The Allman Family Revival at the Beacon Theatre

New York City's Beacon Theatre has become a shrine to the legacy of the Allman Brothers Band. The Allman Brothers Band performed its last ever concert at the Beacon Theatre on October 29, 2014. It was the band’s 238th sold-out show at the venue.

Two later guitarists in the Allman Brothers Band, Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks, continue to bring their respective bands, Gov't Mule and the Tedeschi Trucks Band, to the theater annually. Now, three offspring of the original Allman Brothers Band, guitarist Devon Allman (son of keyboardist Gregg Allman), guitarist Duane Betts (son of guitarist Dickey Betts), and bassist Berry Duane Oakley (son of bassist Berry Oakley) will add to that tradition. This second generation band, known as the Allman Betts Band, brought the Allman Family Revival to the Beacon Theatre on December 8.

In 2017, Devon Allman organized the first Allman Family Revival, an invitation for musicians who were influenced by his dad to celebrate his life, spirit and music. The Allman Family Revival has become an annual event, and the Allman Betts Band anchors the traveling road show. This year's Allman Family Revival tour will visit 19 cities from November 27 in St. Louis through New Year's Eve in Macon, Georgia, the birthplace of the Allman Brothers Band.

The stop at the Beacon Theatre fell on December 8, which would have been the late Gregg Allman‘s 74th birthday. The show opened with an audio of Allman speaking. The Allman Betts Band then launched the live performances with a brief set and then introduced guest performers, including Karl Denson, Lamar Williams Jr., Lilly Hiatt, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Jimmy Hall, Eric Gales, Donavon Frankenreiter, River Kittens, Robert Randolph, G. Love, Charlie Starr and others. A cover of Sonny Boy Williamson's "One Way Out," often performed by the Allman Brothers Band, and an encore of the Allman Brothers Band's "Midnight Rider" brought out the entire crew for a grand finale.

Here are some scenes from this year's event.

The front line of the Allman Betts Band consists of (left to tight) Berry Duane Oakley, Devon Allman and Duane Betts. The Allman Betts Band opened the show with a mini-set that included the band's own "Magnolia Road."

Devon Allman sang "Ain't Wastin' Time No More," which his dad, the late Gregg Allman, used to sing in the Allman Brothers Band.

Duane Betts sang "Blue Sky," which his dad, Dickey Betts, sang in the Allman Brothers Band.

Lamar Williams Jr., who most recently sang in the North Mississippi Allstars, sang the Allman Brothers Band's "Don't Keep Me Wonderin'." He is the son of Lamar Williams, who played bass in the Allman Brothers Band in the 1970s.

Singer-songwriter Lilly Hiatt, daughter of John Hiatt, sang the Allman Brothers Band's "Melissa."

British blues rocker Joanne Shaw Taylor sang her own song, "Stop Messin' Round," and the Gregg Allman Band's "I'm No Angel." 

Jimmy Hall, formerly of Wet Willie, sang Wet Willie's "Keep On Smilin'" and Blind Willie McTell's "Statesboro Blues," which the Allman Brothers Band covered.

Eric Gales sang his own "I Want My Crown" with his wife, LaDonna Gales, and Lamar Williams Jr. singing background vocals. 

Donavon Frankenreiter sang Gregg Allman's "I Believe I’ll Go Back Home" with help from Eric Gales and Devon Allman (left) and LaDonna Gales, Lilly Hiatt and Lamar Williams Jr. (right).

River Kittens (Allie Vogler and Mattie Schell) sang Bruce Springsteen's "Atlantic City." River Kittens released the song as a single on Devon Allman's Create Records.

Pedal steel player Robert Randolph performed Robert Randolph & the Family Band's "The March" with Eric Gales, Devon Allman, Duane Betts and the other musicians.

G. Love (right) and Jimmy Hall performed a harmonica duet in G. Love & Secret Sauce's "Cool Beverage."

Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke sang Blackberry Smoke's "One Horse Town" and the Allman Brothers Band's "Come and Go Blues."

 The Allman Family Revival's final bow.

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The Manhattan Beat covers New York City's live music developments as they happen. All photographs are by Everynight Charley Crespo, except when noted otherwise. For a list of Manhattan venues that are presenting live music regularly, swing the desktop cursor to the right and click on the pop-up tab "Where to Find Live Music." For a listing of upcoming concerts for live audiences, visit The Manhattan Beat's December 2021 calendar.