Yet somehow these rules didn't apply to the Allman Brothers at the Greek Theatre on Tuesday. Though they've weathered lineup changes and tragedies (especially the 1971 death of guitarist Duane Allman in a motorcycle accident), lone surviving brother and keyboardist Gregg Allman led a seven-piece band (often featuring three, count 'em, three drummers) through an adventurous mix of virtuosic Southern rock and blues that continued and even built upon the band's legacy.
Part of what allows Allman to pull off this time-defying sleight of hand is an infusion of new blood, most notably with gifted slide guitarist Derek Trucks, who was 10 years away from being born when the Allman Brothers released its self-titled debut.
But the stoic, baby-faced nephew of original and current drummer Butch Trucks fit the Allman profile perfectly with his long blond ponytail and Western shirt, to say nothing of his lightning-fueled solos as he traded lead duties with fellow guitarist Warren Haynes. (Haynes stepped in for the departed Dickey Betts, who split with the band as a result of “creative differences" in 2000).
Together Haynes and Trucks have some tie-dyed die-hards saying the Allmans sound better than ever, exemplified Tuesday by a sprawling, 17-minute “Whipping Post" that stood tall against the fiery version from the band's acclaimed “At Fillmore East" album, released the same year as Duane Allman's death.
But to paraphrase Hunter S. Thompson, it was somewhere around when Bruce Willis joined the Brothers on harmonica when the drugs began to take hold.
