If you want to spend some time with Devon Allman, you need to be his bus driver or a Gibson guitar. The Current is neither, but we wanted to know what life’s like on the road for the Southern-fried, soul-singin’ St. Louis native and Honeytribe frontman, so we asked him to send dispatches from the bus over a week this spring. Allman and his bluesy rock outfit will return to River City for a show at the VooDoo Lounge on June 28.
March 27, NYC: Been in NYC for a few days. Last night I got the unbelievable honor of sitting in with Mr. Les Paul, the 92-year-old guitarist, guitar inventor, master, legend. We traded licks at the Iridium Jazz Club, in Times Square. A night I will never forget as long as I’m breathing.
March 28, NYC -> New Jersey: The day starts at a spa for a massage and steam bath and the largest sauna I’ve ever seen. Lunch at a soul-food place to placate my Southern urges for catfish and hush puppies. Tonight we play the legendary Stone Pony, in Asbury Park, where Springsteen got his start.
March 30, New Jersey -> NYC: Parking in NYC really is 10 shades of suck. We’ve gotten three tickets so far. After a show, we literally spend two hours trying to park ... only to be ticketed anyway. We are in a van and trailer. In Manhattan. All the visual you need.
March 31, NYC: NYC is now officially our top draw—600 people at last night’s show. I got to jam with the Allman Bros. at the Beacon prior to our show. Such a massive education this week was.
April 1, NYC: Everyone got mugged last night. They beat us unmercifully and stole my guitar and ALL of our cash! I thought there was more of a “together” vibe in this city nowadays? I guess I was wrong. But what I am right about is that it’s April Fool’s Day ... and I’m happy to report that the above is utter B.S.
April 2, Who knows?: We LIVE in truck stops. The junk food, beverages, hot dog troughs, X-rated magazines and candy bars become a blur. You get out of the van and see your bandmate staring into the cooler, as if some new magical brand of something will manifest itself and cure your boredom. I keep it simple: water and granola bars.
April 4, St. Louis: Got here yesterday. Now we’ve got a day off. Home long enough to do laundry and hang out with my son, Orion. It’s great to be home. We’ve been touring 20 or more dates a month, hitting 37 states in 17 months. But the sacrifices have definitely paid off.
April 5, Somewhere in Iowa: Back on the road to somewhere in Wisconsin tonight. The temperature is going down—what happened? Same stinky van, same guys, same songs, same gear ... and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
