The Allman Family Revival playing the Wet Willie classic, "Keep On Smilin'" at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, Florida on December 3, 2021. Featuring Jimmy Hall on vocals! Jimmie is the American lead singer and harmonica player for the Southern rock group, Wet Willie, and has played and recorded with Jeff Beck, Hank Williams Jr, Gregg Allman and others. This was the only Florida date on this short tour. It was a low-key sold-out event, with a smaller venue and no drinks, of any kind, allowed in the theater...just in the lobby and concession areas. The venue required a vaccine card or negative COVID test. I mention this as given how close people were seated in this small theater they probably had the no-drink policy so that masks would stay on. It was about 50/50 inside the theater regardless. Dry mouths everywhere, but you could always grab one outside of the seating if needed. I have one rant that I will save for the end of this review, see all the way at the bottom.

THE ALLMAN FAMILY REVIVAL is a celebration of the life, spirit, and music of Gregg Allman. The event is hosted by his son, Devon Allman, and anchored by his group, The Allman Betts Band. On what would have been Gregg Allman’s 70th Birthday, Devon decided to gather his talented friends to pay homage musically. Musicians that had toured with Gregg, jammed with Gregg, and were inspired by Gregg turned up to throw down. Legends like Robin Zander of Cheap Trick showed up, wunderkind Marcus King tore the theater down, Orbisons were in the house … a who’s who of musical talent have taken part.

Now … it’s a yearly tradition, and it’s grown from an annual celebration in San Francisco to a full-fledged coast-to-coast tour. Based on the format of “The Last Waltz” concert with The Allman Betts Band as the house band and featuring up to a dozen marquee names in music, it’s an epic three-hour show unlike any other. This year, the Allman Family Revival welcomes Robert Randolph, Eric Gales, Jimmy Hall, Donavon Frankenreiter, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Cody and Luther Dickinson, Lilly Hiatt, Lamar Williams Jr., and many more.

OK, I have a rare rant. In this COVID era, we have been unable to get out to blow off steam at a normal pace and for some, they are just getting out and back to their lives. This show had an older audience, which had grown up on the Allman Bros Band. At this age and given the tight quarters the audience was obviously digging the music but were seated for the performance. The show venue dictated this, and if this were held at an outdoor festival, the crowd likely would have been more active. There was one guy, not far from us, that had trouble "reading the room". He showed up late, and upon reaching his middle seat just stood there. A bigger guy. NO ONE in the whole place was standing but him. Literally. He started gyrating and flailing as you would see at a show where people had more room and you were really digging the song (cough, outside). I get it, you paid, and the music's good. But, everyone else paid too, and for some, it looked to be their first time out in a bit. People gave him the benefit of the doubt, in case "it was his song", but it appeared they were all "his song". The crowd, mostly older and masked...probably 3 rows of people behind him implored him politely (at first) to sit down. His standing, honestly affected 5-6 rows behind him from the reaction of the rows. His response was to be argumentative and yell at them, then go back to dancing and random arm flailing, like one of the inflatable things in front of a business. Not just in front of his sat, but the two ones taken to his left and right as well. These seats were tight, and to get out you had to turn sideways and shuffle down the looooong rows, pardoning yourself 100x along the way. These rows were meant for viewing an orchestra or play, not dancing. After a handful of songs, it degraded to people yelling at him and throwing stuff at the guy. Finally, after arguing with him enough, 3 rows of people behind him simply had to leave the show, frustrated. Seriously. The ABB, the Dead, and a slew of other jam bands have a family atmosphere, and a help one another attitude. We regularly see at outdoor shows a taller person asking a shorter person behind them if they would like to stand in front of them, reading the room and looking out for others around them so everyone enjoys the show and remains a good vibe. This guy last night was not that. If this was "his band" he should know better what he walked into. He was literally the only person standing, let alone for nearly the whole show. From the involuntary twitching of his head, and sudden outbursts it did appear he might have had something else going on too. He ruined the show for a number of people it appeared and did not care on f*ck.

свернуть