The eighth incarnation of the Allman Betts Family Revival tour kicked off in fine fashion at a sold-out show inside the 894-seat Arcada Theater in St. Charles, Illinois on Saturday, November 30th.
With its focus on family legacies and musical collaboration in the spirit of the Last Waltz, it was fitting that this annual merger of brilliant musicians and Allman Brothers aficionados took place during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. And Devon Allman, Duane Betts and their merry band of A-list artists certainly gave us plenty to be thankful for.
Located about 30 miles west of Chicago, St. Charles’ Arcada Theater is a beautifully restored gem and just one of the classic theaters that the band will be landing at as they crisscross the country on a 19-stop tour. The Allman Betts Family Revival will hit the Beacon in New York City, Nashville’s Ryman Theater, and other venues before the tour concludes on December 21st at the Fillmore in San Francisco.
The revival’s co-founder, Allman is no stranger to grueling tour schedules. This musical road warrior recently went “southbound” and well beyond as he and touring partner Donavon Frankenreiter stopped in every single state to complete a record-setting 50 shows in a 49-day musical marathon. Despite having their fair share of logistical challenges, the pair clinched the record when they played their final show of the tour at Redondo Beach, California on September 22nd.
Duane Betts is also busy with bookings, recording sessions, and a portfolio of impressive passion projects. Lucky for us, Allman and Betts always manage to find the time to collaborate and curate this highly anticipated annual event. With names like Luther and Cody Dickinson, Jimmy Hall, Anders Osborne, Larry McCray, Sierra Green, Lindsay Lou, Jackie Greene, Lamar Williams Junior and Alex Orbison on the bill this year, there were plenty of chill-inducing moments as the ensemble cast paid homage to the music of the Allman Brothers.
Before the show began, promoter Ron Onesti stepped out and proclaimed that he “hoped the stage can hold all the talent we have here.” This wasn’t your standard shallow showbiz hyperbole either. These stars from the worlds of blues, country, and Americana music had us all enthralled from the minute they stepped on stage until the closing notes of “Midnight Rider” where everyone joined in for an epic finale.
While each artist shone during their time in the spotlight, they were also adept at playing well with others to pull off some incredible jams. “Whipping Post,” Ramblin’ Man,” and “Statesboro Blues” were just a few of the evening’s standout selections.
While the music is always magnificent, the links between the past and the present are another magical part of these Family Revival shows. One memorable moment was Allman’s announcement that Jackie Greene was poised to play “Melissa” on Gregg Allman’s Gibson guitar.
Then, there was the show’s opening moment when Allman came out blazing on “It’s Not My Cross to Bear” while playing a Hammond B3 organ – his dad’s instrument of choice. With his long blonde locks and impassioned vocal delivery, the younger Allman accomplished the stated mission of “helping this music live forever in a live format” as they took fans “back in time.”
This tour was the first for Duane Betts since his father’s passing in April of this year. He has said that “it means even more to me to play this great music with family and friends.” Whether he was doing a solo or jamming with fellow guitar greats, Betts played with a passion that would make both his dad and namesake proud.
Blues legend Larry McCray told a sweet story about his introduction to Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts while he was touring with Albert Collins in the early nineties. He said that he “stayed in good with the family all the years up until the brothers no longer played, but now we’ve got the new brothers.”
Kudos to the “new brothers” for doing an incredible job of keeping the Allman Brothers legacy alive through this tour. Although much of Allman Brothers catalog is over a half-century old, it still resonates and remains on the radar thanks to Allman/Betts’ laser-sharp focus on their forebears’ music. This certainly was the case at the Arcada.
The old theater was packed to the gills with an SRO crowd who were thrilled to be there. Before the entire band launched into the “Midnight Rider” encore, Allman hinted that they would be returning to St. Charles in 2025. Let’s hope it happens and be sure to keep this one on your radar for next year, folks.
