Allman & Oakley Carve Their Own Musical Road

November 24, 2014 | Vicky Sullivan | Music

The names Allman and Oakley are synonymous with the southern rock blues band “The Allman Brothers”. Devon Allman is the son of the legendary musician Gregg Allman. Berry Duane Oakley is the son of the late bass player for the Allman Brothers, Raymond Berry Oakley. The next generation you might say…

Saturday night they played a sold out show at the Blue Rooster. Berry opened with an accoustic set that included originals and covers. He is a known favorite around the Sarasota area with his band, Skylab, and played the Wanee Festival this year.

Devon Allman has had several bands and most recently has been touring with the supergroup Royal Southern Brotherhood as well as his solo band which includes Bobby Schneck, Jr., on guitar, Anthony Nanney on drums and Steve Duerst from Sarasota on bass guitar.

The audience was a mix of young and old Allman fans since Sarasota is a trove of Allman history with guitar legend Dickey Betts currently living here and Gregg once living here. In talking to people, I found a crowd who traveled to Sarasota to see Devon. He has built a fan base of his own. Most of Allman’s set was his original music from his current CD “Ragged & Dirty”. He did indeed play a couple of his father’s tunes including “Melissa” he said was written by a “good friend” and “One Way Out” on which he was joined by Berry Duane and they were having a great time.

Having a famous name might help get you in the door but you have to have the musical chops to keep the people listening. Both Allman and Oakley have that in spades. Be sure and catch Berry around town and Devon out on the road next time he comes into SRQ.