band. But he's toured with his own band for years, and he's excited to bring them to Newport.

"It’s a smokin’ bunch, no doubt about that. I’m really happy with our sound, and our shows are just kick-ass, man," explained Allman.

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In an interview with GoLocal, Allman shared a little bit about his band, which includes veterans and some newcomers.

"We added a horn section a few months back, and man, do they make things jump! We’ve got a nice mixture of guys who have been with me for a while now - Scott Sharrard on guitar, Steve Potts on drums and Jay Collins on sax - and the new folks, who are Ron Johnson on bass and Peter Levin on keys, while Dennis Marion and Art Edmaiston have joined Jay in the horn section. We’ve also got Marc Quinones on percussion... on loan from the Allman Brothers."

The Jam Band Sound

Like many artists, Allman’s not a big fan of the industry practice of labelling bands by genre. In interviews, he's noted his disdain for the "Southern Rock" tag the Allman Brothers were given in the 1970s. In recent years though, many improvisational "Jam Bands" have cited the Brothers as a main influence.

Allman explains, "from the beginning, I’ve told people that the Allman Brothers are a band that jams; now the term “jam band” is everywhere, and there are plenty of groups that play in the same way we do, and I’m cool with that."

Blues to the Core

In addition to the usual Blues classics like “Statesboro Blues,” “Stormy Monday” and “One Way Out,” Allman’s recent shows have included a mix of his own tunes, as well as songs from the Allman Brothers Band. He describes how the two bands differ:

“Two completely different animals there, brother. The thing about my band is there is only one cook in the kitchen, you know what I mean? With the Allman Brothers, there’s a lot of ideas, and that can get complicated at times.”

A “New” Album

This week marks the release of a comprehensive 6 CD box set of the Allman Brothers classic album, Live at the Fillmore East. “That’s as good as we ever played,” noted Allman. Other memorable shows included “all those great venues … like the Boston Tea Party and the Warehouse in New Orleans. We were like the house band at the Warehouse, man! More recently, I’d say the Beacon run in 2009 was something special; every night was off the charts, and all the guests we had made it so much fun.”

Calling it Quits

As the Allman Brothers Band prepares to end their 45 year run, Gregg is genuinely proud of what they've accomplished. "I can honestly tell you that the last 15 years or so with the current line-up have been just smokin’, man. I think my brother would be pleased with what we’ve done."

In fact, Allman recalls his late brother Duane, one of the greatest guitarists of all time, as his most important musical influence.

“The biggest influence on my music came from my brother, and it had nothing to do with singing or playing. See, my brother truly believed in me before I did, and without him pushing me, I never would have made it.”

Opening Up

Greg Allman is appearing as part of the Newport Concert Series on Sunday August 10. And he’s not the only “Brother” in town - the opening act, Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band, is led by fellow Allman Brother, drummer, Jaimoe Johanson. Also, be sure to arrive early and catch local rocker Dean DePalma at 5PM on the Hear in RI Harbor Stage. Dean’s especially stoked to open for Allman, noting “It’s really an honor to open for Gregg Allman…a true legend.”

General Admission tickets start at only $19.50, reserved seats range $29.50 to $59.50. The Newport Yachting Center has emerged as the best seasonal venue around with a great line up of concerts, comedy, and festivals. If you haven’t been to a show in Newport yet this summer, this is one to check out.

Ken Abrams review Roots, Rock and Blues for GoLocalProv. He can be reached at [email protected].

 

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