Photo by Dino Perrucci

Numerous guests joined The Allman Brothers Band during their St. Patrick’s Day performance at New York’s Beacon Theatre last night. Partway through the Brothers’ first set, Gregg Allman Band keyboardist Bruce Katz emerged for this run’s first “Sky is Crying” as well as “Statesboro Blues.” A few songs later, Sea Level/Traffic multi-instrumentalist Randall Bramblett—who was in the area for a performance with guitarist Geoff Achison at Terra Blues’ Hittin’ the Note party—added saxophone to “Desdemona,” while Katz played keyboards.

At the end of The Allman Brothers Band’s now regular second set acoustic segment, Bramblett returned along with first time Allman Brothers Band guest Grace Potter to sing on Fleetwood Mac’s “Gold Dust Woman.” Though Haynes and Potter have performed the number together in a variety of other settings, this was the first time the song has appeared during an Allman Brothers Band show. Interestingly enough, Allman stepped offstage before the cover, leaving Potter and Bramblett alone with younger Allman Brothers Band members Haynes, Derek Trucks, Oteil Burbridge and Marc Quiñones (ABB founding drummers Butch Trucks and Jaimoe usually sit out the band’s acoustic songs).

The surprises continued: Haynes, Trucks, Burbridge and Quiñones plugged in, Bramblett moved behind Allman’s organ and ABB tech. James van der Bogert took over on drums for a powerful rendition of Neil Young’s “Southern Man.” Potter traded verses with Haynes throughout the song and even moved to the organ for a bit to play alongside Bramblett. It was the rare time The Allman Brothers Band have played an electric number without any founding member onstage, but also one of this run’s most memorable moments.

After Potter and Bramblett left, Allman, Trucks, Jaimoe and Katz returned for “Aint’ Wasting Time.” Later in the set, Bramlett and Geoff Achison also took the stage for “That’s What Love Will Make You Do.” The Allman Brothers Band then invited out Katz one final time for “Jessica” and “One Way Out.”

The Allman Brothers Band will return to the Beacon on Tuesday.

Here’s a look at last night’s setlist via The Allman Brothers Band’s homepage

Saturday, March 17, Beacon Theatre, New York, NY

Set 1:
Midnight Rider
Trouble No More
I Walk on Gilded Splinters
Sky is Crying (with Bruce Katz)
Statesboro Blue (with Bruce Katz)
Egypt
Desdemona (with Bruce Katz and Randall Bramblett)
Hoochie Coochie Man

Set 2:
Acoustic
These Days
Dark End of the Street
Gold Dust Woman (with Grace Potter and Randall Bramblett)

Electric
Southern Man (with Grace Potter and Randall Bramblett)
Ain’t Wastin Time (with Bruce Katz)
Maydelle>
Manic Depression
That’s What Love Will Make You Do (with Randell Bramlett and Geoff Achison)
Jessica (with Bruce Katz)

E:
One Way Out (with Bruce Katz)