The Allman Brothers Band wrapped up their final show at the Beacon last night, a venue they have played over 200 times, at nearly 1:30 AM this morning. By pushing the show into October 29 they ended the night on the 43rd anniversary of Duane Allman’s passing. The show wrapped up an extended goodbye that started when Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks announced their departure in January.

The band opened the show with a tease of “Little Martha,” the sole number credited only to band founder Duane Allman and then moved into “Mountain Jam,” which bookended the set. The show contained many of the band’s signature songs as well as tunes that nodded to their final days. While the ABB has generally mixed their Beacon setlists in recent years, the final show contained a number of tunes the band had perfected onstage during their final run such as “One Way Out,” “Hot ‘Lanta,” “Blue Sky” and many others.

The surprise came when the band emerged for a third set that kicked off after midnight. In addition to their usual jam vehicles, the band offered a unique electric reading of “Melissa” with Gregg Allman on organ and Derek Trucks on acoustic guitar. Trucks also played Duane’s gold top at various points during the night, as he had during previous shows in the run.

During the mammoth “Mountain Jam” finale the band moved into “Will The Circle Be Unbroken,” a cover Gregg Allman has played during his solo shows since the early 1970s and the ABB have occasionally performed. The Allmans jammed on the songs theme every night of their final Beacon run, but last night’s version, fittingly, included lyrics.

The band returned for an encore of “Whipping Post,” one of their favorite show-closers and then all 7 current members moved to the front of the stage for a group bow. Gregg Allman took the mic to talk about being called to Jacksonville, FL by his brother to join the ABB and recounted their first jam session on March 26, 1969. Butch Trucks, Jaimoe and Warren Haynes also offered brief thank you speeches. Jaimoe spoke about wanting to be either Miss America or a jazz drummer and ended with “God bless Duane Allman, God bless you.” The group then picked up their instruments and bookended their live career with the first song they ever played, “Trouble No More.”

As usual, the night ended with the studio version of “Little Martha” being played over the house speakers as images of Duane Allman and the classic ABB members flickered on the theater’s screen.

Here’s a look at the setlist from last night:

Allman Brothers Band
Beacon Theatre, October 28, 2014

Set I: Little Martha, Mountain Jam, Don’t Want You No More, It’s Not My Cross to Bear, One Way Out, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Midnight Rider, The High Cost of Low Living, Hot ‘Lanta, Blue Sky, You Don’t Love Me

Set II: Statesboro Blues, Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More, Black Hearted Woman, The Sky is Crying, Dreams, Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed > JaBuMaOt > In Memory of Elizabeth Reed

Set III: Melissa, Revival, Southbound, Mountain Jam (reprise) > Will the Circle Be Unbroken > Mountain Jam

Enc: Whipping Post, Trouble No More