The Allman Brothers Band Live at the Fillmore East is a double live album that came out in 1971 by the southern rock band and is considered one of the best live recordings of all time. It is the last live recording of one of rock’s greatest guitarists, Duane Allman, as we lost him a few months after this show, in a motorcycle accident.
For Wynnewood, Pennsylvania guitarist, Lou Maresca, the album’s importance and significance was reason to name his Allman Brothers Tribute band “Live at the Fillmore.” Lou plays Duane’s parts in the band that focuses mostly on songs from that album and a few others.
The Allman Brothers captivated Maresca at a young age after he saw them play live over 50 times at venues in New York and New Jersey. He put together what he considers the first tribute band ever when he was only 17, playing in clubs and schools.
Then college, marriage and work in the music business took over, but he always longed to put together another tribute band. In 2009, he hand picked some musicians he’s known and “Live at the Fillmore” was born.
After some personnel changes, the seven-piece band now consists of Chip Gaasche on keyboards, (the founder of the popular cover band The Flamin’ Caucasians); John DiGiovanni and Dennis Barth– drums and percussion; Rick Baldassari shares with Maresca the duties of Duane Allman’s guitar work; Dan Haines on bass; Barron Chandler on acoustic guitar, harmonica and vocals, and Lou Maresca on guitar and vocals.
All of the band members have strong musical experience, and have studied their parts thoroughly to deliver the best, most accurate replica of the band they are paying tribute to. However, according to Maresca, “None of the other players have the extent of experience that I had listening to the original Allman Brothers Band. What I’ve stressed to the band members is, you need to play your part as close as you can to the original, using the At the Fillmore album as the template.”
Maresca would like the band to be considered the definitive tribute to the original Allman Brothers Band. “I think we live up to that now,” he said.
Live at the Fillmore appears locally at Pennsylvania venues like Brownies 23East in Ardmore, The Bridgeport Rib House, The Blockley at 38th & Chestnut in Philadelphia, and Puck in Doylestown.
Their next show is on Saturday February 18th at Kennett Flash in Kennett Square. Kennett Flash is more of a “listening room” than a bar or club. It seats about 150 people, is BYO, and sometimes all ages.
This summer, Live at the Fillmore will appear at the Rose Tree Media free festival on Sunday July 8th.
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