NEWS
ALLMAN BETTS BAND WELCOMES ROBBY KREIGER, MARC FORD, AND MATT ABTS IN LOS ANGELES
The Allman Betts Band turned their Sunday night show at the Palace Theatre in Los Angeles into a guest-filled affair. The Doors guitarist Robby Krieger, former The Black Crowes axeman Marc Ford and Gov’t Mule drummer Matt Abts all sat-in at various points of the concert.
Abts emerged 12 songs into the ABB’s set to play drums on a cover of The Allman Brothers Band classic “In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed.” Then, one tune later, Robby Krieger and Marc Ford came out to join the group on Muddy Waters’ “Trouble No More” and The Doors’ “Roadhouse Blues” to end the set. For the encore, Marc Ford returned to join The Allman Betts Band on “Wiser Time,” a song The Black Crowes recorded for their Amorica LP during his time in the band.
ALLMAN BETTS BAND JOINS GOVT MULE IN PHILADELPHIA
Gov’t Mule welcomed guitarist Johnny Stachela and bassist Berry Oakley Jr. from Allman Betts Band for the Blind Willie McTell song “Statesboro Blues” made popular by The Allman Brothers Band. Both Haynes and Stachela showed off their slide skills over drummer Matt Abts‘ steady backbeat followed by Louis presiding over a barrel-house piano vamp which gave the rendition a slower, even more blusier feel with Warren and Johnny taking it home.
Gov’t Mule retook the stage with Duane Betts in tow for the encore, “Whipping Post,” which got going with a spooky jam and stretched to over 15 minutes.
Show is available for download at Muletracks.com
ALLMAN BETTS BAND RETURNS TO MUSCLE SHOALS SOUND
On a short break from touring, the Allman Betts Band returned to the historic Muscle Shoals Sound studio in Alabama. Their sophomore album was recorded in 6 days by producer Matt Ross-Spang and is set for release in 2020 on BMG records. Stay tuned!
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In 2018, Johnny Stachela and Duane Betts partnered with the Devon Allman Project as guests, supporting and sitting-in on a nine-month Allman/Betts World Tour, with stops at such iconic venues as NYC’s Beacon Theater and Colorado’s Red Rocks amphitheater. The European leg took Stachela to Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, UK and Germany. Additionally, he performed on the second single, “Downtown Runaround,” and subsequent video from Betts’ debut EP, Sketches of American Music.
Stachela joined The Allman Betts Band as a charter member- recording at the famed Muscle Shoals Sound studio- for their 2019 debut LP, Down to the River, and their 2020 follow-up, Bless Your Heart, touring internationally with the group, including dates in Europe and multiple summer festival stops. Subsequent tours with the ABB and the Allman Betts Family Revival have included appearances at New Orleans’ famed Jazz Festival, as well as overseas dates in Australia and Japan- at Byron Bay and Fuji Rock, respectively.
Among the myriad guest spots Stachela has made include jams with Little Feat, Gov’t Mule, and North Mississippi Allstars. With Betts, he’s also welcomed Derek Trucks and Mike Campbell (Tom Petty) for notable onstage collaborations. As a solo artist, Stachela joined the legendary Wet Willie on the band’s 2020 Rock Legends cruise. As well, in the spring of 2023, Stachela released the single, “County Farm Blues”, a cover of the 1930s Son House folk blues, across all digital platforms. He is slated to record further solo material estimated for release in 2025.
Additionally, Stachela contributed writing, performing, and production work for Betts’ second solo project. Recording sessions for the new effort commenced in Spring 2022 at Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi’s Swamp Raga Studio in Jacksonville, Florida. The resulting album, “Wild & Precious Life,” issued by Royal Potato Family records, arrived in the summer of 2023 to much critical acclaim, making several year-end “Best of” lists.
Stachela joined Betts as a founding member of his new band, Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel, embarking on an extensive U.S. tour including festival dates and headlining appearances, and a noteworthy night at the Grand Ole Opry. Touring in support of the LP continued throughout 2024. A follow-up LP is slated for 2025.
With his well-crafted style of bottleneck slide evoking favorable comparisons to his heroes- influenced and inspired, never imitating- Johnny Stachela has become one of the more highly respected guitarists in modern blues and rock.
MEDIA
County Farm Blues
by Johnny Stachela
Digital Album Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high quality download in MP3, FLAC, & more. Buy Now $5 USD
1. County Farm Blues
2. Firefly
3. Hard Rain
4. Handle It
released March 21, 2023