Throughout the years and throughout New York City

Allman Brothers Band: Throughout The Years and Throughout New York City


My journey as a fan of the Allman Brothers Band began on a cold March night in 1971. Awaiting the arrival of a friend I stood among a throng of people on the corner of Second Avenue and Sixth Street. In my pocket I was holding two tickets for the Johnny Winter late show at Fillmore East. It was a few minutes before eight, and he was late as we were to have met an hour ago to get a bite to eat. As the early show ticker holders slowly moved into the theatre, a guy whom I never saw before walked over to me and asked if I wanted his spare ticket for the early show. With my friend was nowhere in sight, and I was cold, I took him up on his offer, pocketed the ticket, but remained outside in hopes of seeing my friend show up. At 8:30, now extremely cold, and with no crowd outside, I entered into the building. Ticket torn in half by the usher, and with program in my hand I walked to the upper balcony where I would sit. The opening act, The Elvin Bishop Group, was ending and the intermission with equipment exchange was starting to take place.
Walls of amplifiers, a Hammond B-3 organ and TWO sets of drums were taking their place on the stage. While a black and white cartoon played over the big screen behind the equipment, I could hear the sounds of guitars tuning up. The house lights still dimmed and with the cartoon now over, a single spotlight hit the stage and a simple announcement was made, “Ladies and gentlemen, The Allman Brothers Band”. Not the headliners for that night but after playing for a bit over an hour, you could have fooled me.
After the first show ended, I finally met up with my friend. It was about 11:15 p.m. and he was a bit angry that I had taking the opportunity to see the first show leaving him alone and out in the cold. After he calmed down, we went to get something to eat. Sitting in the pizza shop across the street I told him about this incredible band I just saw. While at first he did not believe me, he was there to see Johnny Winter; he changed his allegiance by 6:30 a.m. when we left the late show. The late show started late at about midnight, with the first act being cut short by a bomb scare. The entire audience had to vacate the venue and then reenter. By 2 a.m. we were back in our seats entertained by a very short set from Johnny Winter. Confused, I thought, due to the time and the scare, the “Brothers” would be cancelled. How wrong I was.
Same cartoon, same equipment, and then “thanks for waiting, we will make it up to those still here”. A different voice, no spotlight, and now a “1, 2, 3...” Statesboro Blues. Whew, the sun was coming up when we left the theatre.
A few months later I got to see the band close out the Fillmore East. The late show Saturday night was an amazing, marathon show. Again, a few weeks later at Central Park’s Wollman Skating Rink, and a few nights after that at The Manhattan Ballroom. The Academy of Music on 14th Street hosted the band a few times after the Fillmore closed .And after the Fillmore album was released but with the tragedy of losing one of the founders, Duane Allman, I saw the band at Madison Square Garden. Over the years with numerous personnel changes “the Brothers” have traveled all over Manhattan:, from Radio City Music Hall, The Beacon Theater, and now to the United Palace Theater in Washington Heights. Each year they play since 1971, I faithfully hand over my cash for a ticket and each time the lights are dimmed I am not disappointed.
Celebrating their 41st years together, The Brothers hit the stage this past Saturday night, with some changes in personnel over the many years, but still with that unmistakable sound known as The Allman Brothers Band.