Concerts 2004-2008
Return to Forever closed the show with a performance in the main ampitheatre in the evening. This was just a really special thing - mind boggling really - to see Chick Corea, Stanley Clark, Al DiMeola and Lenny White playing together on the SPAC stage.
An opportunity to see Levon Helm Band opening for Phil. I remember the fantastic horn arrangements that LHB incorporated (Steve Bernstein arranging) and found them to be the highlight of the entire concert. The LHB played "Long Black Veil" on this day, a classic tune that the Band covered on its classic first album, and that’s been played by almost every major band I like. The song was used in the title of a radio show that Jerry Garcia was doing before the Grateful Dead existed. On various occassions I have seen it performed not only by LHB and by The Band, but also by Dave Matthews Band, Bruce Hornsby and Little Feat, so its a major connection among various artists documented on these pages.
My only Allman Brothers show; I never saw them either in the earlier years or at any of their Beacon runs. I came to the SPAC box office on the day of the show and was pleasantly surprised to find that there were some 16th row seats on sale that day.
This show celebrated 50 years of collaboration between Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Cassidy.
