Search - Dickey Betts & Great Southern - Back Where It All Begins Live At The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame on DVD

Frighteningly bad, don't listen to fanzies

Michael Developer | NY | 03/20/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Being a huge Allman Brothers fan it pains me to say that the "encore" performance of Jessica sounds no better than your average bad garage band. It is typical of what goes on the entire show. Timing is all over the place, wrong notes come in bunches and even worse is when Betts tries to hide them by playing the same wrong notes in a riff again as though intended. The timing at the end is embarassing and the keys and guitars sound like they are playing at two different times.

Honestly, I wanted to like this performance. But it's uninspired and sloppy. If you're a musician you'll cringe. If you're a music enthusiast who knows good music when you hear it, you'll still cringe. Timing is poor. Playing is sloppy. Some interesting stuff by the bass player but that's it.

Why the one star? Because some other reviewers hit the nail on the head. This video has the feel of "hey dudes, we just came out to play." But selling this crap has the feel of "I'm an Allman Brothers player so I can still milk pure crapola for a few bucks." That's what this is. I am just grateful to have caught it on cable and I erased it from my DVR immediately after listening and fast forwarding throught his drivel."

Nobody plays like Dickey

C. Paoli | 09/30/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am reminded of how unique and original Dickey's sound is. The Allman Bros will never be the same without him.Warren is great but Dickey is the real thing and Trucks is a screech owl next to Betts. That said, I'm disappointed at the number of solos that are edited in, ex. intro to Blue sky. I 'd rather hear what was played that night. Frankie on drums was not on. Toler's playing is as tasty as I've heard anywhere. Dickey's slide playing is excellent, and he is a versatile writer.Without Dickey's songs, the ABB are a second rate blues band and no more."

Great gig!

Roy Haarstad | Norway | 12/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First of all: Dickey Betts is NOT drunk at this show!!! In fact, he looks better than he has in many years, and he'd be a fool if he were to show up drunk to this performance that he knew was going to be filmed and taped, and it is filmed and taped on sacred ground- The Rock'n'Roll Hall Of Fame.

I fundamentally disagree with everybody who say that this is a "sloppy" performance. It's not! The band is really tight, but in some songs there are little parts where they don't follow eachother completely. That may well be because they know that they're being filmed and therefore are a little nervous. Who cares? For the love of God, it's a jam band!!! If everything were to be pitch perfect they wouldn't be interesting to listen to at all.

Some viewers have critisized DB on the fact that he plays a lot of Allman songs during this show. Well, I'll ask you: Who did write all those songs??? Dickey Betts did, so why shouldn't he play them? He even say something about the songselection during the interviews to explain why they chose those songs for this show.

IMO this band that have the potential to become just as good as the Allmans used to be a long time ago. They have two great guitarslingers (Dickey Betts and Danny Toler, who used to be with the Allmans too), they have a stunning bassplayer who really knows how to lay down that "seventies" basslines, they have a great drummer with a lot of energy and a piano/ hammondplayer/ singer who sounds a lot like Greg Allman when he was in his twenties.

I urge you to buy this DVD and support one of the greatest guitarplayers and composers of all time within this kind of music. You wont be dissapointed!!!"

Better than Expected

M. Yasevac | New Haven , Ct | 09/21/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The music is really good . Great background music , Relaxing . The band is very good and jam well together. Favorite tracks : Back Where it All Begins & Change My Way of Living . The playing gets sloppy in some areas but always bounces back ."