[Slowhand] Clapton Joins the Allman Brothers for "Layla" and Other Assorted Love Songs

[ChriSparky]

 Eric Clapton joined the Allman Brothers Band for an extended portion of its
second set last night, marking his first appearance with the blues-rock
legends after four decades of collaborations with its members. His long
rumored appearance has been the source of considerable fan speculation since
the group announced that its annual Beacon residency would double as an
extended tribute to founding guitarist Duane Allman. In the early 1970s,
Duane Allman appeared on Clapton’s classic Derek & the Dominos album *Layla
and Other Assorted Love Songs* and clocked in two shows with the famed band.
Though Dickey Betts sat in with Slowhand on at least one occasion in the
1970s and Derek Trucks toured with the guitarist in 2006 and 2007, Clapton
has never performed with the Allman Brothers Band. The three-week run has
already seen guest spots from Duane Allman associates John Hammond, Bonnie
Bramlett, Johnny Winter and the members of Cowboy.

For the third time this month, the Allman Brothers opened its set with the
ditty “Little Martha,” a rarely played track from *Eat a Peach* credited to
Duane Allman. The band then launched into a ferocious first set that
featured incredibly high energy versions of “Statesboro Blues,” “Done
Somebody Wrong,” “Revival,” “Woman Across the River” and “Don’t Keep Me
Wonderin’.” The Allman Brothers Band’s only guest-free set then came to a
close with a playful version of the chestnut “Whipping Post.”

As a rare treat, Gregg Allman opened his second set with a solo piano take
on “Oncoming Traffic.” The keyboardist recorded a live version of the song
with his solo band in the 1970s and revived the number at the Beacon in 2005
and again earlier this week as a duet with Bramlett. The rest of the
Brothers then emerged for “Come and Go Blues” and “Good Morning Little
School Girl,” the latter of which featured Gov’t Mule keyboardist Danny
Louis on piano. While a considerable number of fans rushed the floor, Allman
introduced Eric Clapton as “a real great player” and the guitarist took the
stage for the *Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs* number “Key to Highway.”
Clapton proceeded to trade solos with Trucks and Warren Haynes on the Allman
Brothers Band jam “Dreams” and another *Layla and Other Assorted Love
Songs*classic, “Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad.” The latter song has
been a staple
in the Allman Brothers Band’s repertoire for years. In certain ways, the
group’s second set climaxed with a mammoth cover Jimi Hendrix’s “Little
Wing” that featured a three-way guitar duel between Clapton, Haynes and
Trucks. The song, which is also appears on *Layla and Other Assorted Love
Songs*, was a frequent highlight on Clapton’s world tour with Trucks.

Susan Tedeschi then took the stage with the expanded ensemble for yet
another *Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs* number frequently covered by
the Allman Brothers Band, “Anyday.” Unbeknownst to most, Clapton actually
plays slide on the recorded version of the cut, while Allman is credited as
the song’s rhythm guitarist. The band then left the stage for a quick encore
break, but returned with both Clapton and Louis for the anathematic version
of “Layla” that left the entire audience of its feet. In total, the Allman
Brothers Band ran through six of Duane Allman’s eleven contributions to *Layla
and Other Assorted Love Songs *.