Rating: Summary: Reviews of Reviews Review: This is a true 4 star performance. 5 being a historical run like the Fillmore. Remeber fellow Peachheads how long Theyve been playing. Should we compare to the Dead or the Stones? These guys are out there busting their balls and I hear "Doped up Dickey" "Warren HiJacked the sound" What! How you people have forgotten Warrens work ethic and Dickeys carrying of the Band when Greg couldnt even eat a plate of spaghetti, I do not know. These people have given us 3 Decades of amazing music dedicated to quality, live music, no overdubbs, perfection, and heart. I think Derek and Warren dedicate their sound to Duane and Dickey and pay theyre respects by not copying but fusing their elements respectfully, without altering the true Allman sound. The key to the Allmans sound was to play what they new well and different everytime. Now I demand you give them their respect. I was at some of these shows. The DVD quality is superb. Could the Beacon please sell some real beer! Long live the amazing always Allman Brothers Band. Why arent they at Bonnaroo '04!? If you are looking for some true Allmans sound to compare I strongly urge the 9/71 set at Stonybrook. Amazing.
Rating: Summary: If you loved them before, try this out Review: The reviews I've read have mostly been dead on, this DVD rocks. Whether you saw them in the late '60's (lucky you) or just started listening, you MUST see this DVD. I've seen this band countless times since 1990, and this is their best lineup. I hate Dickey isn't there anymore, but those things have passed. One thing you can say, they don't sound like an old band hanging on to the old days. Derek Trucks is probably as good as or even better than Duane (and I've been in fist fights over Duane's abilities vs. other guitarists), Warren Haynes should be cloned and put in about 10 other "jam" bands. The rest of the band is as solid as it gets: Oteil, Jaimoe, Butch & Mr. Quinones and of course, one of the greatest singers in rock 'n roll - Gregg Allman. He sounds clean, refreshed and even looks like he is really enjoying himself for the first time in a while. If the Allman Brothers band on this DVD changed their name and put out some new albums and toured under that new name, they would be a top 10-20 attraction, but they have the stigma of an old band it hurts them now, too many people think of "Ramblin' Man". Their sound is out of sight now, very jazzy and bluesy on each song's requirements, with a sound that is so crisp and clear, it is just pure dynamite. I recently took 5 friends to their first show, though they have seen WSP, DMB and others, very established and talented bands, etc 100's of times, they were flat blown away. Their quotes were "you know exactly what is going on because they are so clear and precise", "why aren't there more people here to witness this?". I've heard every song on here several times (especially the old ones) and this lineup gives an energy that puts this band in a category all alone. PLEASE buy this and PLEASE go see them next time they're in your neck of the woods.
Rating: Summary: Dickey was great but... Review: After reading some of the negative reviews about this DVD, it only shows me how shallow those people are. The band was about to go defunct. It was either Dickey goes or the band breaks up. A do or die situtation if you will. Now as fate has it, the band has taken another turn in the pages of history and has become full again. The current lineup is as good as it gets, period. Everyone is having a good time and enjoying playing again. Dickey was just dragging them into the ground. His attitude was making it tasking to play. It just wasn't fun anymore. With that said, This DVD is simply amazing. The audio and video quality is superb. Three full hours of brilliant music and a most interesting candid interview with the band. This makes this package a must for old and new ABB fans alike. I own countless concert DVD's and this is the one I always go back to and watch over and over again. Don't hesitate to buy this truly classic DVD. You'll be mighty glad you did.
Rating: Summary: ****½ - a superb concert video Review: Featuring new lead guitarist Derek Trucks, who replaced Richard Betts, this excellent DVD completely outshines the mediocre 2000 live album "Peakin' At The Beacon", and it is at least as good as the recent 2004 live album from the Beacon Theatre, "One Way Out".The Allman Brothers Band lost a characteristic voice and a great slide guitarist in Dickey Betts, but Derek Trucks fills his shoes admirably, and 54-year-old Gregg Allman's vocals are at least as strong and confident as ever. The 22-song track list includes both old an new songs...70s concert favorites like "Midnight Rider", "Melissa", "Come And Go Blues", "Whippin' Post", "Ain't Wastin' Time No More", and "Statesboro Blues", and excellent latter-day songs like "Soulshine", "Desdemona", "Maydell", and the haunting "Old Before My Time". Excellent performance. Highly recommended (and it includes interviews and behind-the-scenes-footage as well).
Rating: Summary: Missing a Few Classics But Still Rates 5 Stars Review: An excellent live concert release from one of the original jam bands. Here The Allman Brothers Band present an uncut 2 Hour and 48 minute concert recorded in March 2003 at The Beacon Theater in New York. Although a few Allman Brothers classics like Ramblin Man, Jessica, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, and Revival are not here they are included on other video releases and what is included here is excellent and worthy of 5 stars. The 5.1 sound and video quality are excellent and the band is as tight as they have ever been. This version of the Allman Brothers Band (Founding members Gregg Allman, Jaimoe, and Butch Trucks, along with longtime band members Warren Haynes, Marc Quinones, and Oteil Burbridge, and more recent addition Derek Trucks doing a good job filling Dickie Betts' shoes) seem to be really enjoying themselves on stage and it comes through in the quality of the music. Besides the concert, the double DVD release also includes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes of interviews and behind the scenes footage. There is a also a very good dressing room performance of Old Friend by Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks along with a photo gallery and discography. Here is the Track Listing: 1. Ain't Wastin' Time No More 2. Black Hearted Woman 3. Statesboro Blues 4. Woman Across The River 5. A Change Is Gonna Come 6. Maydell 7. Come & Go Blues 8. Rockin' Horse 9. Desdemona 10. Don't Keep Me Wondering 11. Midnight Rider 12. Soulshine 13. High Cost Of Low Living 14. Leave My Blues At Home 15. Old Before My Time 16. The Same Thing 17. Melissa 18. Instrumental Illness 19. Worried Down With The Blues 20. Dreams 21. Whippin' Post 22. One Way Out
Rating: Summary: Final Permutation Review: I saw this dvd on sale and had heard some good things about "hitting the note", so I decided to get it. I agree with the guy who said the James Taylor Beacon disc has better sound and video. This has decent sound, but I expected better for a modern concert recording (even the grateful dead winterland show from 1978 has better sound than this disc). I only saw the Allman brothers band 3 times around the "shades of two worlds" period, Meriwether pavillion aug. '91 was amazing . I thought the betts/haynes line up (circa 1991) was as close as they got to their original sound. My image of this band has always been the guys standing in front of the equipment cases on the Fillmore East Album and the incredible music it contains. Though Duane was the founder and leader, they were able to continue on respectibly. After all, Greg and Betts were the main song writers. These are the guys that gave us "dreams", "Jessica", "Melissa", "In memory of elizabeth reed", "whipping post" and more. Though the original line up was never equalled, Betts, and later Haynes were excellent gutarists who could still generate some fire, as the shades of two worlds album proves. I had heard peakin at the beacon cd and thought it was piss poor, not really sure if that's specifically due to betts, but Greg is the Allman so there you go. This dvd has the band down to Greg and the drummers, I was sceptical. The surprise was the new songs are all very good. Greg still has something meaningful to say and sings with feeling even though his voice is aging a bit. The arrangements are good (nice touch with the horns) and the musicianship is up to par. Warren Haynes is still a good guitarist and Derek Trucks is impressive...after awhile his running the slide up and down the neck after every riff gets old though. A few of the early songs are done very well, a few are not. I actually preferred the new songs, which makes sense because the musicians are connected to them, derek and the bass player can only interpret the old songs. That they can do something good at this point in time with only 3 original memebers is astonishing. Though I would take the "best since duane" and even "better than duane" accolades with a grain of salt. I imagine this will be the final version of the Allman's many permutations...not a bad way to take it home.
Rating: Summary: Superb music DVD Review: This DVD has everything a music fan needs. Great music and great sound. The interviews are really great and revealing. From here in Australia it's just great to see a concert of the Allman's. Hope they make it here before I die of old age.
Rating: Summary: Final Permutation Review: I saw this dvd on sale and had heard some good things about "hitting the note", so I decided to get it. I agree with the guy who said the James Taylor Beacon disc has better sound and video. This has decent sound, but I expected better for a modern concert recording (even the grateful dead winterland show from 1978 has better sound than this disc). I only saw the Allman brothers band 3 times around the "shades of two worlds" period, Meriwether pavillion aug. '91 was amazing . I thought the betts/haynes line up (circa 1991) was as close as they got to their original sound. My image of this band has always been the guys standing in front of the equipment cases on the Fillmore East Album and the incredible music it contains. Though Duane was the founder and leader, they were able to continue on respectibly. After all, Greg and Betts were the main song writers. These are the guys that gave us "dreams", "Jessica", "Melissa", "In memory of elizabeth reed", "whipping post" and more. Though the original line up was never equalled, Betts, and later Haynes were excellent gutarists who could still generate some fire, as the shades of two worlds album proves. I had heard peakin at the beacon cd and thought it was piss poor, not really sure if that's specifically due to betts, but Greg is the Allman so there you go. This dvd has the band down to Greg and the drummers, I was sceptical. The surprise was the new songs are all very good. Greg still has something meaningful to say and sings with feeling even though his voice is aging a bit. The arrangements are good (nice touch with the horns) and the musicianship is up to par. Warren Haynes is still a good guitarist and Derek Trucks is impressive...after awhile his running the slide up and down the neck after every riff gets old though. A few of the early songs are done very well, a few are not. I actually preferred the new songs, which makes sense because the musicians are connected to them, derek and the bass player can only interpret the old songs. That they can do something good at this point in time with only 3 original memebers is astonishing. Though I would take the "best since duane" and even "better than duane" accolades with a grain of salt. I imagine this will be the final version of the Allman's many permutations...not a bad way to take it home.
Rating: Summary: I Was Blown Away Review: This is a great concert, the sound quality is excellent as is the video. The guitar work is unbelievable!
Rating: Summary: Friggin Awesome! Review: Allmans fans old and young alike will LOVE this one! Outside of a few misses by Derek Trucks, a youngster who's on his way up-the-chain, this is the most vivid performance yet. I got this for X-Mas '03 and watch it religiously. Warren Haynes has done a wonderful job keeping the sound on course with tradition, as well as adding a few new licks to make it fresh. Greg looks and sounds the best in years. And the very best part is that everyone is into the sound...and it shows masterfully. BUY THIS! If the Allman's were a baseball team, the "Hittin The Note" Tour (captured on CD/DVD), would make them, "Comeback kids of the year!" The Allman's are back baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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