The Brothers
Live at Madison Square Garden 4/16/25
Back in March of 2020, just before the world shutdown for Covid, The Brothers got together to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the legendary Macon, GA outfit The Allman Brothers. That show was a success by all indications, but due to a host of issues it was a one time thing. Five years later they decided to run it back as past Allman members Jaimoe, Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, Oteil Burbridge, Chuck Leavell and Marc Quinones brought on board Joe Russo, Reese Wynans and Isaac Eady to round out the sound for two shows at Madison Square Garden.
After a fantastically received first night, The Brothers were primed for night two on a freezing spring Wednesday in Manhattan. While the cold biting winds blew outside, inside MSG the fiery guitar driven rock and roll burned brightly. After a quick dip into "Don't Want You No More" to start, the band let loose on "Not My Cross To Bear" with Haynes belting out the lyrics powerfully and soloing with passion.
The Allman's were always known for their brilliant guitar players and Haynes and Trucks worked perfectly together on this night, seamlessly slipping between leads/rhythm roles, effortlessly complimenting or playing off of one another with huge smiles on their faces and fingers flying over the fretboards. The obvious highlight of the night was the duo's interplay but the whole outfit was tight and exciting.
The band has a wide appeal and that was shown off early as the hippie ode "Revival" was upbeat bright and cheery before the group moved towards the rowdier biker crowd with darker/heavier rock of "Every Hungry Woman". "Dreams" built from the slow beginning into swirling showcase for Trucks while Jaimoe took a breather for the band's spin through "Hoochie Coochie Man" as Eady filled in for him on drums.
The powerful four headed percussion machine led by Russo kept the energy high all night supporting the guitarists while Leavell joined the fun for a piano intro to the beautiful "Soulshine". The set ended with two highlights, the jazz-rock of "Desdemona" which found Trucks quoting "My Favorite Things" and a barn burning rendition of "Jessica" which was the crown jewel of the whole night.
More excellence followed for the second set with "Melissa" opening things as the band just dripped soulful rock all over the stage. "No One To Run With" flashed pictures of dead bandmates and friends while "One Way Out" received one of the best fan reactions of the night as the pumping tune was lead by Russo's energetic drums.
The band dug deeper into the blues for "Good Morning Little School" which started slow but featured amazing solos from both Haynes and Trucks that were exhilarating, Haynes in particular was bending strings to ring out like a harmonica in stunning fashion. Leavell took over lead vocals from Haynes for "Blue Sky" as the guitars danced all around the Garden. The solos continued with "Les Brers in A Minor" as everyone got a turn before a high powered "Southbound" found Trucks and Haynes pumping out Freddie King like riffs to end the blues rocking set.
The night wasn't over though as The Brothers returned for a huge encore of the classic "Whipping Post" as the screeching six strings bled with ripping soul as the special night hit a crescendo with one more huge jam. Who knows if The Brothers will continue to play together, if they re-group again in a few years, or this is it, but whatever the case the Allman's Brothers music will live on and in this formation at the world's most famous arena, it sounded as hot as ever.
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