The Allman Brothers say they will play their last shows ever over the next week at the Beacon Theatre on 75th and Broadway, where they have played 232 sold-out shows since since 1989. The shows are a boon for local businesses, according to a piece in the Wall Street Journal today.
“The crowds are happy and excited. It’s a party, not just a bite or drink before a show,” said Tal Lavi, a partner at the Amsterdam Ale House. “It gets very crowded. Can’t-walk-to-the-bathroom crowded. But it’s good people in a good mood, so it never gets obnoxious. And it’s like that all over the Upper West Side.”
The Ale House plays only Allman Brothers music throughout the runs. The day after the first performance, a regular customer always brings in an Instant Live recording, which are available in the Beacon lobby after every show, which then plays on repeat at his bar, Mr. Lavi said.
The last show is October 28, and tickets are being offered for up to $11,000 on reseller site Stubhub.
Here’s a video of a two and a half hour Allman Brothers show at the Beacon.
$11K???? I wouldn’t pay 11$ to see this band…
can’t wait for the final performance so I never have to hear about them and their music(call that music?) ever again..
I’m not surprised. Using a name like bling bling there’s no telling what you might consider music.
You’re entitled to your opinion. I, for one, love the Allman Brothers. Their music is a lot better than the hip hop and bubble gum crap that’s out today… In my humble opinion.
KABOOM! first pitch, right out of the park! WOW!
Yup. Upper West Siders like:
Classical
Yoga
Toddler
no, denton. not ALL westsiders like screaming toddlers….or their annoying, selfish, entitled parents, which I suspect you are one. Who the hell asked you to be the spokesperson for Upper West Siders???
KABOOM!
Jeez, take it down a notch, Allie. Your screaming is way more annoying. Sounds like you need a diaper change.
Ew, creepy,sociopathic response Allie.
I get that there are lots of annoying, entitled parents and kids out there, and choosing to be single and not have kids is a highly rational decision that I totally understand and support for endless reasons, but your own, personal response screams, “I’M SO ENRAGED THAT I’M STILL SINGLE AND CHILDLESS….WHY AM I STILL LIVING WITH 100 CATS???”
Well, maybe because you’re scary, Amy. Time for you to move to a less family friendly hood, as the UWS has been, and will always be full of all kinds of families, likeable and not.
Such a lack of humor, allie. My response was based on a Rag post from just a couple of days ago. Maybe you’d like to read it.
https://www.westsiderag.com/2014/10/20/uws-favorite-music-list-confirms-all-your-stereotypes
Oh, please, allie: Vent your inner rage somewhere else. Denton was simply referring to a story in Monday’s Rag: https://www.westsiderag.com/2014/10/20/uws-favorite-music-list-confirms-all-your-stereotypes .
Pretty clever “inside” reference, too.
Perhaps you should follow this journal more regularly before attacking those who do.
Truth be told, the fans for these concerts are now old white guys with huge bellies in faded 505 jeans. If the concerts were to continue beyond this point, they would have to see oxygen in the lobby. They are definitely fish out of water here. The Ale House is the last place that looks like the old neighborhood of 30 years ago. It is funny to see these guys wander around trying to find cheap beer and food where there ain’t none. They don’t wear North Face or Lululemon so they are easy to spot.
Yawn. 31 year old UWSer here. Love Allman Bros. Don’t need supplemental oxygen. Don’t own 505s. Band has appropriately reinvented itself time and again and remains relevant to a diverse crowd spanning generations.
What mean spirited comments. EVERYONE is entitled to have a good time and enjoy the music that they like.Why are you putting an age limit on fun? By the way, they are not a group that I favor, but let the next guy have fun!
Amen, Susan G. Seems like there are far more mean, narrow minded Upper West Siders than one might think. Guess you never know who you’re neighbors really are.
Yes, you never know what kind of sociopath might be your neighbor, so true Allie. I’d warn anyone with a stroller to stay FAR away from you as you sound like you’d like to take your rage out on crying toddlers. Hope you live in an old age home as otherwise YOU’D be the neighbor from hell if one had children, however well behaved they might be.
Thank you Susan G. Well said. I don’t listen to many artists but never criticize the fans of those I don’t care for
I am 66, no beer belly, can afford imported beer and have been an Allman Brothers fan for over 50 years. They are known worldwide as the iconic American Southern Blues and Rock band ever. Why all these nasty, belligerent posts? I wonder how much money The band has brought into the UWS over the years? How much joy they’ve brought to the millions of fans everywhere. The very few mean spirited posts below are probably indicative of those people who would benefit most from The Allman Brothers music. It’s revitalizing, rockin’, good time rock and creates joy and happiness. I feel sorry for the sad, angry ones who posted their negative thoughts.
Budweiser is now an imported beer and no one has ever puked up a hot dog at the curb outside of Lincoln Center.
Wow. Nice to see all of these liberal UWSers who would organize a protest in a heartbeat if someone stereotyped an underrepresented minority group stereotyping Allman Brothers fans. I am a 30-something yuppie (the horror!) who is a huge fan of the band and I am very sorry to see the concerts ending. There are many more like me.
They have big bellies because they are not from here. They do not walk. They ride around in vehicles. They are looking for cheap food and drink because are in sticker shock at the prices here. The majority are not from here. They are looking for the New York they remember and the one Hollywood still envisions when what they see around them in the W70’s is largely an extension of Great Neck on Long Island.
wow, Sean, stereotype and hate much?
so if the UWS is now an extension of Long Island as you profess, then wouldn’t these white heavy oldies not stand out and be so easy to spot?
I’m just saying’. Even a commenter on the WSJ story that was the source for all of this said there were a ton of bald guys with ponytails outside the theater. These are not your typical Upper Westsiders of today.
You’re right Sean. Your typical west sider these days are oblivious transplants who think the neighborhood is an extension of whatever suburb they come from. Many have strollers that are two, three across paying no mind to other people around them, going into already crowded stores thinking everyone should get out of their way instead of doing their shopping at less crowded times of the day. The list goes on. I would take long haired bald guys any day than the rude, obnoxious and self centered.
@Christina – I agree, it’s certainly not perfect today, and we’ve got a long way to go to clean things up. Which is why it gets me crazy when I hear people demonize the “new” or “transplanted” or “suburban” Upper West Siders, as if they’re the biggest problem up here. I don’t think there’s neighborhood left in Manhattan (with the exception of maybe Chinatown and north of 100th Street) where the majority of the residents weren’t born where they live.
In my opinion, there are waaaayyyy more important things to worry about than having to dodge a stroller on the sidewalk. You probably won’t like me any better when I tell you that I have two little girls, ages 3 and 1. But for what it’s worth, I AM trying to make Allman Brothers fans out of them!
@ Paul RL…. I’ve lived here for 44 years and it wasn’t always that bad as far as garbage, muggings and rapes. In fact, It still happens a lot today.Just look at back issues of the Rag. I’m just saying there are a lot more People that are self absorbed and only care about themselves!
I’ve lived on the UWS for almost 30 years, but never did I realize how much underlying anger some of you have. I would much rather navigate strollers than piled up garbage on the sidewalks. I prefer the cries of a baby than the screams of someone getting mugged or raped. And I’ll take a horde of protective mothers any day over a threatening gang.
Yes, I’m sad that my bookstores have closed, and that my restaurants keep going out of business, and that some of the edge is gone, but this is happening everywhere – not just on the UWS and not just in New York. Your – OUR – Upper West Side of today is cleaner, safer, and in many ways better than it was 30 years ago. Get used to it, embrace it, and maybe even direct your energies to making it even better instead of stewing in your own misery thinking about how things used to be.
Will miss seeing them at the Beacon. Grew up listening to them. Although, it’s been quite a while… loved having them at the Beacon. Convenient for me and love the small venue compared to MSG and Giants Stadium (which I can’t remember the name of it now). Will miss them.
GREAT IRISH BAR AND RESTAURAUNT LOCATED ON W72 STREET BETWEEN BROADWAY AND WEST END 🙂 great for a few drinks before and /or after the shows