You just have to go to Italy to get it.
The Allman Brothers Band essentially invented southern rock in the early 1970’s. Their 1971 live two-record set, At Filmore East, is hailed as one of the greatest live albums ever recorded, gaining the young band national recognition.
Their music was a mix of rock, blues, and country with a jam-band style with extensive guitar solos by Duane Allman and Dickey Betts.
On Halloween night, the Miller Theater will be filled with the soaring guitar solos of the Allman Betts Band, made up of Gregg Allman’s, son Devan, and Dickie Betts, son Duane.
The ABB (Allman Betts Band) is rounded out with Berry Oakley Jr. (bass), Johnny Stachela (guitar), John Ginty (keyboards), R. Scott Bryan (percussion), and John Lum (drums).
Duane Betts, named after the late, great Duane Allman, called in from Charleston, where he and the band had just arrived for a show at the Charleston Music Hall on Wednesday night.
The road is something Betts is accustomed to. While not performing with his band or traveling with his new bride, he splits his time between Southern California, Wyoming and Florida.
“It’s a really cool exciting time for the band,” Betts said. “We sound great and we’re just really excited about the future.”
With the derivative nature of music, it’s interesting to note Duane’s appreciation of the original, authentic things in life.
With a father who created some of the most influential guitar licks of the 20th century, it stands to reason origin is important to Duane.
“I was in St. Louis at Devon’s house writing the new record earlier this year and we were fortunate enough to get tickets to see Mark Knofler. He’s a real stylist. His touch. His taste and phrasing. His style is very unique and special,” Betts said.
“I would say as far as you hear that word stylist tossed around but he is a stylist in the truest sense. I’m sure he has his influences, and there are people that he was influenced by that you might hear in his playing, but I would say as far as when you hear that word “stylist” tossed around, he’s a stylist in the truest sense,” he continues.
Betts recently spent a couple of months abroad, and his choice of locales speaks volumes of his artistic journey. “I love France and Italy. Italy is one of my favorite places. Kind of like California with people who speak Italian,” Betts chuckled.
“Amazing coffee-you can get amazing espressos at truck stops. I love it. It’s a great place to feel inspired, stir up emotion and feel the spirit and history of the place.”
Growing up in Sarasota, the winter home of the Ringling Bros circus, one would expect the young Betts spent time under the big top.
“I went to the circus a couple of times, but there was actually an amazing medieval fair, a renaissance fair that was on the water. That was more of a happening to me and my friends than a circus,” Betts recalled.
And his favorite city to travel to in the states? New Orleans. “I just love the history, how real it is”
Betts truly has an old soul, one that is revealed onstage as he strives to be an authentic original, yet never too far away from his own influences-his father Dickey Betts.
“He’s doing really well. He’s relaxing. I think he might come to one of our shows in Florida later this week and hang out,” Betts shared about father Dickey.
While there is no doubt one can hear the influence of their famous fathers on their new album, the band makes clear they are not a tribute band, riding the coattails of their famous fathers.
The hard work and talent is all their own. The proof is in the response from the audience, earned one night at a time, as the band joyfully carves out their own path to rock and roll success.
The Allman Betts Band with Special Guests Joanne Shaw Taylor and Jackson Stokes
Halloween Night Thursday October 31st
Tickets $35-55
Miller Theater Augusta GA
