The Allman Brothers are known for their musical experimentation that are associated with the first wave of true Southern rock. The surviving members of the Allman Brothers, along side a star studded line-up will be celebrating the bands 50th Anniversary at Madison Square Garden in New York City on March 10.  If you were unable to get tickets to the celebration, Garcia’s will hosting a free webcast of the show in full concert sound and fashion! In honor of the Allman Brothers music and legacy returning to the city that never sleeps, check out some of the band’s greatest shows in New York.

1. SUNY Stony Brook: April 28, 1970

The Allman Brothers' first notable New York performance took place at SUNY Stony Brook - a venue that seems shocking for a band with such a large legacy! But as one of the bands' earlier shows, and one of their first on East Coast, a college show was the perfect way to attract new fans. They did so with ease by playing songs like “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” and “Whipping Post.” The band had such a good time playing at Stony Brook that they would return to the college five more times over the next year and a half.

 

2. The Capitol Theatre: January 22-23, 1971

Yup, it happened, full band and all. The Allmans played 3 shows over a 2 night run in January of 1971, and left their impression both on the audience and the theater itself. Their late show on the 23rd was especially notable, playing favorites like “Midnight Rider” and a cover of "Johnny B. Goode." They ended the night with a high energy “Hot’Lanta” encore.

 

3. The Fillmore East: March 13, 1971

Bill Graham's iconic rock venue on the Lower East Side, The Fillmore East hosted rock n' roll legends like Jimi Hendrix, the Grateful Dead, and Frank Zappa. The Fillmore shows are considered to be the piece de resistance of Allman Brothers' live shows, and led to what many believe to be the best live album ever recorded, "At Fillmore East." The Allmans' delivered a breathtaking performance which started at 12AM and went for around 7 hours. They finished their set with a slide heavy 23 minute “Whipping Post.” Surprisingly, one of live music's most influential performances almost never happened; a bomb threat almost deterred the Allmans' performance that night, but after the building was searched and cleared the band was let back inside to deliver one the most explosive performances of their career.

 

4. Suffolk Community College: March 14, 1971

Now used mainly for plays and other student performances, Suffolk Community College does not see many bands grace its stage today. But in 1971, The Allman Brothers supplemented their three-night run at the Fillmore East with a Sunday show at Suffolk Community College, in Selden, Long Island. And remember that this performance was just 24 hours after their seven hour performance at the Fillmore. Never let it be said that the Allman Brothers' don't have stamina!

 

5. The Rockpile: April 27-28, 1971

The Rockpile, also known as The Action House, was a short-lived venue in Island City, NY. As opposed to many of the major venues at the time, The Rockpile wasn't a theater - rather, it was a dance hall. This made The Rockpile a more intimate performance space which allowed more mingling with fans, an atmosphere the Allman Brothers took advantage of over the two nights they played there. The Rockpile closed its doors only a year later.

 

6. Central Park: July 21, 1971

The Allman Brothers' first shows back in the city that never sleeps after the closure of The Fillmore East were at Central Park on July 21, 1971. The weather was great and the tunes were rocking. Both sets were filled front to back with iconic jams such as “One Way Out,” “Midnight Rider,” and "Mountain Jam."

 

7. Madison Square Garden: July 20, 1973

One of the most notable concert arenas on the East Coast, MSG has hosted some of the biggest powerhouses in music. In 1973, the Allmans took the MSG stage for the first time and brought the house down two nights in a row. The band played an amazing show with songs like “Ramblin’ Man” and encoring with “Mountain Jam.” They went on to play the venue four more times.

 

8. Watkins Glen: July 28, 1973

A week after their MSG shows, the Allmans headed upstate to play Summer Jam, an event that would come to be known as the largest gathering of people for a single day concert in history. Alongside the Grateful Dead and The Band, The Allman Brothers Band rocked the racetrack and all 600,00 attendees. So many people came early that even The Allman Brothers' soundcheck was watched intently! In the end, they performed a three hour set including classics like "Les Brers in A Minor" and "Statesboro Blues."

 

9. The Beacon Theatre: March 9-25, 2000

The Allman Brothers' history at the Beacon Theatre stretches all the way back to 1989, when they played a four-night run that September. The Allmans again played the Beacon in 1992 but this time for ten consecutive nights. They continued this tradition of playing the Beacon annually eight to nineteen times for the next 19 years until 2010 when a scheduling conflict forced them to move. In November of 2000, The Allmans released “Peakin’ at the Beacon,” a live album of that years' run at the Beacon.

 

10. United Palace Theater: March 9-20, 2010

Due to the aforementioned scheduling conflict, The Allman Brothers Band were forced to move their 19-year residency at the Beacon Theater to the United Palace Theater in 2010. Although some fans were upset about the move, the Allmans did not disappoint, putting on eight stellar shows at the theater before ending the run on March 20th. They returned to the Beacon next year.