i first started following duane betts when i first heard of the allman betts band maybe 5 years ago. i saw them play at a local house of blues club right before the pandemic hit. it was a great show, and they seemed to be gathering momentum nationally. duane is the son of dickie betts, and devon allman is gregg’s son. berry oakley jr. was also playing bass for them, son of berry, the original bass player of the allman brothers.

unfortunately that show i saw was right before the pandemic, maybe the last live show i saw. for the next couple of years i did not hear much about them, and i got the feeling once things opened back up that they might be going their separate ways.

they are touring this summer, and mrs. redeyegin caught them in new hampshire just a couple of weeks ago, and thought they were great. but if you go on their website, they only have one more show on there, tomorrow in the buffalo area.

another indicator is that duane just released a solo album, which officially comes out friday, although i got my copy sunday. i have listened to it three times now, and it is pretty damn good. recorded at tedeschi trucks band’s swamp raga studios in jacksonville, it features some great guitar playing, as you would expect. duane has grown up in the shadow of his father, and he may not be as good as dickie when he was at his peak, but he is close. he also has their ‘third’ lead guitarist from their band, johnny stachela, throughout. throw derek trucks on one track and marcus king on another, and giddyup. we also get tyler greenwell, one of tedeschi truck’s drummers, on every track.

it looks like duane will be heading out on the road this summer (unfortunately, as far as i can tell, not around here), but i would guess it would be great show. in the meantime, check out this album.