But that’s just what happened last night when Eric Clapton sat in during the Allman Brothers’ show at the Beacon Theatre, 03-19-2009. Here’s a taste, in the form of some fan produced footage of Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks and EC performing the Derek and The Dominos classic “Layla”:

One can find a nice review of the entire show at Swampland

More footage on YouTube, courtesy of Moogis.com :

Key To The Highway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzzAwOj4gyU
Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxoerz9BxCg
Little Wing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72jbV9-ZOH4

This morning while reading the (Newark) Star-Ledger I saw a review of the Allman Brothers Band’s Monday appearance at New York’s Beacon Theater, the first of 15 dates in March at the renovated venue. Forty years after its founding, the ABB are still selling out concert dates, and gaining new, young fans (like my 21 year old nephew).

The current lineup is (pictured above from left to right)- Jaimoe (Jai Johanny Johanson), drums and percussion; Marc Quinones, drums, percussion and backing vocals; Butch Trucks, drums and tympani; Gregg Allman, organ, piano, guitar, vocals; Derek Trucks, guitar, slide guitar; Oteil Burbridge , bass and vocals; and Warren Haynes , guitar, slide guitar, vocals.

Below, a Beacon Theater performance from 2003, with this lineup doing Midnight Rider.

The Original Allman Brothers Band At The Fillmore East

The Allman Brothers Band will be 40 years old on March 26th. Gregg Allman, Butch Trucks, Jaimoe, Berry Oakley (bass and vocals), Dicky Betts,(guitar, slide guitar, and vocals), and Duane Allman (guitar and slide guitar) more or less created the genre of Southern Rock with incredible live performances, featuring long improvisations and the dueling twin lead guitars of Betts and Duane. Gregg’s soulful and powerful vocals were, as is now, a signature of their recordings and live performances. Sadly, this lineup was together all too briefly. On October 29, 1971 Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident in Macon, GA. Chuck Leavell (piano) was brought in the band with Duane’s passing. Then on November 11, 1972, Berry Oakley was also killed in a motorcycle accident in Macon. He, in turn was replaced by bassist Lamar Williams.
The Allman-Betts-Jaimo-Trucks-Leavell-Williams lineup is pictured below.

The following years found breakups, reunions, hiatus, estrangements, and more than a few personnel changes. Other ABB Alumni through the years have included, Allen Woody, David Goldflies, Dan Toler, and several others counted as official band members.

Below, from 1970, the Allman Brothers perform Whipping Post at the legendary Fillmore East, with the classic original lineup.