The Allman Betts Band - first ever gig in Europe

 

Allamn Betts Band in Suwalki, July 15 2019

Newest project of renown Allman Brothers Band core members children named "The Allman Betts Band" after intensive some months tour covering USA finally did a next step yesterday, July 14 2019, and played their first ever gig in Europe. This way they started their European tour, and the starting point was small Polish town of Suwalki, close to Lithuanian border. For those of you who have no idea what Suwalki is I can say two main things. The first is that central part of the town looks exactly same way as it looked in the middle of the 19 century when it was built under control of the Russian Tsar authorities. And second - this is sleepy provincial town with population around 70 000,predominantly workers or farmers, and each time I visit it it looks that the time simply doesn't exist there. On a good side, they have cheap good food and beer.

Allman-Betts project played as part of huge local blues open air fest, largest event of such kind in Poland. After some days of hours and hours of groovy and bluesy sound shocking the town Allman-Betts bring very different dish, and even because of that they got some special attention - simply they were different. Scheduled time wasn't the best for the band since they played as all fest closer late Sunday night gig when part of first listeners already left the town. Still there were some hundreds stayed, so town's main street which was closed for traffic and became a main fest scene, was filled with people.

For listeners, familiar with original Allmans Brothers band Allman-Betts project looked as their incarnation (or quality tribute band) from very first seconds. Four guitarists on the front of the scene, hats and other outfit coming from American South of the seventies and country music scented soft rock was quite a strait citation from original Allmans. Sound was clear and of high quality, but very relaxed, without plenty of lows absolutely dominating during all previous fest concerts, and it was a pleasure for the some ears, and a strange brew fr others. Country-rock (on the safe side) changed to few longish jams in a very original Allmans tradition, but it didn't impress public too much.

Young Allman communicated with crowd, changing electric guitars to acoustic and back (with a help of a crew guy, all like on old time huge rock stars concerts), and generally he had enough charisma to attract attention. They did a groovy blues number together with Ronnie Baker Brooks, Chicagoan Afro-American blues guitarist and singer who opened the night for them, what melted the ice which has been still partially left between them and public. And then  - Prince's "Purple Rain" a la Allmans and Betts, professional but not too original cover.

The band closed the main program with "Down To The River" - a song from their just released debut album and a potential hit for sure. After they finished I got a mixed feeling - it was really interesting to evidence technically excellent new band who is capable to play different king of music and had some charisma. They demonstrated some strong or even excellent musicianship playing great songs' covers, and were capable to show one their own strong hit. What after - will they found their own way and a face or will they stay a family-rooted Allmans quality tribute band?

Anyway, they have an intensive European tour now, so probably we will hear from them more quite soon.

Rest of the European tour schedule: