I doubt it. She did talk to him about it a little more, but there’s talking and then there’s listening. We’ll try to forget about it until next week.
We’re all set for an Italian dinner tonight after the show, the two of us and my dad, and three musicians. I’m going to be completely spent tomorrow, but I can deal with it.
Tell me about it. It feels like five.
It took me most of yesterday to recover from Tuesday night’s concert and dinner, and I’m still not really sure where to begin. The concert was mostly a chill affair with a lot of relaxed performances of blues tunes, although a couple of times the band did stretch out as far as it could - more than I remember hearing them do any other time I’ve seen them, actually. After the intermission, Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top sat in, and the entire band went onstage wearing fake gray beards and sunglasses. They kept the costumes on for “Jesus Just Left Chicago,” and it was very funny.
Last week’s show was good but hard to get into, and I didn’t have that problem this time. It helped that my girlfriend was there, but mostly, I knew we had the dinner to look forward to and it left me with the feeling everything was going to be alright. (It also helped that I predicted the opening song. ;)) At a show like that you don’t usually think about what’s happening afterward, but as the second set rolled along I was thinking of that more and more.
My dad and brother rolled to the Beacon in a white limo, and it was there waiting for us after the show. My mom appeared, too, which was a little bit of a surprise. So we filed into the limo with our Make A Wish coordinator guy - his name was Steve; I don’t know his job title or description but I was thinking “genie” - and I took some pictures as we slid around the seats. My brother is still wearing his hat all the time, but it was a baseball cap instead of the knit job this time, and his hair is finally coming back after the chemotherapy. It wasn’t quite enough for him to be comfortable without it, but, spring, crocuses, metaphor metaphor metpahor, it was nice.
The restaurant was five minutes away and mostly empty, since it was around midnight by that point. A very Upper East Side affair. There were red bottles of wine behind mesh nets on the walls, and above our table and behind the bar there was a movie playing on large flatscreen televisions. Fellini probably, but at that hour, with the sound off and subtitles in Italian, who cared?
We’d just placed our drink orders when our guests walked in: Derek Trucks, in a brown coat and with his guitar still on his back in a gig bag, and Oteil Burbridge, in a red and blue pinstriped shirt. Tyler picked his seat carefully so everybody would be on his left - which was good, it would have been hard to tactfully bring up the deafness issue - but musical chairs followed as the guys tried to sit closest to Tyler. In the final arrangement, Oteil sat across from Tyler on the left and Derek sat across from me.
As soon as Derek sat down, he pulled something out of his pocket and plunked it on the table in front of Tyler. It was the slide he’d used on stage that night, and he smiled.
“Be sure to wash that off, get the funk out,” Derek said, indicating the condensed sweat inside the glass.
“No no, it might have some mojo in it,” I said. Everybody’s still smiling. Crostini arrive. Derek is looking at the wine list and I’m talking about video streams of the shows, or some other minor topic, when our waitress dumps a glass of ice water all over me. My father was wearing about four shirts, so I’m set and everybody’s laughing. Drinks are on me. [They actually laughed at this joke; things were going that well.]
Most of the conversation was inside band stuff that’s of doubtful interest to most people here - why they’re playing some songs this month and not others, which of the dozens of guests were the most fun, what’s the story with Dickey Betts, how many notes were “flying around” with John Popper and Sonny Landreth onstage that night, and things like that. My dad had dozens of questions about gear, recordings, and Derek’s tour with Eric Clapton last year. But as the guys told it, they’re having a blast this month. Tyler told them he especially liked Clapton’s appearance last week and Taj Mahal’s spot earlier in the run, which inspired him to borrow a few Taj Mahal albums from my dad.
They played a couple of classic Taj Mahal numbers that night, apparently including “Leaving Trunk” in B-flat. As Derek tells it, Taj doesn’t do that song in B-flat anymore since he’s pushing 70, but he agreed to do it in that key with the Allman Brothers, and nailed it. By the end of the song he was drenched with sweat.
Because my dad was quizzing Derek for most of the two hours we were eating, I didn’t hear a lot of Tyler’s conversation with Oteil. He did have him laughing most of the night. But among the highlights, we were able to get both musicians to do their Howlin’ Wolf impressions, which was funny stuff. I remember Oteil grinning ear-to-ear - which he did most of the night, but even more at this moment - as he talked about pushing Clapton during one song. Derek said Clapton turned to him afterward and said he hadn’t played like that since 1967.
The guys were both pretty impressed that my brother has already seen seven shows this month (8, 9 and 10 over the next three nights), and Oteil offered him a spot on his guest list. He gave Tyler his email address and said he’d be happy to give him a seat onstage any night, a backstage tour, and maybe play his SG bass during the show, which was discussed as a capital-W wish a while ago. I’m sure he’ll take him up on it, but I don’t know which nights he wants. I wish I’d heard more of the conversation. Things definitely went swimmingly for Tyler!
That kindness aside I think the best part of the dinner for me was the weird combination of worlds that was happening. I’ve interviewed both of these guys before and written about them a few times each - Derek Trucks in particular - but not with my family around. Not with my Mom there in particular, sharing calamari and meat and seafood plates, or forking pasta with mushrooms and truffle over to Derek or having him buy wine for everybody. It’s difficult to describe the sensation of watching your mother tell your favorite musician how, as a child, your speeds were “slower” and “goodnight.” A kind of very sweet excruciation, I guess. If anything (for once) I wanted my mother to talk to them some more. I don’t know where she keeps these stories about me. Every time we have dinner with someone, I find out something else ridiculous I used to do. :smack:
I could go on and pull out some more memories but that’s mostly how it went, and I found myself surprised by how much of a lift I got out of the meal. My brother’s response was no surprise- he was digging it in a big way and I hope he enjoys his tour and second seat onstage. We could’ve stayed at the restaurant all night if Derek wasn’t scheduled to record something for MLB.com at 7 the next morning. His manager, who helped us set this up, shepherded him toward the door around 2. I’ve got a handful of pictures of Tyler with the two of them, and my mom and Steve also took several shots each, so nobody could see very well at the end.
As they left, Tyler told Oteil he should convince the band to play a song they haven’t done yet this year called “Instrumental Illness” (it’s really not their best instrumental), because “You’re too fucking good at bass solos” not to play it. If it happens in the last three shows, I think Tyler gets to take credit for it. My parting words to Derek were “I can’t possibly thank you enough”- my time with his band four years ago was some of the most fun and best writing I’ve done and he’s always been cool about these things, like the time he talked football with Tyler after a show a few years ago.
“It’s such a small thing,” he said. Well, yes and no. Getting a free meal and buying a bottle of wine at a nice restaurant after a show, no, it’s no big deal when you tour the world and play with Eric Clapton. Hanging out with a young fan who’s been through all of this, with who knows what else to come, who used a once in a lifetime wish to see you play and share dinner with you, hair (for those who have it) down? No, that’s more of a large thing.
Wow that sounds like a great night for your brother and the whole family.
Wow. What a great night!
Keeping all of you in my thoughts. You’re a great brother, Marley.
Time sure is passing. This last event you went to sounds like a blast. The ice water is funny at least when you handled it in that manner.
Yeah, it… it is. Making a wish come true for a kid - I get it now. It’s a funny thing, too - I know these guys and I’ve seen them dozens of times, if memory serves tonight will be my 50th Allman Brothers show, I’ve seen Derek’s band about a dozen times and Oteil’s once, so you’d think my feelings on them were about as positive as they’re going to get, but I realize now I’m never going to look at them quite the same way.
How marvelous for all of you. A night to remember. 
I’ve been trying to come up with a faster way to sum up the rest of last week, but it’s difficult (and I’ve been too tired). The short version is that Oteil did come through on his promise Friday night: Tyler was on his guest list for the last two shows of the Beacon run and watched the two shows from the stage, just a few feet away from Oteil’s spot. He talked to most of the band members at different times onstage and backstage - today he emailed me a picture where he’s standing with Gregg Allman - as well as guest musicians like Chuck Leavell, and Duane Allman’s daughter, Galadrielle, to whom Tyler introduced us at intermission on Saturday.
But for my father and I, the high point was Friday. A couple of minutes after my brother went backstage, he texted us a picture of Oteil playing his bass, and about half an hour later, just as we were wondering if he really planned to use it onstage or just jam with it, we saw one of the roadies put it on a stand near Oteil. The set went on and on, and it was a good one, but the bass sat there and sat there. Oteil turned to my brother several times, and we later learned he was repeating his promise to play it… eventually.
Late in the set, Jimmy Hall from Wet Willie came out to sing and play some harmonica, and after they finished a cover of “Grits Ain’t Groceries,” Oteil took off one of his Fender basses and picked up Tyler’s. Texts were texted, pictures were taken, and the band played Wet Willie’s “Keep on Smiling.” It was beautiful and I was so overwhelmed by all of it. He played the bass again on the next song, “Soulshine,” which featured a not-really-a-surprise cameo from Kid Rock.
I found myself wondering if those upbeat songs were chosen deliberately, to send a message - probably not, but I think they did anyway. We had an amazing time, and the closing night show didn’t end until 12:40 Sunday morning. It was a hell of a couple of weeks and they sent him off in style. I’m grateful and amazed by how the whole thing worked out. My brother is in Boston now, on his second day of treatment. I hope he’s alright and that what we’ve experienced over the last few weeks gives him a lift.
Wow. I hope so too.
Marley, I am new here, but I have been reading about your brother for a while now, and I am so glad for you and your family to have had such a nice experience with the Allman Brothers— I am sure they will be memories that will keep you smiling for a long, long time!!!
Best wishes to your brother, and your entire family, Matthew
I have seen the Allmans many times, along with Derek Trucks on several occasions, and am happy to hear that they were so good to you all— After Dickey left, I have not been as satisfied with the music, (not a fan of Warren Haynes) but after reading about your visit, I think I will give the band a listen with new perspective, I really respect them for making time for your brother…
I’m glad you and your whole family had such an amazing experience. I hope things are going well in Boston.
I’ve never really listened to the Allman Brothers but I’m going to rectify that. They sound like stand up guys and I’d like to hear what they have to say.
Pretty cool story.
Sending more healing thoughts out.
It’s been the better part of a month and we’re no longer in the chemotherapy phase, but I thought I’d update things here. Bro is now halfway through his radiation regimen, not enjoying it a bit but not having any ill effects that I know of other than severe boredom. Many, many B movies are being watched in that apartment in Beantown.
I was up there from Friday to Monday of this past week, and what we did was: eat Italian food, hit various pastry joints, watch bad movies. My girlfriend joined us Saturday to enhance this pattern. I came close to my Mystery Science Theater limit, which I wasn’t sure I had. On the positive side I did experience Night of the Lepus for the first time and we had a hell of a time heckling the movie in Elmer Fudd voices, the three of us. I think my brother’s watched the movie four times this month.
Monday morning I went with them to the hospital to see the radiation setup firsthand, which I hadn’t done before. I found it really alarming, which I didn’t expect, and I’m still coming to grips with that. I couldn’t stay in the room for the actual treatment because of all the atoms flying around, but the machinery itself got to me. I’ll write about it when I have time. In any case I think things are going about as well as they can. My dad is visiting often, bringing dogs when he can (the puppy, who is now the largest dog in the house, went to Boston last month and the oldest dog is there now) and sharing music. Halfway through, and we’re well on schedule to get my brother to camp in June.
What a cool saga. Keep writing it as it unfolds. Despite the inherent sadness underlying the thread, it’s very cool and interesting.
Somehow, I missed the concert updates until just now. What cool cool cool experiences.
Still sending good thoughts out to your whole family.
GT
{{{More hugs for y’all.}}}
There’s got to be something to do that can keep him from getting so bored. Is he in the hospital all of the time or only for the therapy?
Good to hear things are going as well as they can. The concerts sound awesome! A fantastic thing for you to have shared with your brother and family.
When I went with my brother to his treatments, I was always surprised how quick it was. The actual time in the radiation room was never more than about 5 minutes, and I guess the actual treatment time was only a minute or so. And it was always disconcerting how much those short treatments tired him out.
And that radiation machine was kind of an intimidating bugger.
His radiation treatments are 15 or 20 minutes long, five days a week, but that’s all the time he spends in the hospital. He’s got a lot of movies, my dad visits, and he stays in touch with friends… but there’s not too much else happening. They didn’t find Boston very interesting the first time around, and now they’ve already seen most of the sights, so that’s kind of a struggle.
Here’s kind of a weird suggestion – could someone teach him to knit? It would take ten minutes to show him enough for him to be able to knit himself a scarf or something.