Gig Review: Allman Brothers Band, Fallsview Casino, Niagara Falls, ON, June 23, 2006

The Allman Brothers Band - two drummers, a percussionist, two guitarists, a bass player, and Gregg Allman on keys - played an intimate show in front of 1,500 appreciative fans Friday night in the Falls. I went knowing that I would see a straight-up, quality performance, but I was blown away by the level of musicianship that I saw.

The stars on this night were guitarists Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks. Improvising, jamming, giving each other cues to play off of and challenging the other guy to go one better, this is truly a players' band. All of the other musicians were really there to frame the work of Haynes and Trucks, and they did a good job at that, except for one of the drummers (Jaimoe) who was pretty much mailing in his performance over the entire two-hour-plus set.

As for familiar tunes, they opened and closed with "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" and also threw in "Midnight Rider" mid-set, but this was no greatest hits show (which is what separates the Allmans from most of their "classic rock" contemporaries). Can't remember any other big ones off the top of my head, but from this casual fan's perspective, they are arguably as good as they've ever been on a creative level and the fact that they didn't rely too heavily on their back catalogue after being in the business for 35 plus years is significant. Substance without a hint of pretence (Gregg even descended into the audience after the encore to sign autographs), just a bunch of guys doing what they love to do and doing it oh so well.

Very, very good.

Overall rating: 9.5/10

P.S. Stayed at the brand-new Great Wolf Lodge courtesy of a buddy who works there, and the next day in front of me in the omelette line at the breakfast buffet was former NHL superstar Doug Gilmour.

I refused to acknowledge him.

LEAFS SUCK.