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Allman Brothers band played Hershey Pavilion on perfect summer night on 08-25-2008.  Not even sure where to start… Photographing the Allman Brothers was one of the coolest things I have ever done.  Even though I was not alive during the legendary Duane Allman years, I caught up with time as many others did wearing out Live At The Filmore East and Eat A Peach records throughout the years.

Fast forward to today’s current line up featuring the youth of Derek Trucks (Butch Truck’s nephew) and Warren Haynes on the guitar duties as well as Oteil Burbridge on bass and you will find a re-energized band that is spitting fire every night.

It is no secret that Derek Trucks (also of the Derek Trucks Band) is my favorite living guitarist.  He effortlessly plays blues, jazz, and indian influenced slide guitar with tone that just tears you apart.  He is into the performance 100% every night just pure musicianship with no showy gimmicks in fact, he rarely moves around the stage or even cracks a smile at times.  The first time I saw him play was in 2001, since then I have not missed a single opportunity I had to see him.  It is mind-blowing to know that he is only 29 years old.

Warren Haynes is the hardest working and versitile guitarists in the business without a doubt having full time roles in Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule all the while frequently playing with The Dead, Phil Lesh, and countless guest appearances.  Warren is a musical chameleon of sorts, throw him into any situation and he will quickly convince you that he belongs. 

This is the Allman Brothers Band first tour back after having to cancel many shows including the annual Beacon run this year due to Gregg Allman getting treatment for Hepatitis.  After a few months rest, Gregg was already to go in fact I think his voice even got better after having time to rest it.

The set started off with a great bluesy 1-2-3 punch with Statesboro Blues, Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’, and Stormy Monday and I am not sure I could have scripted that any better.  They led right from Stormy Monday right into an awesome version of Rocking Horse that really lifted up the crowd and left them spinning for the rest of the night.  Derek was playing only his second or third show with a loaned authentic 1959 Gibson Les Paul (see photos) worth over a half a million bucks.  He played this guitar until I believe Come and Go Blues because there looked to be some issues with sound so he switched to the 1961 SG for the rest of the evening.  

After Come and Go Blues they invited Bob Weir of RatDog (and Grateful Dead) on stage to cover Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 only Bob forgot the words when it came his time to sing… oops. :)  A scorching solo by Derek followed Bob’s verse and we all forgot all about it. 

The rest of the night flew by too fast.  The crowd danced and sang the rest of the night.  Then we were all left humming the hamony parts to the instrumental Jessica all the way on their ride home…. I know I did. Dum-duh-duh-dut-DUH  dut-dut-dut DUH-DUT-duh-DAH!

The setlist for the night was as follows:

8/25/2008 Hershey Star Pavilion, Hershey, PA
Statesboro Blues
Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’
Stormy Monday
Rocking Horse
Come and Go Blues
Highway 61 Revisited¹
No One To Run With
The Same Thing²
Melissa
Jessica >
bass > drums >
Jessica

Encore: One Way Out

¹w/Bob Weir – Guitar & Vocals
²w/Kenny Brooks – Sax; Jeff Chimenti – Keys