The list is growing fast regarding who is playing at this gig. All I can say is it is going to be really fun and there is gonna be a lot of really great talent. There will be big surprises! Book a table ASAP.

Special Guests
Mark Florio
Matt Osmun
Jerome Goosman
-AND MORE-
 

"The Manipulators"
Gregg Basbagill
Tony Silber
Dennis LaPak
Johhny Esposito
Scott Bounty
 

Friday 3/29/13 8PM - 11PM 
Reservations Suggested. No Cover, Dinner Available, Dancing will be Happenin'. 
 http://www.theinnatnewtown.com/proudmary.html "

Devon Allman

Every once in a while you come across a performer who really, really gets you motivated to hear their music, get out and enjoy life. I know I came across one artist who I find really fun to follow. Devon Allman is that guy. Devon was born in 1972. He is the first son of the highly famous Gregg Allman, so right away he is interesting to follow. But what sets Devon Allman apart from other children of famous musicians, is his hard work, skills and determination. 

 

I don’t know exactly how I heard of Devon at first, but I am ninety percent sure it was from one of the online blogs or concert listings I get notifications from. “Devon Allman’s Honeytribe” used to come my way. I went on YouTube one night and started watching his videos. What I found were a bunch clips from different shows, some from Europe some from local shows in the US mostly on the East Coast. Right away I saw he was not his father, but saw similarities in his style and vocals. I noticed he is a guitarist and not an organ player which his dad favors. Suddenly it struck me that his uncle was of course “Duane Allman”, who is easily considered one of the top guitarists of all time. Rollingstone Magazine ranks Duane currenly as number 9.


So I started wondering what it must be like having your father be Gregg Allman and your uncle was Duane Allman. I started to research Devon online and found a vast network of interesting data. I "liked" his Devon Allman’s Facebook page and noticed he updates it a lot. A REAL LOT! OK he is obsessed with it, but then again so am I.

Devon has done an amazing job at keeping his fans and Facebook friends updated nearly hourly online. He is on Twitter and posts on Facebook constantly, and is constantly being interviewed. He is online more than I am which is hard to believe. At first I thought it was maybe someone else posting for him. He may need help now that his recent hit solo album Turquoise released last month is doing mighty fine. But based on what he has posted over the last year,  I have realized it is him posting most of the time, if not all the time.

When I first met Devon I went to see him as part of Royal Southern Brotherhood, (say that three times fast) and I was really happy I did. I decided to bring my 75 Telecaster guitar to see if the band would sign it. Why? Well RSB is an Allstar line up:

“The band members consist of: Cyril Neville, a Grammy Award winning singer and percussionist, former member of bands The Meters, the Neville Brothers and Galactic; Devon Allman, vocalist and guitarist from his band Honeytribe, who was featured on a top 10 hit in Europe with guitar master Javier Vargas; Mike Zito, vocalist and guitarist of his own band, which was nominated in 2009 and 2011 for the Blues Foundation’s ‘Rock Blues Album of the Year’ award; Yonrico Scott, drummer from Derek Trucks Band; and Charlie Wooton, bass guitar. [2] In 2009 Zito and Neville won the Blues Music Award “Song of the Year” for “Pearl River”, the title track to Zito’s 2009 release”. (source Wikipedia)
              
My friend (and guitarist)  Matt and I went and saw them at Infinity Hall in Norfolk CT. (Great Venue). That night was one of the first nights of their first ever tour and they did not disappoint. Although seated in front of Mike Zito, who is amazing, I was glued to Devon Allman, watching for signs of those Allman traditions I grew to know from many, many Allman Brothers shows. ABB is the band I have seen the most.

So what did I find? I found a guy, Devon Allman who was not an Allman Brother but instead he is totally himself, it is that simple. Does he sound like his dad Gregg? Sort of.. Does he sound like Duane? Sort of...mainly on the vocals. Does he sound like Duane on guitar? Sort of, but what struck me most was Devon has his own Deep, Southern, Bluesy, Sultry sound that is very, very unique. Devon is a fantastic guitarist and a fantastic singer.

The band ended the night with “One Way Out “which is a legendary Allman Brothers Band song. Other than that, it was all Royal, with killer dueling leads between Mike and Devon, and each shared their own songs and the band followed them. Also Cyril Neville did a great job leading the band. He had his percussion and conga style drums, and was center stage. He had many great songs he featured. They also covered a very cool version of the Grateful Dead song “Fire on the Mountain”.  Cyril was the lead vocalist on that. Woody (Charlie)  did an amazing bass solo and Yonrico Scott nailed an awesome drum solo too.

I instantly was hooked on the band. After the show I ran out in the cold, grabbed my guitar, and rushed back in to get in line for the “meet and great” after the show. They were signing stuff and I offered up my guitar and they were all smiles. Each one signed my guitar and we talked a bit. I pulled Devon aside and told him a story how our dad’s had met once (true story). He laughed and said “That’s a good one” in his slow southern accent...

Later my friend Matt and I were in the bar afterwards and Devon walked in. I offered a drink and we had some Coffee Tequila and Bailey’s shots. (His choice, don’t knock ‘em till you try ‘em, they are good!) He was pumped about the new band and tour and we talked guitars, amps, and some about the tour. Devon is VERY PERSONABLE. He is very down to earth and a real southern gentleman.

I have seen Royal Southern Brotherhood twice since that night. Once at BB Kings in NYC the night directly after the show at Infinity Hall, and then again later in 2012 at the Ridgefield Playhouse. We ran into Charlie Wooton (bass player)  watching the baseball game before the show near the theater and he said “this is my second most favorite thing...baseball”. The kids had no idea this guy was gonna rock this theater later and bring the house down! He was so laid back and cool enjoying the nice weather. I said I was pumped for the show and had seen them twice before months prior. He said “we are a different band now, much tighter much better!”

Charlie was right, they were tighter and way more confident. They were great the first time but really, really cookin’ that night in Ridgefield CT. You could tell they were havin’ a real blast and so was the crowd. It was the exact same well rehearsed show. Very, very down. I always love to watch the cues players give each other to, hand off leads and stuff. Let me tell you it was tight! Really tight. Each one knew what was coming way before it came. And Mike Zito is one hell of a slide player. That night in Ridgefield I said to him “you were great on that slide, I am starting to learn slide some” he said “I am too!”. I was thinking “yeah sure Mike, sure...”. PS. Look up Mike Zito on YouTube, he has some guitar teaching stuff that is really cool. Mike is from Texas, and Devon is from St Louis. They met at working at a Guitar Center Store. Imagine going in there and buy a guitar from these guys...LOL.

In 2012 Devon announce he was going to tour with a solo band. “The Devon Allman Band”.
Corrine and I saw him play at “Rhythm” in Norwalk CT December 7th 2012, at one of the first shows with his new solo band.

 WOW! We were BLOWN AWAY! He did an awesome job and did not hold back. We saw a side of Devon I had not seen or heard before. He cranked it up, and later did a few songs on an acoustic set doing “Melissa” written by his dad Gregg Allman. Devon told me that night that the tour had been a bit tiring but they were having fun. They bounced around all over the place on that tour.  

Devon Allman Band "Melissa"
  Rhythm - Norwalk CT December 7th 2012 

Devon also announced a new album  Turquoise  released in Feb 2013. Well it released and is doing great. His band is playing in CT March 8, 2013  at the FTC Theater in Fairfield CT. He will also be playing March 9, 2013 in RI and March 10 2013 in NYC. See his tour schedule on his website: Devon Allman Band.

I suggest you try to get tickets for these shows and download the album. Later in March Devon will be touring again with Royal and mixing it up between both bands later in 2013. 

The bottom line: Devon is a very cool, down to earth guy, who works very hard and has established himself as a very solid blues performer who will be around a good long time. Thank God for that!