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Updated 11-28-2002-
 

The Allman Brothers Band. Part 2.

 
 The Allman's did not often go OUT THERE as much as the Dead, although they were capable of playing around with one song for about 20 minutes or more, the jamming was mostly in the blues style on which most of their music was based. Sure, the Dead had a hard core of blues in their music too , but there really was a lot more folk , funk, jazz and freeform influences in their music than that of the Allman's and it was this that I found somewhat missing from this very long show. The Allman's played forever, at least three hours, giving damn good value and they played very , very well , but eventually I found myself losing interest in them , something I rarely ever did with the Dead, unless they had an off night ( when they could be bloody awful ) .
Ultimately however on this occasion,I think I preferred the Doobies performance ( heresy I know, but thats how I and most of the others I was with felt at the time  ) because they got to do what they did in a lot less time ( although ultimately their music had far less to say, but it worked better in the festival environment ) and they had more visual interest than the Allman's.
 

Photo courtesty of Joseph Kolmansky.

  Probably we were all just too tired by the end of the day to fully appreciate this show as we had only had about three hours sleep over nearly two days . Whatever, this was a very long show , with a set break, just like the Dead , and many jams and a few shorter blues based numbers .The band did two lengthy encores of no less than four numbers , finishing with a big Whipping Post which was excellent.  By then we were wrecked from the effects of the night before and the Festival days rampant over-consumption and we toddled off to the tent to get some much needed shut eye.

Bazza from Canberra , who was on holiday in the UK has this to say

The Allman Brothers, well what can you say.
The only thing that sticks out in my mind about the Allmans is that they played the gig like a bar gig, and after about an hour they walked off and people thought that was the end and some were not too happy after waiting around all day. One of the crew came out and told us they were just having a break and would be back on. Amid all the bands/drugs/people and booze I met a friend from Canberra as I was on the way to the toilets ... It is a small world.
Thanks again
Bazza

Paul Lincoln had this to say

Hi
I was searching the web for a bass tab of "Stormy Monday" by the Allmans, when I came across your site, which brought back a few memories.
The previous night to the festival, Friday, four of us were sitting in the Woodcutter pub in Hartlepool (NE England) bored. Around 10-30pm, and after several beers, Charlie H said the Allmans were playing Knebworth tomorrow.
At the age of 19, and all being AB fans, this was too much to miss, so we got straight in the car, pissed, and headed the 250 miles south, arriving at @4.30 am.
First stop was the supermarket for several packets of Marlboros and a slab of beers each, but no food.
Getting tickets was easy enough, and we camped next to couple who had their son and daughter with them who fed us plums all day. (Mother in big floppy hat, teenage son on acid and daughter in sleeping bag with boyfriend!)
Weather was excellent, as was the music. Only a few songs we didn't know.
Sadly I slept thro' most of the Mavishnu Orch set, having had no sleep the
night before.
After the AB played, we drove back north, exhilarated, arriving midday Sunday. The exhaust fell off the car two miles before home.
If any of your photos show four guys, dressed in black, hair half-way down their backs and wearing fedoras, that was us.
Regards

Paul


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We have been endeavoring to collect as many tapes of the artists that featured at the 74 bash , so we can effectively review the performances, provide set lists and band line-ups. The intention is to also display as many personal histories of the festival as possible.
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Knebworth Concerts 1974-79

 

 

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