Devon Allman, Hawaii Theatre, Honolulu, Hawaii April 01, 2022
Hawaii had been patiently waiting for Devon Allman for over two years. Initially the Allman Betts Band was scheduled to play the historic Hawaii Theatre. Due to COVID-19 restrictions the performance was postponed twice. Then, the Allman Betts Band went on hiatus. Finally, it was announced the Devon Allman Project (DAP) would perform at the one-hundred-year-old venue.
Initially, California’s own Donovan Frankenreiter was scheduled to open the show. To the crowd’s surprise, Jackson Stokes, guitarist for the DAP strolled on stage. With only his acoustic guitar Stokes played an exciting thirty minute set of songs off his upcoming solo album.
After a short break Devon Allman took the stage with his band. It didn’t take long to get people on their feet. The multigenerational crowd, a mixture of hippies and blues aficionados, hollered their approval. Royal Southern Brotherhood’s “Fire Up” started the set and was followed by the funky vibe of “Can’t Lose ‘em All” from Allman’s Ragged & Dirty. Next came the instrumental “Sahara” in which Stokes and Allman traded solos throughout the song. The band played a cover of The Spinners “I’ll Be There” which Allman remarked the song hadn’t been played in four years.
At the end of the set Frankenreiter arrived on stage and played a trio of songs with the band, highlighted by the ultra-chill laid-back swing of “It Don’t Matter.” Frankenreiter ‘s cool funky surf rock fused impeccably with Allman’s blues style. The band concluded the set with “Dreams,” a ten minute tribute to the Allman Brothers. The gradual crescendo had the crowd in a frenzy by the conclusion. The night’s encore culminated with the entire band, including Frankenreiter, returning to the stage with a powerful “Midnight Rider.” At the conclusion Allman thanked the crowd for waiting two years for the band and wished the audience “peace and love.”
For ninety minutes the band delivered an emotional straight-ahead rock and roll concert. A Devon Allman show is a can’t miss. The band’s next performance will be at The Fllmore in New Orleans on May 6th during Jazz Fest.
African Intro, Wash In Gm, Fired Up, Can’t Lose ‘em All, Sahara, Southern Rain, Down To The River , I’ll Be Around, Move By Yourself (w/Donovan Frankenreiter), Believe I’ll Go Back Home (w/Donovan Frankenreiter), It Don’t Matter (w/Donovan Frankenreiter), Dreams E: Midnight Rider.