Music fans are quickly filling up the Celebrity Theater inside Atlantic City, NJ’s Claridge Hotel this Wednesday, August 7, 2024 evening in preparation for a free Mardi Gras AC concert by The Devon Allman Project.
In addition to appearing as a guest musician for his father, Gregg Allman, and his dad’s group, The Allman Brothers Band, Devon Allman was an original member of Honeytribe and Royal Southern Brotherhood. He’s currently a member of The Allman Betts Band with Duane Betts, the son of Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickey Betts, and is also the lead singer/guitarist of his own group, The Devon Allman Project. Allman’s latest effort is his 2024 solo recording, Miami Moon.
Inside the Celebrity Theater, Mardi Gras AC concert producer Carmen Marotta welcomes the crowd and introduces tonight’s opening act, The Billy Walton Band. Keyboardist Eric Safka, bassist William Paris, drummer Dave Moore, singer Destinee Monroe, and saxophonist Tom Petracarro take the stage along with guitarist/singer Billy Walton.
Opening tonight’s set with “Can’t Love No One,” Walton sings in his soulful voice, “Yeah, honey it’s not you/I swear it’s me/I’m just so cold/I can’t love no one,” on this original funky minor key rocker. Then, Destinee Monroe shines with her dynamic voice on the country-tinged power ballad, “Love Struck,” and dances loose and free as Walton shreds a guitar solo on the rock shuffle, “Hell or High Water.”
After inquiring, “How’s everybody feeling?” Walton and Co. continue with the fast-paced rocker, “Loose Ties,” which features a swirling Eric Safka organ solo and a spirited Tom Petracarro sax solo. On the high-energy rocker, “Forgive and Forget,” Walton wails, “When the chips are down/I will be on your side/For better or worse/’Til death do us part,” and Monroe dances to the infectious groove set by the tight rhythm section playing of bassist William Paris and drummer Dave Moore.
Walton and Monroe harmonize on the edgy ballad, “Knife in My Back,” and Monroe impresses with her power and impressive vocal range as she cries, “My soul’s on fire and it’s up for sale,” on “I Can’t Tell.” Following the funky “One in a Million,” the crowd cheers and Walton and Co. play an encore of “Here I Come,” a compelling power rocker which has Monroe moving to the groove as Walton and the band rock out to whistles, cheers, and an enthusiastic standing ovation.
During intermission, Devon Allman talks backstage about working with his two current musical ensembles, The Allman Betts Band and The Devon Allman Project. Explaining the differences between the groups, Allman points out, “With The Allman Betts Band, it’s Duane and me together with an ensemble cast paying homage to our dads and playing music from our albums, Down to the River and Bless Your Heart.”
“I’ve also been in Honeytribe and Royal Southern Brotherhood,” continues Allman, “and I’ve done four solo records. With the Project I get to stretch out and play things from throughout my career by throwing in a song by Honeytribe or Royal Southern Brotherhood or even one of my dad’s deep cuts so, for me, there’s a lot more freedom and flexibility with the Project.”
“When you’re part of an ensemble cast, you’re not gonna sing every song or take every guitar solo, but when it’s my own thing, I can do whatever I want,” suggests Allman, prior to concluding, “Both situations are fun and I’m very lucky to be able to do both of them.”
Following intermission, music lovers cheer as Marotta announces, “Please welcome The Devon Allman Project,” and keyboardist Mark Harris, bassist Justin Corgan, drummer John Lum, saxophonist/percussionist David Gomez, guitarist Jackson Stokes, and leader Devon Allman take the stage.
Opening with the instrumental, “Wash in G Minor,” Allman inquires, “How we doing tonight, Atlantic City?” Slipping into “Fired Up,” Allman cries in his deep, soulful voice, “It’s you baby/Gets me fired up!” on this appealing Latin-tinged number which has Jason Morgan playing low and funky on the bass and Allman and Jackson Stokes trading guitar licks as music lovers clap along.
“Come on, Atlantic City!” exclaims Allman, “Let’s have a good time!” and concertgoers leap to their feet as Allman and the Project perform the classic Allman Brothers Band number, “One Way Out.”
Allman wails, “‘Cause there’s a man down there/Might be your man, I don’t know,” before Stokes reprises Dicky Betts’ original guitar solo, Erik Safka swirls on the organ, and David Gomez renders a rhythmic and bluesy saxophone solo.
Concertgoers cheer, and Allman responds, “Thanks for supporting live music and having us in your town tonight!” Caravaning into their next number, Gomez sets the mood on sax as Allman conducts the rubato intro to the sultry and funky “Sahara.”
As the arrangement heats up on this extended piece, Stokes caresses his guitar while he plays with style and passion and Allman’s fingers dance on his guitar strings. The tempo picks up as John Lum is featured on drums and Gomez plays percussion before bending notes on his sax along with the guitars on the arrangement’s retardando ending.
Declaring, “We’re gonna take you down to the river, Atlantic City!” Allman’s Southern-tinged vocal is the perfect vehicle for the soulful Allman Betts tune, “Down to the River.”
Motioning for the band to play as quietly as possible, Allman draws the audience in with his pianissimo guitar solo before cranking things up to forte and playing rapid guitar runs on his instrument. Before the number is over, the crowd echoes Allman on the song’s “Down to the river” refrain to which the pleased Allman declares, “That’s the New Jersey we know and love!”
When a fan shouts out a request for The Allman Brothers’ “Whipping Post,” Allman responds, “Were not going to play that tonight,” but when another fan responds, “You do whatever you want to, brother,” Allman quips, “That was some straight-up Jersey sh*t right there!”
The Project launches into Allman’s acknowledged “favorite” Allman Brothers song, “Dreams.” After soulfully singing, “Pull myself together/Put on a new face,” Allman captivates the crowd soloing on guitar, Justin Corgan plays a low and bluesy bass solo, and Stokes tastefully uses his guitar’s volume control for effect before Allman and Stokes play side-by-side echoing one another prior to playing together in harmony.
The crowd stands and cheers, and Allman responds, “Thank you very much!” stating, “Get on your feet and have fun!” as he launches into a soulful rendition of the 1972 Spinners’ hit, “I’ll Be Around.” Music lovers dance as they happily sing along on the song’s infectious, “Whenever you call me, I’ll be there” refrain to the solid groove laid down by the talented rhythm section.
Following two songs from Allman’s new album, Miami Moon — the Latin rocker, “Climb Aboard,” and the soulful R&B tune, “White Horse” — Allman announces, “Thanks for a good time tonight!” prior to concluding the evening with “Midnight Rider.” On this Allman Brothers classic created by his famous father, the crowd stands and sings along as Allman soulfully croons, “But I’m not gonna let ’em catch me, no/Not gonna let ’em catch the midnight rider,” before exclaiming, “Thank you so much, Atlantic City! We’ll see y’all next time!”
To learn more about The Devon Allman Project, please go to devonallmanproject.com. For more info on The Billy Walton Band, please click on billywaltonband.com. For information on future free Mardi Gras AC concerts on the Atlantic City Boardwalk at Kennedy Plaza — including Samantha Fish on August 28 — please navigate to tonymart.com.
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