Review: Devon Allman, Tunnels

The Tunnels has a fabulous booking policy resulting in numerous superb gigs over the past few years and Devon Allman was no exception. We’ll just acknowledge that he’s the son of Gregg and then move on to his performance rather than dwelling on pointless comments about the family connections because this is a guy whose oeuvre and performance stand on their own merits.

Allman and his band opened their set with Wash in A, with Allman wasting no time in encouraging the crowd forward – confident, firm encouragement that he maintained throughout the set, somehow managing to exude a laidback manner whilst simultaneously exercising complete control of his band and the crowd, like a carefree drill sergeant as he orchestrated clapping & singing, calling the changes and adjusting the set list to match the vibe. Right from the first notes it was clear that Allman is an excellent player and throughout the set he commanded his guitar: fluid lead, robust riffs and plenty of wocka-wocka wah-wah, notably on the crowd pleasing cover of No Woman No Cry. He was innovative with the axe too coaxing all manner of sounds by striking the body & neck; finger tapping and soloing with a beatific expression that was a real tonic after years of guitar gurning from the more clichéd shredders (seriously, do they practice those faces?). He has a superb voice too, soulful and powerful, powerful enough to fill the room during an acapella chorus or three for No Woman No Cry.

Whilst it’s Allman’s name on the tickets, the tees and the tour posters, he fronts what is best described as a shit-hot band (Tony Antonelli, drums; Jackson Stokes, guitar and Justin Corrigan, bass). These fellas did what a shit-hot band does best: played their asses off in service of the songs with no ego-stroking, showboating or grandstanding; feel by the yard (permanently in the pocket) and more grins than a Cheshire Cat convention. Antonelli – a bear of a guy with sunglasses after dark – played with power and precision coupled with plenty of swing; Corrigan was an unassuming presence on stage until the band hit The Spinners’ I’ll Be Around when, at the behest of Allman, he put “…the funk bass up in your face” and as for Stokes…. He started out with choppy rhythm guitar and twinkling melodic runs, but as the set developed he started pushing the solos out, complimenting Allman then competing with some stunning lead work. Mid-set he was peeling off solos for fun and during the perennial Checkin’ In On My Baby he was fighting to keep control of his solo as it took flight and soared with a life of its own.

The hour and a half set was well judged with selections from his Honeytribe days (a bubbling, funkified Mahalo with its sizzling Santana breakdown); solo recordings (the delightful Turn Off the World, from Turquoise, complete with luscious guitar counterpoints) and from the Royal Southern Brotherhood too (Left My Heart in Memphis). There was a healthy sprinkling of covers too, along with those mentioned Mary Jane’s Last Dance was loose & funky in the verses and crushing in the choruses. Whilst the band made all of the covers their own post gig reflection revealed just how many killer tunes weren’t played…but what the hell, it was all killer and no duff tunes.

The set closed with a dark and brooding Midnight Lake Michigan with Allman joining the crowd for the climactic solo (well, he’d threatened to do so throughout the gig – hovering on the edge of the stage for every solo) as the band thundered to its climax. This was a superlative set of tunes, grounded in what could be described as rock from the southern States, but not Southern Rock, Allman’s songs are steeped in the sound of the southern States, but not just the rock, rather that was but one ingredient along with blues, funk and most of all…soul.

The encore started promisingly but then spluttered to a giggling halt for reasons unknown but Allman picked out the riff to Smells Like Teen Spirit, with the band kicking in as the crowd roared their recognition, however that too staggered to a halt with more grins. Some wag shouted “Allmans”, and with good grace Allman cranked out the beautifully chiming intro to Jessica as the band powered up behind him for a few bars. Halting all too soon, there were more hollers for requests both sensible, unlikely but intriguing and plain daft however with a knowing grin Allman simply reduced the band to fits of laughter with a note perfect rendition of Eddie Van Halen’s showcase  Eruption to the pleasure of the old jitters in the crowd. Fun over the band punched out two final thrilling tunes – A Night like This and Say Your Prayers – both tunes from current LP Ride or Die – and both delivered with set closing aplomb: Allman wringing every last note out of his guitar; every last flourish from of his band and every last ounce of sweat, singing and applause from of the crowd.

Allman has the charisma, the tunes and the ability to be playing far larger venues than this and deserves to be doing so, if you weren’t there, have a gander at a video on your preferred free video service on the interwebs or better yet grab a CD, you will not be disappointed and furthermore you will be scanning the listings to ensure catching him next time he’s in town.

Devon Allman The Tunnels, 9th April 2017