Gregg Allman's death was a hard hitting one for anyone -- and there are plenty of us -- who was affected by his music.
Of course, one proper way to acknowledge his contributions is to sit down with your favorite Allman's recording (I'll forever choose The Fillmore Concerts) and have a deep listen to The Allman Brothers Band.
But when you're a musician, with a previously scheduled gig, you can also take time to pay tribute to the stage, as many did over this Memorial Day Weekend.
Some of these came off profound, moving and appropriate. Others... not so much.
While this is not an exhaustive catalog of every tribute performed, let's take a look a a bunch across the spectrum.
1. Gov’t Mule took the stage at Summercamp mere hours after Gregg Allman’s death was reported, and paid an emotional tribute to the late guitarist with two covers.
Of course Warren Haynes was a longtime member of the Allman Brothers Band. He combines poignant comments from the stage (as he does here before "Traveling Song" with a couple of musical tributes.
“Dreams” featured moe. percussionist Jim Louglin and moe. guitarist Chuck Garvey, while “Whipping Post” featured Umphrey’s McGee percussionist Andy Farag, drummer Kris Myers and moe. guitarist Al Schnier. Check out video of both "Dreams" and "Whipping Post" below, and catch a large portion of the set here.
2. Haynes' longtime ABB guitar foil Derek Trucks and Tedeschi Trucks Band also spread tributes over two nights.
In Jacksonville (5/27), Susan Tedeschi delivered an emotional tribute as only she can...
before the band played "Statesboro Blues"...
and "Ain't Wastin' Time No More".
But if you thought that'd be it, the band had more up their sleeves. In Orlando (5/28), the band busted out a debut cover of “Whipping Post,” which perfectly captured the guitar-centric, jam-focused sound of the Allman Brothers’ classic. Listen to "Whipping Post" below, or watch fan-shot video here.
3. This one is out of left field at #3 but hear me out. I actually had kind of forgot about Melissa Etheridge. But she's still around and still badass. Mixing commentary about Gregg with a smokin' take on "One Way Out"
4. We were so enamored with this one that it actually got it's own post at Tomorrow's Verse when we first heard about it.
Perhaps no single young guitarist represents the best of what Allman Brothers Band was about than Marcus King. And he's got a soulful singing voice that -- if not quite at home with Gregg's -- is certainly in the neighborhood.
Greensky Bluegrass have been longtime Allmans fans with several off their tunes in their current rotation. It was a great match to have these two join forces for this "One Way Out" cover. Check it out here.
5. Phil Lesh & Friends – “Midnight Rider”
Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh has shared quite a few bills with Gregg and the ABB, and he dedicated a show during his Port Chester run to the man. The 5/27 show featured a heartfelt tribute to Gregg Allman, performing a version of “Midnight Rider.” The band packed a ton of energy into the performance with the help of Chris Robinson Brotherhood’s Neal Casal on guitar and Alex Koford on vocals.
6. Meanwhile Phil's bandmates, along with ex-Allman Oteil Burbridge, paid tribute to Gregg Allman with a Dead & Company cover of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.”
Points deducted for not being an Allman's cover, but points awarded for the images of Gregg on the screen behind the stage. John Mayer doesn't even completely ruin it for me. Good enough for #6.
8. Gonna hand it to Zac Brown Band, apparently they've been covering "Whipping Post" for quite some time. And it's not bad. Here's their performance in Gilford, NH on May 27 in tribute to Gregg.
9. Another Summer Camp performance. Eric Krasno has got the chops to go full "Whipping Post", but he and his band didn't quite get there in this truncated version.
10. While most of the general public would name Allman Brothers Band as #1 choice in the genre of Southern Rock, I'd venture that Lynyrd Skynyrd would be #2. Like the ABB, they've suffered through tragedy and change over the years. Unlike the ABB, I'm not sure they weathered it quite as well.
This tribute really plays to the crowd using classic rock cliches rather than tug at heartstrings like the one's above. Then instead of playing an ABB song, they go with their own "Simple Man" which was probably already in the setlist.
11. This is actually a pretty faithful rendition of "Midnight Rider" by Train -- and the slide show projected behind the band is pretty epic.
But the preening and posing by the band in this video just totally takes me out of the ABB vibe, his prompting the audience to sing along towards the end is pure cringe. Just not a great match between performer, audience, and material altogether.
12. Oh, hi Trey.
We're back at Summer Camp where Trey Anastasio Band's set featured a debut cover of Allman Brothers Band’s “Midnight Rider.” The cover followed a performance of “Liquid Time" and couldn't quite escape that tune's orbit. That's not really what this song should sound like. Points for trying I guess.
