Bear with me for just a bit… we’re going to start this one off with a little stroll down memory lane. It just seems appropriate…
The date was June 23, 1974. It was a beautiful early summer Sunday in Colorado. Denver’s Mile High Stadium (the OG, if you will) was the site of a mini-festival featuring three giants of the southern rock music scene – Elvin Bishop, The Marshall Tucker Band, and what my good friend Jimmy Junior will tell you is the greatest band of all time, The Allman Brothers Band.
Almost 40,000 people showed up for the show, including an eighteen year old recent high school graduate named Rick. Yep, that was me, soaking up the sunshine and jamming to Gregg Allman and company cranking out classics like “One Way Out,” “Midnight Rider,” and “Whipping Post.”
Almost fifty two years later, Gregg Allman’s son Devon brought some of that old Allman Brothers Band magic back to the Colorado Front Range. Allman’s Blues Summit, a collaborative project that brings together his core band with some of the biggest names in blues music, rolled through shows at Washington’s in Fort Collins, Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox in Denver, and the Phil Long Music Hall in Colorado Springs on February 24th, 26th and 27th. And yes, that one-time eighteen year old from Devon’s dad’s Mile High Stadium show was right there, at all three shows, as well.
Devon Allman’s own musical career spans more than a quarter century, and includes thirteen albums from multiple bands (including Honeytribe, Royal Southern Brotherhood, and the Allman Betts Band), as well as solo and collaborative projects. In 2024, working under the moniker The Devon Allman Project, he released an album called Miami Moon. Billed as a collaborative effort, Miami Moon was really an Allman solo album that included an all-star support band with the likes of George Porter Jr., Ivan Neville and Adam Deitch pitching in.
In 2025, The Devon Allman Project returned, with a different set of players, on an album called The Blues Summit. This time Allman paired his own core band with Larry McCray, Jimmy Hall and Sierra Green in co-headliner roles, and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Robert Randolph in cameo roles. Different from Miami Moon, this album was a genuine collaborative production, allowing the four lead musicians to take turns in the spotlight. Lead vocals are divided among them, McCray has plenty of chances to display his guitar skills, and Hall’s harmonica takes center stage throughout.
That type and level of collaboration translates beautifully to live performances, as evidenced by the three shows this past week in Fort Collins, Denver and Colorado Springs. To me, they evoked the musical variety television programs of the 1960s and 1970s, where hosts such as Johnny Cash and Glen Campbell not only performed individually but also welcomed other artists to do the same, followed by collaborative performances featuring all participants.
The performances over these three nights followed a similar pattern: Allman took on the roles of both “host” and main performer. Sierra Green wasn’t part of this tour since she’s currently traveling with her own group, Sierra Green and The Giants. In her place, Laka Soul – a promising newcomer – filled in. McCray and Hall were present as well, shining with their legendary presence.
The headliners were supported by an exceptional five-piece ensemble featuring Jackson Stokes on guitar, a long-time collaborator from the Allman Betts Band. The group also included John Lum (drums) and David Gomez (percussion/saxophone), both alumni of the same band, alongside Nate Gilberg on bass guitar. For the Fort Collins performance, Mark Harris played keyboards; for the Denver and Colorado Springs concerts, Toby Lee Marshall – of the Koch Marshall Trio (the opening act) – served as guest keyboardist in Harris’s absence.
All three nights featured the same setlist, with twelve songs performed in the main set and an encore of two additional tracks. The Denver and Colorado Springs concerts lasted one hour and fifty-five minutes, whereas the Fort Collins show was five minutes shorter.
The concert was evenly divided – seven songs each – between material from last year’s The Blues Summit album and a tribute to classic tunes. True to a performance featuring multiple Allman Brothers Band covers, the night included plenty of extended jams that let all three guitarists shine, along with guest guitarist Shawn Eckels (formerly of Andy Frasco & The U.N.), who joined for two songs during the Denver show. Naturally, as is essential for any jam band-style set, there were numerous solos on keyboard, harmonica, and saxophone. Even Gilberg had his moment in the spotlight, delivering a funky bass solo early in each evening’s performance.
If you attended these shows for the Allman Brothers Band connection, you weren’t alone and likely left satisfied. Five Allman Brothers covers were performed, including “Melissa” and “Midnight Rider,” both featuring Allman on acoustic guitar using his father’s vintage Everly Brothers Gibson.
The entire setlist, presented in order, can be found in the photo gallery below. I don’t normally do a song by song recap, but in this case, and for these performances, I offer the following exception…
- Each night the set opened with Allman and his band performing “After You,” from the Blues Summit album. Towards the end of the song, Allman welcomed first Hall, then Soul to the stage.
- “After You” was followed by “Blues Is A Feeling,” also from The Blues Summit album. Hall sang lead vocals. Toward the end of the song, Allman welcomed McCray to the stage.
- The entire cast performed “One Way Out,” the first extended jam song of the night. Lead vocals were shared. Multiple guitar solos, including all three together at the end of the song, plus an outstanding organ solo.
- “Wang Dang Doodle” was the second extended jam song of the night, with great guitar solos from both McCray and Allman. Hall sang lead vocals.
- Soul sang lead vocals on “Real Love,” a slow, soulful change of pace song. Both McCray and Hall left the stage for this song. Allman performed two guitar solos, and Gomez added a beautiful sax solo towards the end of the song.
- Soul leaves the stage, leaving Allman and his core band to perform the Jimi Hendrix cover “Are You Experienced?.”
- And absolute show stopper in “Melissa,” from just Allman (now on acoustic) and his core band. Exceptional lead and fills from Stokes.
- Allman take his first/only leave, giving way to McCray and Hall. “Hand And Knees” (from the Blues Summit album) will be the first of three songs where McCray takes over as “host.” On this song he handles lead vocal and guitar duties.
- Hall exits, leaving McCray and the rest of the backing band to perform “Smooth Sailing,” from McCray’s 1998 album Born To Play The Blues.
- The same lineup continues for “Soulshine.” Most know this as an Allman Brothers Band song, but in the introduction McCray shares that it was written for him by Warren Haynes, and was originally recorded for McCray’s 1993 album, Delta Hurricane. Great solos by McCray, Stokes and Harris/Marshall. Towards the end of the song, Allman returns and adds his own tasty solo.
- McCray exits, Soul returns to sing lead vocals on another Allman Brothers cover, “Please Call Home.” Song features piano, saxophone, and beautiful solo work from Allman.
- Both McCray and Hall return for the regular set closer, a cover of the Wet Willie classic “Keep On Smilin’.” In case you are unaware, Hall was the lead vocalist for Wet Willie when that song was released, in 1974. The 76 year old Hall absolutely slays it, on both harmonica and lead vocal, including an extended outro vocal “jam” where he proclaims that they’re going to “keep doing it until we get it right”.
- The first song of a two song encore, “Runners In The Night,” from The Blues Summit. The song is performed minus McCray and Hall, with Allman on lead guitar and vocals, and Soul offering backing vocals.
- The evening’s closer, “Midnight Rider.” Everyone returns to the stage. Allman plays acoustic. Lead guitar duties are shared by McCray and Stokes (and guest guitarists Shawn Eckels at the Denver show, and Greg Koch at the Colorado Springs show). Lead vocals shared (including with the enthusiastic crowds).
The performances each evening, both individually and as a group, were of a high caliber. The mutual respect among ensemble members, their dedication to the music, and their appreciation for the audience were readily apparent. In conversations with McCray, Hall, and Stokes prior to the Denver performance, they conveyed genuine gratitude for their current roles and the opportunities afforded to them to pursue their careers. Their passion for their work is unmistakable during their live performances.
Ultimately, it all boiled down to this: legendary performers, phenomenal music from both past and present, extraordinary musicianship, and outstanding venues. Those who attended in Fort Collins, Denver, and Colorado Springs (including some who made it to more than one city – yes, I noticed!) enjoyed a joyous musical experience that will be remembered for years to come. To sum it up, I’ll borrow the words of the woman beside me at the Denver show, who danced energetically all night and shouted to Allman, “Thank you for the best night of my life.”
A handful of quick closing shoutouts…
To Erin Palmer, General Manager of Live Music Operations at Washington’s in Fort Collins, for being so gracious and helpful in squaring away my photo credentials. FYI, if you live in the Denver area, and you haven’t attended a show at either Washington’s or The Armory in Fort Collins, you need get your butts up there. The (not nearly as bad as many will make it out to be) short drive is well worth it for two of the best live music venues along the front range.
To Rachel (I believe her last name might be Noble), Event and Hospitality Manager at Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox in Denver, for going the extra mile to clear my photo credentials for that venue.
To The Koch Marshall Trio, opening act for all three nights: I knew of Greg Koch, but didn’t expect this trio – with Dylan Koch on drums and Toby Lee Marshall on keys – to deliver such an outstanding, high-energy set. Their forty-minute performance was fantastic. More please!
To the Phil Long Music Hall in Colorado Springs. This was my first time at this beautiful venue. What an incredible room, and an exceptionally welcoming and helpful staff.
Story and photos by Rick Witt www.rickwittphotography.com
