Springing from a legend’s loins is a double-edged sword. A guaranteed foot on the ladder is typically confounded by an unfairly high first rung of judgment. So the son of Allman Brothers icon Gregg Allman, perhaps burdened by this frustration, initially stepped in a different musical direction. Devon Allman, the front man of St.Louis band Honeytribe, shunned the classic rock sound for many years, thereby distancing himself from the inevitable father-son comparisons.
In time, however, came a prodigal realization. Devon inherited an innate gift—the ability to give the “jam band” sound a modern imprint. On Honeytribe's new album “Torch,” it’s flavorfully flaunted. Like the Allman Brothers of old, Honeytribe favors a structureless approach to recording and performing, effectively deferring to shots of improvisation for inspiration. It creates a mood of true authenticity, something bordering on flawlessly raw.
Allman’s near-spooky guitar ability is the perfect bridge that carries tracks of soul, blues and classic rock foundations beyond their standardized structures. “When I Call Home,” for example, initially seems very Motown-like, perhaps a little too much so, as if the late Otis Redding had chosen its familiar-sounding bars to swoon with guttural envy. Yet Allman accentuated the seemingly hamstrung nature of the song with spiraling leads of self-made uniqueness.
The only occasion he couldn’t rise to was a cover version of Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry.” Given its anthem-like status, attempting the feat with this classic song sparks an adverse reaction within the listener, as if an act of sacrilege was taking place.
Oddly, though, it had the effect of highlighting the rest of the album, as if "Torch" should be judged minus that track. And in what remains, one is continually reminded of Allman’s command of a six-string. Indeed, Billy Gibbons, one of the best blues guitarists alive, gave an esteemed endorsement recently with an impromptu on-stage appearance with Honeytribe, trading licks with Allman in what was described as an immense spectacle. And if that isn’t an assurance that the boy should be favorably judged purely on his own merit, what is?
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