The Devon Allman Project at Sony Hall

Devon Allman & Duane Betts

Devon Allman  was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, just as his father's band was becoming popular. Devon is the son of Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers Band. Devon's parents divorced when he was an infant, and he raised by his mother in Corpus Christi and in St. Louis, Missouri. The father and son reunited when Devon was in his teens, by which time Devon was already playing guitar and keyboards. In the early 1990s, Devon Allman led a St. Louis-based band called the Dark Horses. He then led Honeytribe from 1999 to 2001, and again from 2005 to 2011. In 2011, he discontinued that band to begin playing in Royal Southern Brotherhood in New Orleans, Louisiana. His most recent effort, the Devon Allman Project, launched in 2018 and consists of Allman, guitarist Jackson Stokes, bassist Justin Corgan, organist Nicholas David, and drummers John Lum and R. Scott Bryan. The band has yet to record.

For the current tour, which stopped into the new Sony Hall tonight, the Devon Allman Project added a guest guitarist, Duane Betts, the son Allman Brothers Band's Dickey Betts. Duane opened with a 30-minute opening set using his guitarist, Johnny Stachela, and the Devon Allman Project's rhythm section. After intermission, the Project performed a one-hour set which consisted of songs from Honeytribe, Royal Southern Brotherhood, the Devon Allman Band, and a few covers. The set started with an electric set, then stools were brought on stage and the musicians sat for an acoustic mini-set that included the Grateful Dead's "Friend of the Devil,' before returning to electric blues. The encore featured all eight musicians, and included two Allman Brothers Band songs, with Betts singing his dad's "Blue Skies" and Allman singing his dad's "One Way Out." The set overall was an agreeable mix of earthy blues and rock, but the audience roared louder when those covers were performed. While the band attempted to stand alone in its fine musicianship, songs and arrangements, it may take a while for the audiences to crave that individuality over an Allman Brothers Band redux.

Visit the Devon Allman Project at www.devonallmanproject.com.

Setlist

1. Mahalo (Devon Allman's Honeytribe cover)
2. One Way Out (Sonny Boy Williamson cover, with Duane Betts)
3. Ten Million Slaves (Otis Taylor cover)
4. Don't Matter Anymore (Devon Allman song)
5. Left My Heart in Memphis (Royal Southern Brotherhood cover)
6. Dreams (The Allman Brothers Band cover, with Duane Betts)
7. I'll Be Around (The Spinners cover)
8. Friend of the Devil (Grateful Dead cover, with Duane Betts)
9. Turn Off the World (Devon Allman song)
10. Live from the Heart (Devon Allman song)
11. Lean on Me (Bill Withers cover)
12. Midnight Lake Michigan (Devon Allman song)

Encore

1. Purple Rain (Prince cover, with Duane Betts)
2. Blue Sky (The Allman Brothers Band cover, with Duane Betts)
3. Multi-Colored Lady (Gregg Allman cover, with Duane Betts)
4. Seven Turns (The Allman Brothers Band cover, with Duane Betts)
5. One Way Out (Sonny Boy Williamson cover, with Duane Betts)