GRINDING IT OUT WITH DICKEY

7-23-10 Dickey Betts Band

You're my bkue sky, you're my sunny day, Lord you know it makes high when you turn your love my way, an unforgetable chorus, unless you happen to be the author. Dicky botched that which is like singing the wrong words during Happy Birthday. I was expecting an evening of raging Cajun jams, but by and by, it was an obstacle course for DBB (Dickey Betts Band). Around 1,000 diciples watched Dickey grind through Allman Brothers classics at my favorite little church on the outskirts of Central Park.

Lazy horses eyed me as I crossed town by foot - East to West. Barbaric humidity schvitzed my shirt by the time I arived at the venue simply called the Concert Hall, on the corner of West 64th Street. At show time, tickets for Dickey were still available for $65. I was thinking forty bucks. My friend Puca scored a freebie from a roadie. I resorted to chicanery. I slid by a ticket scanning lady with a used ticket, pretty smile and a positive attitude.

Dickey's guitar tone was rattlesnake nasty, although solos were cut short as he winced in pain -something was out of whack. After a half-dozen songs, Dickey announced a break to tend to those pesky blisters. I envisioned a Rocky scene backstage: Dickey's popping pills and swigging Jack while his success coach is burning blisters off with a blow torch. I also feared somebody would throw out the white towel, a painful prospect for those who laid out sixty-five bucks.

DBB returned with the Holy Grail, "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed." My excitement disapated like air from a poorly tied baloon as the jams flopped. During the drum interlude, Dickey disppeared for more blister treatment.
I took a leak and heard this bathroom banter:

"Yo man, Dickey sucks tonight, what's wrong with him," said the Infidel.
"Ya'll don't know what ya talkin bout. Dickey is sixty-seven, A god damn legend," said the Loyalist.
"He's wasted, drunk off his ass. I paid sixty-five bucks for this," said the Infidel.
"You're nuts!" said the Loyalist. "Five years from now when Dickey is no longer with us you would be crying about how you wish you was here."

And so the great debate raged.

Dickey rallied on the last two set numbers, whaling on a thouroughly explored "Jessica." The looping jam was as melodic as it was mammoth. Betts motioned to the Greg Allman clone that he couldn't hear any keyboards. The sound issue was straightened out, and by and by, the audience finally heard some piano. Dickey rocked out a refuse-to-die ending making this a sensational performance, worth at least twenty beans. Everybody in church was howling, dancing and clapping in the pews.

The "Ramblin' Man" encore was alright, Dickey's vocals were understated most of the night. The concert was fine entertainment. I'd rather hear bits of authentic genius than a hodgepodge of immitation. I headed East, walking past the sweaty horses and almost missed the Uptown Six Train. I couldn't pay for my Metrocard in time, and the station was hotter than the insides of a freshly baked pie - waiting was not an option. With the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in one hand, I vaulted over the turnstile like an East German gymnast. It was my Olympic debut and first public crime since 1976 when I was busted for stealing a Boston 8-track tape from Korvettes. This time I safely escaped on the Six Train. I grabbed a slice of eggplant pizza for the walk home, listened to "Elizabeth Reed" and passed out to "Whipping Post" from the Fillmore.

PS: Live "Blue Sky" sounds like "Franklin's Tower"