July 17, 2009

This is Blue Sky




Dickey Betts, Syracuse, NY, 07.15.09

Going to see Dickey Betts was not on my bucket list. In fact, I had to be reminded why I should make the effort. "Betts wrote all the best Allman's songs," a friend reminded me, "before he was replaced by Trucks." Replaced for a series of unfortunate twists and turns ones life takes. So reluctantly, I went. And wedged in between the throng of die-hard fans lining the barrier and the stage in one of my favorite places on earth - the photo pit, I was able to witness up close and personal, the genius of this Americana masterpiece called Blue Sky, in addition to many others. A long time favorite of mine and I'm guessing most Allman's fans, the complicated and lengthy composition is just one more example of the existence of God. It took being five feet away for me to realize this.

2 comments:

Owen said...

I think this is what some radio announcers used to refer to as "a blast from the past" !!! Hope you had a great time... looks like they're playing Rochester on the 23rd ? Are you going to catch that one too ?

When I think that I almost saw the Allman Brothers in 1970 at Swarthmore College (when I was QUITE young !) but the warm up band (a group named "Quill" was late and then played too long, when everyone there was waiting for the Allman Bros... then it took forever to change the stage over, when they still weren't ready by about 12h30 that night, well my parents decided to take me and my friend home 'cause it was too late for us little guys, and the college students were starting to get a bit rowdy... so that's how I missed seeing the Allman Bros., when Duane was still livin'... this is the set list from that night...

The Allman Brothers Band
5-2-70
Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PA

Disk 1:

1. Statesboro Blues
2. Trouble No More
3. Dreams
4. Hoochie Coochie Man
5. I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town
6. Every Hungry Woman
7. Oh Pretty Woman
8. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed

Disk 2:

1. Stormy Monday
2. Dimples
3. Whipping Post
4. Mountain Jam > Drums >
5. Whipping Post

Heather Ainsworth said...

Thanks for sharing, Owen. Very cool story and nice set list.