On Tuesday night the parking lot outside Merriweather Post Pavilion was expectantly converted into a hippie convention.

There were the aging members of the love generation who chased swigs of straight bourbon-whiskey with drags from their Marlboros and temporarily satisfied their anticipation for the show with stories from the glory-days.

All the while the new-age hippies listened with one ear, as they peppered the tailgating crowd with the usual solicitations: “Mali…Doses! You guys looking?”

Of course there were plenty of takers; the Allman Brothers Band had come to town and everyone was ready to party.

The Southern rock legends, led by surviving member Gregg Allman, hit the stage with their up-beat interpretation of the Muddy Waters’ classic “Trouble No More;” a staple of any Allman set list.

Warren Haynes, senior member of the jam scene who frequently plays with the Dead as well as the Allman Brothers and his own band Gov’t Mule, launched into a fierce display of slide-guitar mastery that set the creative tone for fellow guitarist Derek Trucks.

Trucks and Haynes fluidly traded lead and rhythm responsibilities, capturing and preserving the dual-lead guitar style pioneered by original Allman guitarists Duane Allman and Dicky Betts.

Derek Trucks, confidently backed by the soulful sounds of Gregg Allman’s organ, roared into “One Way Out,” the third song of the setlist.

The Allman Brothers have forged a career on updating traditional American blues for younger audiences. Nowhere is this more evident that with their classic “One Way Out,” a song originally recorded by blues artist Elmore James. “One Way Out” quickly became instantly recognizable as an Allman Brothers song after the boys injected it their unmistakable southern flair.

Highlights included guest-appearances from members of Widespread Panic, who opened the show, on songs such as “I Walk on Gilded Splinters,” and “Southbound.” Susan Tedeschi joined husband Derek Trucks on stage for a duet-version of “Don’t Think Twice,” a sentimental Southern love-song.

The show peaked towards the end of the set-list, as Gregg Allman traded his organ for an acoustic guitar on the band’s classic “Melissa.” After which Warren Haynes led the Brothers into their instrumental signature “Mountain Jam.” Haynes’ timing was perfect as he segued the band into an explosive cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Dazed and Confused” only to transition back into the final portion of “Mountain Jam.”

The Allman Brothers returned to the stage with an encore that lasted for one song. Thankfully that song was a nearly ten-minute version of arguably their best-known original song, “Whipping Post.” The full power and strength of this song was leveled onto a grateful crowd, who were left wanting possibly just a little more.

Then, while scrolling through the countless online tributes to Jackson, I stumbled across this video:

It’s the Jackson 5 performing “I Want You Back” on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand. And, after watching it, I think I get the Michael Jackson phenomenon now. Here’s this little kid, with a killer voice, singing a relentlessly happy song about heartbreak he’s not even old enough to understand. The performance is flawless, and forecasts a brilliant career with no hint of sex abuse allegations, plastic surgery, or that unnerving, breathy voice. You can’t help but root for him.

Reality, of course, didn’t live up to these expectations. The adult Michael Jackson seemed suspended in childhood, and I heard his name used more often as a punchline than a cultural phenomenon. But there’s something captivating about the child star, something that stuck with him all his life, that we were still waiting on a comeback at age 50. His death — on the brink of a 50-show tour — had the same sense of unrealized potential as his career. In a way, he never had to grow up; even after all these years, there was still more to expect out of Michael Jackson.

More Beatles news. Remember when we reported that The Beatles were going to be featured in their own “experiential journey” through the Rock Band franchise? Well that experience now has a release date – 09/09/09.

9/9/09? Hmm… remember what was released 9/9/99? Sega Dreamcast – a system before its time. Will this game succumb to the same pressure as the Dreamcast? No way.

Word is you’ll also be able to purchase fake plastic trees instruments, crafted in the style of The Beatles actual gear, to play along to the game with. I’d get Paul’s Rickenbacker bass guitar… that thing is gangster.

Official Website is here… although there’s not much to see.

Picture from P4K

Part One:
“10th Avenue Freeze Out” / “Born To Run” / “Working On A Dream”

Part Two:
“Glory Days”

He’s 59 in case you were wondering.

Also, I’m trying to find a clip of Brian Williams talking about his Jersey days where he would chase Bruce up and down the shore trying to catch a concert. If I do, I’ll post it. If you do, let me know, then I’ll post it.

Posted by Joe.

PICTURE FROM GETTY IMAGES

RollingStone

100 Mary J. Blige
99 Steven Tyler
98 Stevie Nicks
97 Joe Cocker
96 B.B. King
95 Patti LaBelle
94 Karen Carpenter
93 Annie Lennox
92 Morrissey
91 Levon Helm
90 The Everly Brothers
89 Solomon Burke
88 Willie Nelson
87 Don Henley
86 Art Garfunkel
85 Sam Moore
84 Darlene Love
83 Patti Smith
82 Tom Waits
81 John Lee Hooker
80 Frankie Valli
79 Mariah Carey
78 Sly Stone
77 Merle Haggard
76 Steve Perry
75 Iggy Pop
74 James Taylor
73 Dolly Parton
72 John Fogerty
71 Toots Hibbert
70 Gregg Allman
69 Ronnie Spector
68 Wilson Pickett
67 Jerry Lee Lewis
66 Thom Yorke
65 David Ruffin
64 Axl Rose
63 Dion
62 Lou Reed
61 Roger Daltrey
60 Björk
59 Rod Stewart
58 Christina Aguilera
57 Eric Bourdon
56 Mavis Staples
55 Paul Rodgers
54 Luther Vandross
53 Muddy Waters
52 Brian Wilson
51 Gladys Knight
50 Bonnie Raitt
49 Donny Hathaway
48 Buddy Holly
47 Jim Morrison
46 Patsy Cline
45 Kurt Cobain
44 Bobby “Blue” Bland
43 George Jones
42 Joni Mitchell
41 Chuck Berry
40 Curtis Mayfield
39 Jeff Buckley
38 Elton John
37 Neil Young
36 Bruce Springsteen
35 Dusty Sprinfield
34 Whitney Houston
33 Steve Winwood
32 Bono
31 Howlin’ Wolf
30 Prince
29 Nina Simone
28 Janis Joplin
27 Hank Williams
26 Jackie Wilson
25 Michael Jackson
24 Van Morrison
23 David Bowie
22 Etta James
21 Johnny Cash
20 Smokey Robinson
19 Bob Marley
18 Freddie Mercury
17 Tina Turner
16 Mick Jagger
15 Robert Plant
14 Al Green
13 Roy Orbison
12 Little Richard
11 Paul McCartney
10 James Brown
09 Stevie Wonder
08 Otis Redding
07 Bob Dylan
06 Marvin Gaye
05 John Lennon
04 Sam Cooke
03 Elvis Presley
02 Ray Charles
01 Aretha Franklin

Thoughts?

Posted by Joe.

At a time when midterms can be bogging you down, along with everything else, this song is quite appropriate. Right now I really don’t care about history. It’s getting cold, too, so I think I need a new leather jacket. The rest of the album End of the Century is just as good, I might add. Especially if you fancy a lesson in being cool.

Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen