Two years before they became Allman Brothers on Seven Turns, Warren Haynes and Johnny Neel were members of the Dickey Betts Band touring behind Pattern Disruptive. 

The DBB – which also featured future Gov’t Mule drummer Matt Abts in partnership with bassist Marty Privette – was captured on Live from the Lone Star Roadhouse New York City 1988, a show simulcast on radio, first released in on physical formats in 2018 and now issued to streaming platforms. 

This is an important gig, not only because of its foreshadowing the ABB’s return and Gov’t Mule’s formation, but because of what an uncharacteristically jovial Betts deems “a great jam session” featuring Rick Derringer, Jack Bruce and Mick Taylor. 

Before that occurs, Betts’ eponymous Band demonstrates its Allman bonafides on reimagined arrangements of “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” and, particularly, “Jessica,” to fit the one-drummer, one-keyboard lineup. “Blue Sky” is its typically sunny self. 

Haynes does a credible Gregg Allman on “Statesboro Blues” and “One Way Out” with Derringer adding a third guitar before telling the audience Betts was a member of the Jokers and, therefore helped to inspire “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo,” presented here in a delightfully unfamiliar set of musical clothes. 

Bruce and Taylor make the scene for “Spoonful” and “Southbound,” and sparks fly. While the knot of guitars is the obvious draw, Bruce’s dynamic bass playing is the real revelation, a reminder of the musician’s power and prowess on an instrument often buried in the background.