Allman Brothers Band – March 26, 2009: 40^th Anniversary Show: The Beacon Theater
EOne Entertainment
www.allmanbrothersband.com

Rating: B+

With the news that Allman Brothers are getting ready to retire, this concert becomes even more important.  Recorded in 2009 at one of the band’s famous yearly gigs at the Beacon Theater in NYC, this show celebrates the first time the band ever performed together way back in 1969, forty years to the day of the taping of this show. 

We are talking magic happening people, then and now.  This show inadvertently became a huge musical tribute to Duane Allman and Berry Oakley as the band went though the two albums to feature the two men.  The Allman’s first two albums were played in order, track-by-track to the delight of the audience and the band. 

The lineup that recorded the 40^th Anniversary show consisted of Gregg Allman, Butch Trucks, Jaimoe, Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, Oteil Burbridge and Marc Quinones… yet one could feel the spirit of Allman’s past weighing heavily in both the atmosphere as well as the music.

This is a celebration of much more than a band’s fourth decade of existence.  It is a celebration of a band that changed the history of music forever.  This one should be owned, played and played again by anyone who truly loves rock and roll. 

By Jeb Wright