Instant Live- Odeon, Cleveland OH, 2004
The "Instant Live" albums are spare in packaging and lacking in liner notes, but that's not really the point...if you're checking out live Dickey Betts, you probably know what you're in for.
Betts' vocals sound a bit rusty, but his playing, and that of co-lead guitarist Dan Toler, is top-notch, and the sound is terrific, clear and crisp.
The 18 tracks take up three discs, and while it would have been nice to hear a couple more songs from Betts' solo albums, you really can't complain about what is here. Robert Johnson covers, Allman Brothers classics, and an excellent new song only available on this album ("Girl With The Deep Blue Eyes", complete with some terrific instrumental breaks).
Betts shares lead vocals with keyboardist Michael Kach, whose voice is good if slightly inferior to Gregg Allman's, and one can't help but think that now and then Great Southern sound more like the Allman Brothers Band of old than the current version of ABB. But hey - all the better, right? Now we have two great "Allman Brothers Bands"...
This 3 CD Instant Live release was recorded at The Odeon, in Cleveland, OH, on 3/9/04. Dickey is on the road with the newer version of Great Southern, including drummer Frankie Lombardi, virtuoso bass player Brother Dave, and Dan Toler providing intricate harmony parts and soaring leads. The show kicked off with "Little Martha" and "Steady Rolling Man" and then into crowd favorite "Blue Sky". "Ramblin Man" was one of the biggest crowd pleasers of the evening, along with "Nobody Knows" and "Elizabeth Reed".
This is one terrific find for guitar lovers (and ABB lovers as well). Perfect for a long drive along the highway, windows down. Or up. Whatever.
Betts' vocals sound a bit rusty, but his playing, and that of co-lead guitarist Dan Toler, is top-notch, and the sound is terrific, clear and crisp.
The 18 tracks take up three discs, and while it would have been nice to hear a couple more songs from Betts' solo albums, you really can't complain about what is here. Robert Johnson covers, Allman Brothers classics, and an excellent new song only available on this album ("Girl With The Deep Blue Eyes", complete with some terrific instrumental breaks).
Betts shares lead vocals with keyboardist Michael Kach, whose voice is good if slightly inferior to Gregg Allman's, and one can't help but think that now and then Great Southern sound more like the Allman Brothers Band of old than the current version of ABB. But hey - all the better, right? Now we have two great "Allman Brothers Bands"...
This 3 CD Instant Live release was recorded at The Odeon, in Cleveland, OH, on 3/9/04. Dickey is on the road with the newer version of Great Southern, including drummer Frankie Lombardi, virtuoso bass player Brother Dave, and Dan Toler providing intricate harmony parts and soaring leads. The show kicked off with "Little Martha" and "Steady Rolling Man" and then into crowd favorite "Blue Sky". "Ramblin Man" was one of the biggest crowd pleasers of the evening, along with "Nobody Knows" and "Elizabeth Reed".
This is one terrific find for guitar lovers (and ABB lovers as well). Perfect for a long drive along the highway, windows down. Or up. Whatever.
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