Dirty Hippie Traverses Continent, Sees Rock & Roll Gods
2009 is the 40th Anniversary of the Allman Brothers Band. 2009 is the year the Beacon Theatre reopened after completing an amazing restoration. This combination provided an awesome opportunity to have one of the best Peakin’ At The Beacon runs ever. I wasn’t going to miss out on this one even though I lived 3000 miles away…
The story begins with the rumored guests: Eric Clapton, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Santana, Aretha, and so on. Anyone whoever played with the Brothers (particularly Duane), and was still alive was fair game. I decided to pick one weekend and purchase tickets to one night. It was a gamble, but it made the most sense for me. Travel would be easier, and I could see some friends who didn’t want to catch a show. The choice was made and Friday, March 20, 2009 was marked on the calendar.
Getting tickets was nerve racking. I only had one show to shoot for! Anyway, I was able to score Upper Balc via the pre-sale. During the public sale, I faired a bit better with Orch.
I spoke with Justin, and he offered Teresa and I space in a shared suite at the Beacon Hotel. He has always talked up this place, so we grabbed spots for Friday through Sunday. Its directly next to the venue. How could you go wrong?
Fast forward to March 19th; we leave from LAX to JFK on UA 22. The plane is very full. In fact, its so full, they need to move people forward. Teresa and I were selected to sit in Business. Since this was a Premium Service flight, it was first class to me. Hands down the most comfortable seats and best food I’ve had on a flight. We were super spoiled. Oh yea, I was wearing an Allman Brothers tie-dye while the couple next to us was decked out in Burberry and Gucci.
We arrive in NYC safely; Gootz picks us up from the airport. Soon, we found ourselves in Brooklyn! It was really awesome to see Gootz. She is such a great host. She had snacks and drinks waiting. We took a walk to the pier for sweeping views of Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan. We had dinner at a cool neighborhood pub with fantastic food. It was a relaxing night, and I really enjoyed spending time with Gootz. I wish I lived closer to her.
On Friday, she drove us to the Upper West Side. It was an adventure. We even got lost trying to cross through the park, but I was very grateful for her hospitality. Hopefully, we’d see her on Saturday.
We meet Justin, Tonya, Len and Chris at the hotel. The room was fantastic. We were lucky to reserve a corner suite with tons of light and living space. I could live in this room! Fairway Market is right across the street, so we gathered food and alcohol. I wish this market was near my house. They have everything!
Thursday’s show included Eric Clapton. That is right, Eric Clapton. The rumor was he’d play Friday’s as well. As evening drew closer, we started to organize for the show. Justin wanted to meet up with a college friend, and I wanted to see Eric and Matt. We decided to all converge on a bar closer to Midtown. In hindsight, we should have just stayed around the Beacon. We were able to meet up, but it was a hassle to take the train down and back up. That being said, it was exiting to exit at 72nd & Broadway and walk toward the Beacon. I love seeing the marquee lit with the Allman Brothers Band.
As I entered the Beacon, there was such a buzz in the air. First of all, it was so clean! I couldn’t believe all the detail within plain sight. It really is beautiful. We said goodbye to everyone and vowed to meet at set break. Teresa and I grabbed some beers and rushed to our seats. Unfortunately, our Orch seats ended up under the Lower Balc. At least everyone was standing, and there would be space to dance. The inside of the theatre was even prettier than the hallways and lobby. All of the statues and walls were fully restored. The seats were really comfortable. I felt privileged to be at the show:
The Allman Brothers Band
Beacon Theatre
New York, New York
Mar 20, 2009 (Fri)
Set I
1. Little Martha
Oteil solo on bass
2. Mountain Jam
part 1
3. Trouble No More
4. Midnight Rider
5. Forty-Four Blues
with Danny Louis, piano
6. Wasted Words
7. Gambler’s Roll
8. Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More
9. Mountain Jam
part 2
Set II
10. Melissa
11. Leave My Blues at Home
12. No One To Run With
13. Key To The Highway
with Eric Clapton, guitar & vocals
14. Stormy Monday
with Eric Clapton, guitar
15. Dreams
with Eric Clapton, guitar
16. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?
with Eric Clapton, guitar
17. Little Wing
with Eric Clapton, guitar & vocals
18. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
with Eric Clapton, guitar
Encore
19. Layla
with Eric Clapton, guitar & vocals; Danny Louis, piano
The “Little Martha” opener was standard for this year’s Beacon run. Its a tribute to Duane. I really enjoy Oteil’s rendition. It was cool to get “Mountain Jam”, especially since it was spread-out across the set. I could have done without “Gambler’s Roll,” but I really loved “Forty-Four Blues.” A solid first set; it left me wanting more.
For the set break, I had ever intention of meeting up with Justin and Eric. I was side tracked by and old friend: Hugh McGee. As I walked up to the lobby, I heard someone call my name. I turned around and there he was! What a surprise! We stopped and talked for awhile, and he is doing well. He is still playing music in NoVa. He told me Pat had a show that night, and he was jealous Hugh was at the Brothers. I asked him to say hello for me. I wish we could have caught up more, but the set break was ending. We said goodbye, and I hopped we see each other after the show.
After Teresa and I grabbed a couple beers, we went down to the Lower Orch to see Tom. I’ve heard so much about him over the years, but this was my first meeting. He and his brother had great seats; they were about 10 rows back dead center. We chatted for the rest of the set break, and I was really enjoying their company. They’re down-to-earth good people and were accepting of me. As the lights went down, they invited us to stay. This was a considerable upgrade from our seats. Of course, Teresa didn’t stay long. See used her gender to scum her way to the first row. I stayed back with the boys.
From left, Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, the guest Eric Clapton, Oteil Burbridge and, on drums, Butch Trucks, at the Beacon. Courtesy NYTimes.com
So, um, do you see what happened in the second set? I was 10 rows from that. Unbelievable. Rock & Roll Gods. “No One To Run With” was the start of it all. Don’t get me wrong, “Melissa” was sweet, but the energy really kicked into high gear with the “No One To Run With” jam. When Slowhand took the stage, the place went bonkers. I was afraid he’d be Flaccid Clapton, but he took Derek and Warren’s bet and raised their hand. It was all Rock & Roll. I loved the whole set. They lined up Warren, Derek & Eric. It was just amazing. Not too mention, the entire band was clicking. I can’t even pick a favorite. It could possibly be “Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?” or “Liz Reed.” It was truly a special set. Wow. I’m so thankful to Tom. The seats were the icing on the top of the experience. I didn’t want it to end.
After the show, the entire lobby was on cloud 9. I met back up with Justin, Eric and even Hugh. We had an impromptu after-party in the hotel suite. It was cool to hear everyone’s description of the experience. We knew we’d something special. I was totally satisfied. I didn’t need to catch another night of the run.
On Saturday, everyone was a bit tired and went their separate ways. Teresa and I kicked around the idea of visiting the Natural History Museum, but the day was perfect. Instead, we decided just to walk through Central Park. I was happy we choose the later. Central Park is an interesting place. You feel like you have space, yet your surrounded by a huge city. The ponds and paths are definitely beautiful. Of course, the people watching is top notch. Eventually, we found our way back on the Upper West Side and were really tired. A nap was in order to prepare for Saturday night; Mark and Jeff were coming into the City.
I awoke to a phone call from Mark, he was downstairs. I gathered myself and went down to the street. I was a bit groggy, but the nap did me well. It was going to be a good night of having fun in the City. We decided to join the ABB pre-game parties. I can’t remember the name of the first place, but I’ve been there a million times. Its around the backside of the Beacon and north about a block. We chatted up war stories with a few patrons, but decided to move on after a single beer. The place was really crowded per normal Beacon pre-game.
The “Bear Bar” had recently closed, so I was in search of a new dive to call home. I found Dive 75 on the Net, and it looked promising. We walked the few blocks to 75th & Columbus with anticipation, and we weren’t disappointed. This is the type of place I’d go every Friday. No doubt, it has great character. We spent a solid couple of hours there. It is small with limited sitting. The decor is all old wood with really comfy feel. The juke box is stacked and not expensive. The beer selection was expansive and tasty. I didn’t try the food, but it didn’t matter. I still love this place. The clientele was really cool. We talked with some ABB pre-gamers and even a few normal patrons. It had a really cool vibe. Eventually, Teresa joined Mark and I. All three of us really loved Dive 75. I can’t wait for another Beacon show, so I may visit a second time.
I could have spent the whole night at Dive 75, but we decided to branch-out to Amtersdam Avenue. Our first stop was St. James Gate. Its a cozy Irish Pub, and we sat down at a table. It was hear we were joined by Jeff and ate dinner. I had a huge Irish dinner which helped to dissipate some of the beer. On top of that, it was really tasty. I was happy to see Jeff; it was a fun impromptu dinner. We decided to finish the night across the street at the Gin Mill. We played a bit of music on the juke box, but this was my least favorite bar of the evening.
On the way back to the Beacon Hotel, we walked past the backdoor of the Beacon Theatre. The show must had ended recently, but the band members were leaving the venue ! I got to shake Bruce Hornsby’s hand (Saturday’s Guest). I also was graced with Warren and Gregg’s presence. Mark was even luckier; he saw Susan Tedeschi and Derek walking down the street. It was a cool end to a fun evening. I’m glad to have seen Mark and Jeff. I really miss hanging out with old friends.
Sunday’s flight home was horrible. They air conditioning broke, and the back of the plane was so hot. I wish we were back up in Business. Maybe one day. I was glad to safely make it back to Long Beach, but I really do enjoy NYC. I can take it in small doses. I could probably even live there for a month or two at a time. Its really a vibrant place with so much to do. However, its really crowded and not that pretty. Of course, the show was indescribable. I am really lucky to have seen Eric Clapton with the Brothers. I’m already counting down the days to next year’s Peakin’ At The Beacon. For me, the best part was seeing all my friends. The Northeast is full of great people, and I miss hanging out with all these old friends. It is the hardest part about living on the left coast. Anyway, y’all should just come out here for a California Escape!
Comments
Simeon, Great review and it was great seeing you guys. One mistake in your post. We poked our head in the Gin Mill and didn't like the crowd so we moved up a few doors to the Dead Poet, which was at least a little bit better. Wish I would have been able to arrive earlier but still great times. See you in California. Jeff
