Live Review & Picture Book: The Warren Haynes Band at The Tabernacle, November 10

By Lisa Keel

The Warren Haynes Band roared into Atlanta’s Historic music venue The Tabernacle touring in support of his first solo record release in 18 years, Man in Motion. They departed leaving a wake through the state of Georgia of smiling and very satisfied fans. Actually, to call them fans is an understatement. The fine folks that faithfully attend every show possible are more like extended family happy to be seeing their favorite band as well as gathering together themselves. It’s been said before that the music created by Warren and of course his other bands (The Allman Brothers Band and Government Mule) is like going to church – meaning it surpasses the usual concert experience and moves into the realm of a joy filled spiritual experience. So with that being said The Tabernacle + The Lee boys + Warren Haynes Band = Church of the best kind!

The Lee Boys joined him for this leg of the tour and the two bands together made for an evening of incredible musicianship and downright inspiring music. Warren Haynes and Ron Holloway, saxophonist supreme, joined the Lee Boys onstage for some of the best examples of musical expertise around today. The Lee Boys play a genre of music called Sacred Steel, which is born out of gospel music that has been infused with blues, jazz, rock and funk. One might say that they don’t pray they play. The Lee Boy’s (Alvin Lee on Guitar, Roosevelt Collier on pedal steel guitar, Earl Walker on drums, Alvin Cordy on seven-string bass, Derrick Lee on vocals and Keith Lee on vocals) are the fourth generation reared in this style music and America’s best example of Sacred Steel.

On stage it is easy to see and hear Warren’s idols James Brown, Wilson Picket, Otis Redding and Sly and the Family Stone both in work ethic and sound. The Warren Haynes Band features Terrence Higgins on drums, Ron Johnson on bass, Nigel Hall on keyboards and vocals and Alecia Chakour on vocals. Each and every band member flawlessly complements the other and provides a solid foundation on which Warren, song after song, lays soulful guitar. The night was split into two sets. For your average band they would call it quits after just one, but this is no average band. Ron Holloway joined The Warren Haynes Band on stage during the first set and the second set he was joined by Ian Neville. I have to admit the night was full of amazing moment,s but when Warren declared, “This is for all those protesting and fighting against corporate tyranny,” then went into “Rivers gonna Rise” a powerful and haunting song both lyrically and musically, I got goose bumps. That in a nut shell explains where his mindset is these days and looking back always has been; focusing always on music at the same time being aware of the times we are living in.

The Warren Haynes Band: