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Words by Kerry Heffernan :: Images by Robert Chapman
Allman Brothers Band :: 06.21.06 :: Plain Dealer Pavillion :: Cleveland, OH
Derek Trucks & Oteil Burbridge by Robert Chapman |
The Allman Brothers Band are a musical institution. It is personally responsible for contributing to the formation of an entire genre of music - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted two Allman Brothers Band songs, "Ramblin' Man" and "Whipping Post," into the "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll" list – and yet the band somehow manages to constantly reinvent itself, merging nostalgic classics with ever-evolving new songs and styles. They have overcome the tragic deaths of Berry Oakley and founding member Duane Allman, bared the all-too-present weight of drug abuse and have pushed through the turmoil of the stressed relationships with Dickey Betts and other members of the band. The band has had many musicians rapidly step in to fill the gaps of missing key pieces, only to have those musicians leave just as quickly as they came. There have been shake-ups and shake-downs, tabloid frenzies, loss, pain, joy and success. But through all of the strife, The Allman Brothers Band has relentlessly plugged away at this anomaly that is rock and roll for 37 years, and they have managed to always come out on top.
On June 21, 2006, Cleveland, Ohio and the Plain Dealer Pavilion were fortunate enough to host this timeless musical tradition. With a mix of sky-scrapers, old steel industry warehouses and bridges, the Cuyahoga River, and immense barges periodically passing behind the stage, the backdrop for this phenomenal concert was set.
Derek Trucks by Robert Chapman |
First on the stage was the Derek Trucks Band. As the band opened its set, a slight trickle of concert-goers could be seen filtering in; however, by the time the band kicked into their second song, the trickle turned into a rush. That's one of the great qualities of DTB - their mix of jazz, blues, Latin, Indian, and other world music is entrancing. Their eclectic samplings create a vibrant originality in their songs that no other band can even pretend to mimic. In the soulful "All I Do," lead singer Mike Mattison's sultry vocals soared through the pavilion. The circus-like tent covering the otherwise outdoor arena created a full sound that robustly resonated throughout the site, and it was easy to hear each portion of the six-member band. Feeling like a 70s soul jam that could have easily fit into the repertoire of the Soul Train television program, "For My Brother" showcased Kofi Burbridge's (keyboards, flute, and vocals) impeccable flute work. The sugary notes floated effortlessly up and out of Burbridge's instrument, flowing wildly as the solo reached the peak of its impressive crescendo. Eventually, Burbridge hesitatingly gave way to the lone sound of Trucks' silky guitar, lasting for only a few seconds as the rest of the band steadily rejoined the group, building back into the chorus of the song for a clean, concise finish.
Derek Trucks Band |
Just before the last song of the set, Yonrico Scott (drums, percussion, and vocals) and Count M'Butu (congas and percussion) shared a short drum solo. The deep pulsing of Scott's bass drum, combined with the Count's quick conga beats, produced the tribal sound that is so characteristic of the Derek Trucks Band's music. The jungle vibe jammed and quickly shifted into the last song of the set, the gospel-tinged tune "I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel to be Free)." The vocal harmonies created by Mattison, Burbridge, Scott, and Todd Smallie (bass and vocals) were appropriately heavenly. Soon, much of the pavilion congregation was on its feet clapping and moving to the divine beat. The song built until the sound flew into the rafters, filling the whole pavilion, before closing with a churchly run up and down Burbridge's keys and a finalizing downbeat. With this outstanding opening act, the crowd had definitely been made ready for the Allman Brothers' performance soon to follow.
As the Allman Brothers Band walked onto the stage, the now packed pavilion rose to its feet, shouting and applauding, waiting in great anticipation of that first chord. "Don't Want You No More" started the evening's revelry as the office lights in the surrounding sky-scrapers began to illuminate the city skyline. The tune moved tirelessly into the second song of the evening, the soulfully gritty, "It's Not My Cross to Bear." As the crowd moved and swayed to the bluesy tune, the weather began to take a very rapid turn for the worse. The setting sun and low-hanging clouds had been replaced with an ominous gray mass moving swiftly towards the pavilion. But the band, and the audience, pushed on. "One Way Out" brought out the vocalists in the crowd as the band paused and the audience sang out in unison, "Talking that stuff that they don't know!" Warren Haynes (slide-guitar and vocals) and Derek Trucks (slide-guitar) showcased their ability to share the spotlight as lead guitarists, smoothly passing the lead line back and forth between them for several minutes, one mimicking the other. The drums and percussion sections shared by Jaimoe Johanson (drums), Butch Trucks (drums), and Marc Quinones (percussion and vocals) also took a brief second to showcase their skills as the song went into a breakdown, giving everyone a chance to groove to the beats.
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