The Allman Brothers Band: Live at Beacon Theatre

This is an amazing band. At this point in time, the ABB has finally gone thru the full circle. If you close your eyes, the slide guitar that Derek Trucks plays matches the style that Duanne had mastered so skillfully. Derek must have done his homework by analyzing Duanne's tracks. Warren Haynes shines as usual. In my opinion, Warren gives Gregg some competitive accomplished vocals to add to the ABB arsenal. Marc Quinones "ices the cake" as he improvizes on percussion as Jaimoe and Butch lay down the heartbeat of ABB that we've heard thru the decades and have come to expect and idolize.Oteil Burbridge drives the band in a way that I think has the flavor of Barry Oakley's melodic bass lines. As you might be able to tell, I've been an Allman Brothers fan since the beginning. Gregg and Duanne got their beginning success as the Allman Joys, starting out playing sock hops and bars in the Delmar Loop area of St. Louis. Gregg has shown his masterful vocal and keyboard abilities have not been lost, and stand the test of time with 50 years of performance under his belt. Yes, he was been performing publicly since the mid-sixties starting with the Allman Joys, metastasizing into the Hour Glass out on the west coast, and then called back to be the last piece of the "puzzle" that Duanne assembled with the Allman Brothers Band in 1968. Many others have copied the ingredients of ABB, but there is only one ABB. This edition of the ABB is all business that does justice to the late Barry Oakley's phrase of "Hitting the Note", a state of excellence that is only experienced at the top of the mountain!

As much as I liked Betts and his playing, him and Greg didn't get on, particularly after Greg and others in the band got sober. Betts was still drinking, and they couldn't tolerate him anymore. Since Duane died, Betts could just never fill Duane's shoes, particularly alone, and even when Chuck Leavell was filling on piano as a "second guitar". I saw a concert with that line-up, and it wasn't even the ABB in my opinion, plus Greg was loaded out of his mind.With Warren Haynes return and Derek maturing to his best playing ever, this has been the best line-up the band's had since Duane. As far as the concert goes, this is the way a concert should be filmed, opposed to, say, Paul McCartney's concerts: not enough focus on musicianship, and way TOO much unnecessary audience "filler", interviews, etc. In this concert the band's never been tighter, and I mean EVERYONE in the band! Greg's voice is BACK again, and Warren and Derek tear it up together and separately, and the rhythm section, well, what can you say?This DVD is a MUST for ABB fans or newcomers. You WILL NOT be disappointed!!

Love ABB long time. Wanted this special 40th DVD of Beacon concert.

Wow,What an incredible DVD. I had the pleasure of seeing the band on their Brothers and Sisters tour in the early 70's and was blown away with their ability to create layers of music that simply flowed thru you. This DVD is in so many ways taking that music and adding the next level of greatness to it. I've, since the 70s seen the boys in the 90's (not to good, with them sounding more like a country band) and again two years ago where I was blown away. Since that show I've bought both Warren Haynes, Gov't Mule Live Mullrnium and Derek Trucks latest live album. To get more of the incredible guitar work into my system. As good as those two albums are they simply do not hold a candle to what these two do with the Allmans. I'm sure they would tell you the same if you asked them and honestly more or less do tell you this in the interviews after the concert.If you like the Allmans (not the Ramblin Man window) you will LOVE this DVD. I have a number of Music DVD's and this is by far the best. Keep it in perspective for yourself, as I still consider the Allmans Live at the Filmore the best Live Album of all time.

Good concert.

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.