Photo by Dino Perrucci


On Mar. 10, The Brothers took the Madison Square Garden stage to celebrate 50 years of The Allman Brothers Band. The members of the band included original ABB member Jaimoe on drums, as well as guitarists Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks, bassist Oteil Burbridge, percussionist Marc Quinones and special guest Chuck Leavell on piano. Each of those musicians played in The Allman Brothers at during their storied history as a band.

Rounding out the band was Reese Wynans on organ, who participated in the original jam session that led to the Allman Brothers, and Duane Trucks, Derek’s younger brother and Butch Trucks’ nephew, on drums.

The show’s setlist spanned all 50 years of the Allman Brothers’ output, including songs from their very first, eponymous 1969 album, all the way to their final studio record, 2003’s Hittin’ The Note. Chuck Leavell, who played on the Allman’s studio albums Brothers and Sisters (1973) and Win, Lose or Draw (1975), was onstage for the renditions of all the songs he originally recorded (as well as for other selections).

The show began with the opening songs from ABB’s very first studio record, “Don’t Want You No More” > “It’s Not My Cross To Bear.” Next, they moved into “Statesboro Blues,” originally by Blind Willie McTell. After “Revival,” the band played “Trouble No More” and “Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’.” A pairing of “Black Hearted Woman” and “Dreams” provided chances for Haynes and Trucks to shine on extended solos.

After a scorching “Hot Lanta,” the band invited Chuck Leavell to the stage for a performance of “Come and Go Blues,” which he originally recorded with the band on Brothers and Sisters. Leavell then took an unaccompanied solo before the band dropped into “Soulshine.” After “Stand Back,” The Brothers closed the set with a superb rendition of “Jessica,” highlighting Leavell’s piano work. His uplifting solo was just as electrifying as the studio version he recorded in 1972.

After a set break – and still joined by Leavell – the band kicked things off with an extended “Mountain Jam.” “Blue Sky” incited a full Garden sing-along, something that was not a rarity for the evening. During both “Mountain Jam” and “Blue Sky,” Derek Trucks used a gold-top Les Paul instead of his typical Gibson SG. “Desdemona,” from ABB’s final studio album, highlighted Trucks’ ability to blend jazz and blues in his soloing. “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More” was the final song Leavell would perform during the second set (he would return during the encore).

After the bluesy “Every Hungry Woman,” Haynes switched his Les Paul out for an acoustic and led the band through a delicate performance of “Melissa.” Next, The Brothers ripped through “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed,” with Haynes, Trucks and Wynans all providing searing solos. “No One To Run With” set up a set-closing rendition of “One Way Out.”

Leavell joined the band for the encore, which began with original member Jaimoe thanking the crowd and receiving a fitting round of applause. The band then performed “Midnight Rider,” followed by the moment many had been waiting for: a breathtaking “Whipping Post” to close the show.

Check out the complete setlist from the night below, via our Box Scores section, as well as videos of each set opener via nugs.net.

Check out a full photo gallery of the festivities here.

The Brothers
Mar. 10, 2020
Madison Square Garden ~ New York, N.Y.
Set I: Don’t Want You No More > It’s Not My Cross To Bear, Statesboro Blues, Revival, Trouble No More, Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’, Black Hearted Woman, Dreams, Hot Lanta, Come and Go Blues*, Soulshine*, Stand Back*, Jessica*

Set II: Mountain Jam*, Blue Sky*, Desdemona*, Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More*, Every Hungry Woman, Melissa, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, No One To Run With, One Way Out

Enc: Midnight Rider*, Whipping Post*
*w/ Chuck Leavell on piano