On January 10, 2014, a star-studded tribute concert to
Gregg Allman directed by
Don Was was held at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. All My Friends showcases this show in double-CD/single-DVD and, in light of the subsequent announcement that
the Allman Brothers Band would retire at the end of 2014 in the wake of the twin departures of
Warren Haynes and
Derek Trucks, it gains a certain sense of poignancy. Truthfully, it's hard not to envision this 26-song concert as the inaugural event in a year designed to showcase precisely how rich the legacy of
the Allmans and
Gregg in particular is. To that end, All My Friends is a rousing success. Perhaps
Brantley Gilbert and
Pat Monahan seem a little slight compared to all the other muscle on-stage, but both acquit themselves admirably and also indicate how the featured lineup encompasses all sides of
the Allmans.
Haynes and
Trucks open up the show, then there's a stretch that showcases the group's blues and soul roots --
Sam Moore and
Keb' Mo' show up, then
Taj Mahal and
Dr. John show up later -- and there's space made for Americana maverick
John Hiatt, '70s peer
Jackson Browne, jam band
Widespread Panic, and country stars
Trace Adkins,
Vince Gill,
Zac Brown, and
Eric Church before
the Allman Brothers Band ties things up with "Dreams" and "Whipping Post." Some shine more than others --
Church delights with his sly, soulful singing,
Hiatt sounds like a live wire,
Moore doesn't sound like he's aged a day -- but there are no weak spots and the overall effect of All My Friends is dazzling; it illustrates just how rich
Gregg Allman's contribution to American music is and what we'll miss when he retires. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine