One Down....................

Historic night last night in NYC.

The Allman Brothers Band played the first of what is to be their last six concerts ever. At The Beacon Theatre on Broadway.

Since 1989 the Allman Brothers have played 232 sold out shows at the Beacon. They book a run every March that has at times extended up to 19 shows.

I trolled around looking for accounts of last night's show just to get the feel into my bones. Didn't find any but I did come across videos of three songs (more to come) from last night's show.

I watched and listened to them with goosebumps.

And tears.

Yeah, I am not ashamed to admit that. The music of The Allman Brothers Band, especially given the end of the road being in sight, travels directly to my soul and stirs up my emotions like a witch mixing potions in a cauldron.

It has always been that way and will always be that way.

These videos in particular, originating from The Beacon, really got to me. The Beacon Theatre takes every good thing about this band and focuses it into an intensity that fuses the music and the experience with your spirit. The theater seats only 2,894 people. Your senses almost cannot comprehend the magical beauty and intensity created by the relationship between 2,894 people and one band. Especially in an atmosphere as funky as this.

Anyway, I found no reviews, but I came across an interesting article that supports what I have said continuously about this band. About the community that is so loyal to them.

The article ran in The Wall Street Journal and is titled "A Hot Band's Last Gig Is A Sad Note For Bars."

Considering the journal and the title I became instantaneously angry at what I thought was being inferred.

I should have known better as a 45 year fan of this band and attendee of over 25 concerts, where the only thing I ever experienced anywhere was a sense of community that spanned generations.

And an intense love of music. Broad in scope but specifically inspired by the music of The Allman Brothers Band.

From the article: "Business owners through out the Upper West Side are dreading the band's demise even if they can't name a single Allman Brothers song. The performances have been an economic and atmospheric boom for the neighborhood, with bars, restaurants and hotels reporting that the band's extended stays generate not only their best business of the year, but also their most fun."

David Truscello - general manager of Citrus - "We get business for every show at the Beacon, but the Allman Brothers are in a league of their own."

Tal Lavi - partner at The Amsterdam Ale House - "The crowds are happy and excited. It's a party - not just a bite or drink before a show. It gets very crowded. Can't walk to the bathroom crowded. But it's good people in a good mood so it never gets obnoxious. And it's like that all over the Upper West Side."

The Ale House plays only Allman Brothers music throughout the runs.

Restaurants you would not expect to dig the events, do. 'Cesca is a high end interpretive Southern regional Italian restaurant (whatever the hell that means) on 75th street. During ABB runs the wait staff is dressed in Allman Brothers gear and the bar is stocked with Pabst Blue Ribbon, Jack Daniel's and shot and beer specials.

Geraldine Traino - director of Sales and Marketing for the Hotel Beacon (adjacent to the theater) - "October is our busiest month, so these shows do not have as much impact, but we will most definitely miss the Allman Brothers in March. Luckily, we've had time to prepare for their absence, which we are sad about."

I have been in some of those bars before and after ABB Beacon shows and it is an amazing experience. Elbow to elbow with people who are knowledgeable abut the band, who know the history, respect the members, have suffered through the meltdowns and rejoiced at the resurrections. People with whom you forge an instantaneous bond. Talking, drinking, laughing, reminiscing, speechifying excitedly about the show we just saw.

No bullshit, no anger, no fighting, no stupidity.

And The Allman Brothers Band on the jukebox. Playing endlessly.

I will have more to say about the Allman Brothers Band's final stand.

I just can't help myself.