Reviews

The Empty Pockets

great EPIC coming up tonight live from Chicago, straight to Zoom and our private YouTube.

you'll get a first look at our almost completed studio renovations.

i'll be playing some tunes (maybe even some requests!) on the old acoustic guitar.

and the full band will be hanging out, drinking a few beers and having an overall great time.

that's tonight, Tuesday, March 22nd, at 7pm central time.

becoming an EPIC Member is easy...

click here to join EPIC, the Empty Pockets Insiders Club.

if you're already an EPIC Member i will see you tonight at 7pm for all the fun! join us in the Members Only Area or on our usual zoom.

see you soon,

-josh

P.S. Whenever you’re ready, here are 4 ways The Empty Pockets can bring joy and music into your life...

ONE. Claim your FREE album.

A little gift from us to you :-) A Free CD, sampling our best 12 songs. Just click this link to fill out your shipping information -- Click here

TWO. Check out our Live Stream and Tour Schedule.

We are live music warriors. We're rock and roll troubadours. Come see us in our natural habitat, on stage and in front of the live-streaming camera, leaving it all out there. Track us on BandsInTown for free and get email alerts when we schedule a live stream or announce a concert in your area. -- Click here

THREE. Follow us on Spotify.

This is free to you and really helpful to us. This is also one of the big stats that talent buyers look at when booking big festivals and national television. -- Click here

FOUR. Join EPIC and become a true VIP

We are opening up a limited number of spots in our exclusive, VIP Insiders Club, EPIC. This is the coolest, most personal thing the band offers, and the experiences EPIC creates are the most memorable and inspiring parts of what we do. The level of band access granted to EPIC members simply doesn't exist elsewhere, with any other artists at any level. This club is totally unique. -- Click here to join

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The Empty Pockets

6854 W North Ave

Chicago, IL 60707

A CONVERSATION WITH MICHAEL ALLMAN

By Brenda Lorenz, photos by Chaz D Photography

The name of “Allman” always garners attention for obvious reasons. Michael Allman, the first-born son of the legend, Gregg Allman, has followed his father’s example while keeping true to himself. I had the honor to sit down with Michael for a conversation about his life, his music, and his latest cd, “Blues Travels Fast”.

When you see Michael on stage, you see the outgoing, talented, charismatic musician singing his dad’s songs and his own songs in that undeniable “Allman” style. In my conversation with him, he acknowledged that the everyday Michael Allman is much more reserved, and much more of a solitary soul, keeping to himself for the most part. With Michelle, whom he described as his “best friend” and “next best thing to a wife”, by his side, he has all he needs - along with his wingman, or wing dog, Jack, his adorable little dog that literally greeted me at the door of the Half Eaten Peach!

His and Michelle’s relationship had an interesting beginning. Michael moved to Florida 10 years ago and needed a place to live. Michelle, who would soon become his best friend, had a room in her house she was renting out and Michael needed a room to rent. Perfect timing led to a beautiful friendship, which grew into something that is as united as a marriage. Michelle admits that was very “life-changing”. After meeting him then finding out who he was, she says she went home with his CD in her purse! Some guys give you their phone number or their business card, but being Michael Allman, he did one better!

He gave her his CD! Not something everyone can do! I’d say that’s the best pick-up line I’ve ever heard and it clearly worked!

Michael has faced many difficulties throughout his life and he has overcome each one but it was not easy. At the young age of six, he lost the man he thought was his father in a plane crash in 1972. Daniel Green was a Learjet pilot that was married to his mom, Mary Lynn Green. Upon his death, young Michael was devastated as you can imagine. He had already developed a love of flying and wanted to be like his dad and become a pilot himself. Just after the death of his dad/step-dad, his mom then decided to tell him the truth about who his biological father really was and that was Gregg Allman. This was literally life altering for Michael later on, but not much in his life changed at that point. He was just trying to understand what was happening.

As he got older, he began to hear Gregg on the radio. He learned every word to every song and would sing along with his dad’s voice. That connection to his biological dad was growing before he actually met Gregg, which he did in the mid 80s when he was 17 years old. His mom had been diagnosed with cancer, which was another devastating blow. Michael went to live with Gregg when his mom went into treatment. During this time while living with Gregg in California, he tells the story of him and his dad riding in a car. Gregg had a mixed tape containing what was then one of his new songs. He played that song for Michael and was amazed that he already knew all the words!

Michael’s life is a trail of songs that brings us to current day Michael Allman. If you want to follow that trail, listen to his music. Starting with his first album, “Hard Labor Creek”, there is a song called, “What’s The World Coming To”. There’s a brief line that says, “I just about died by the hands of a punk” which is referring to when he was attacked in the early 90s outside a South Carolina nightclub. Enough to make one second-guess themselves on the music business, but he recovered and would later feel that pull once again.

Speaking of “Hard Labor Creek”, originally released in 2009, there is a new release of that album this year as a 13th anniversary edition with an added song by Delaney Bramlett (Delaney & Bonnie). This song was going to be on an album to benefit the Bramlett family. They had two songs prepared for this benefit album but unfortunately, the money to complete that with ran out. So, he added one of those songs, “Livin’ On The Open Road”, to this 13th anniversary CD.

The path mostly followed is not always the best path for everyone. Michael said his father gave him two pieces of advice; 1) Don’t sign anything, and 2) don’t sign anything! During the 90s, he thought he had found solace in a career in construction and as an electrician while attempting to settle down with his then-wife and two sons. That marriage eventually ended and his sights turned back to music. That’s when his father’s advice kicked in. “Michael does what Michael wants” he says confidently, because he never signed away his rights to make his own decisions in music. He has complete control of what he does, how he does it, and when he does it. Admitting, that may not be a good way to get rich since you’re not making anyone else rich, but you have to be true to yourself and he has done that and is happy with that decision.

Michael was born in Daytona, which brings us to a song on his newest CD, “Going Back to Daytona”. I asked him about this song. Before the Allman Brothers band formed, Gregg and Duane had a friend named Floyd Miles who would play gigs with them. Floyd later wrote this song regarding the era of when the Allman Brothers lived in Daytona in the 60s. Michael talked about seeing this song performed live in West Palm Beach by Floyd Miles with the Allman Brothers and how much fun seeing it live was. He plans to do this song live himself and hopes to bring that same feel to that song that holds so much meaning. He also said that getting this song on his album without the “live” feel was difficult to do and still do it justice. “That’s when Twinkle came in and fixed that.” Twinkle Yochim is the female vocal you’ll hear on this song. She is a phenomenal singer/songwriter from Sarasota and Michael said she gave this song, and the other Floyd Miles song on this album, “Feeling So Bad” new life! Michael said he “accidentally discovered” this song on YouTube. “It had been on YouTube for 10 years and only had 19 likes.” “Man! This is an amazing song! We have to include this on the album!” And that’s how it came to be that there are two Floyd Miles songs on “Blues Travels Fast”.

This latest CD was released in December of 2020 and contains nine songs; four of which he wrote. One of those is “Rose Hill”. I found out something interesting about this song. The original name was “Happy Ending Blues” but after playing it on location at Rose Hill with the tranquil atmosphere and the birds singing – this ambiance spoke to Michael. As they were leaving Rose Hill that day after playing that song, Michael announced, “I want to change the name of that song.” Since he had taken his dad’s advice years ago and had not signed anything, and could do what he wanted to do, the name of this song is now “Rose Hill”. I dare you to listen to this song and not reach for a tissue. This is where Gregg, his brother Duane, and Allman Brothers bassist Berry Oakley are all laid to rest in Macon, GA.

You’ve probably heard or read about the day Gregg passed. Michael was flying to Connecticut from Tampa that Saturday. He had made this same flight many times before. This one was different. Never before had the pilot announced that they were over Savannah. “We’re cruising at 39,000 feet, 40 miles south of Savannah..” which is where Gregg was living at the time. Michael symbolically waved, “hi pops”, as they flew over. He didn’t know yet what had happened. He later surmised that was right about the time Gregg passed. When his plane landed and he turned his phone back on, that’s when he found out. Not how you want to find out that kind of news. But the irony of being aware, due to the pilots unusual announcement, that he was flying over Greggs home city, gave him a chance to say “hi” one last time, even if only symbolically.

One last question that I asked Michael was, if he had never been told that he was the son of Gregg Allman, would he have gone into the music business anyway. He said “doubtful.” He would have very likely pursued a career as a pilot because he would have continued to believe that his dad was Daniel Green, the pilot. I am thankful to his mother for telling him about Gregg and allowing us to have Michael Allman, the musician.

To purchase the “Blues Travels Fast" CD, mail $20.00 + $5 shipping and handling Cash, Check M. O. to: Michael Allman, P. O. Box 1267, New Port Richey, Fl 34656 Michaels 1st CD “Hard Labor Creek" is also available.

Half Eaten Peach Studio

7139 US 19

New Port Richey, Fl 34652

(727) 312-4050

https://www.facebook.com/halfeatenpeach2020/

If you needed something else to be thankful for, Eddie's Attic had you covered on Saturday, November 20, 2021.

Michael Allman, son of the iconic Gregg Allman, joined SOUTH ROCK and together they brought a thanksgiving musical feast fit for a Midnight Rider!

Opening the evening with “Statesboro Blues”, the sold out, standing-room-only crowd didn’t hesitate to show their appreciation for the voice coming from the stage. It may not be Gregg’s voice, but it’s his essence! Every song was like a time machine filled with memories that don’t let go. The set list included Allman Brothers hits such as “Blue Sky”, Midnight Rider”, “Melissa”, “Southbound”, “Ramblin Man”, “One Way Out”, “Whipping Post”, and ending with “Soulshine”. Such classics performed live by the man carrying the legacy of his iconic father! Adding another special touch was the shirt Michael was wearing that had an image of his uncle Duane. This night, 11/20/21, would have been Duane’s 75th birthday. Happy Heavenly birthday, Duane!

Band members for South Rock and honored guests:

Michael Allman – Vocals

Sammy Howard – lead guitar

Tad Smith – Rhythm Guitar

Asher McKinney – Keyboard

Mark Schiele – Bass

Tony Bell - Bass

Wayne Potts – Drums

Carol Stephans – backup vocals/percussion

Special thanks to Amy Stephan and to Last Chance Riders for their opening performances that got the evening going.

Written by Brenda Lorenz

Beat Atlanta Online Magazine

The “Year of the Cat” returned to City Winery Atlanta on Thursday, March 3rd. Al Stewart awakened memories we thought we’d never have again – but nothing takes you back in time like the “Time Passages”, and “On the Boarder”, and the music you grew up with.

His band, The Empty Pockets, and saxophonist, Marc Macisso, joined him on stage. The Empty Pockets actually stand on their own merits having produced several albums themselves. They performed several songs from their upcoming album, “Outside Spectrum”, including the title track. Others were “Hold Your Lamp Up”, “Heart of Ash”, and “Maybe Next Time”.

The Empty Pockets present a fusion of blues, folk rock, and classic rock with blending voices that harmonize beautifully. Follow them on Facebook and check out their upcoming tour schedule.

https://www.facebook.com/theemptypockets

https://theemptypockets.com/tour

Brenda Lorenz

PETE CARR “UNRELEASED” – REMEMBERING A LEGEND

Many songs you love and grew up with, and lived many years of your life to, may have a common denominator. I, for one, never realized this until recently. One of the main musicians behind that music was Pete Carr. He was not only a renowned guitarist, songwriter, and record producer, but he was a long-time session guitarist in the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (the Swampers) and was lead guitar on many of those songs that is part of the soundtrack to our lives. We may have lost Pete Carr in June of 2020, but his music left memories that will live forever.

Some of his collaborations were with Duane and Gregg Allman, Bob Segar (that’s Pete Carr playing that beautiful lead guitar on “Main Street”), Rod Stewart (“Tonight’s the Night”), Barbara Streisand, Paul Simon, Joe Cocker, Mavis Staples, Boz Scaggs, and many others. If you remember the 1977 song “Falling” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMKli8afm6s) by a group called, “LeBlanc and Carr”, well that was Pete Carr with Lenny LeBlanc.

His just released album, “Unreleased”, gives us a more personal view of Pete Carr’s talent and his contribution to the music world. On this album, you’ll find hits such as, “Don’t Think Twice (It’s All Right)”, “Sweet Dreams”, “Can’t Help Falling in Love”, “You Really Got a Hold on Me”, “Fire and Rain”, and many others where his guitar is taking the lead. With a total of 14 songs on this album, and a few that he wrote himself, you’ll be able to appreciate the contribution he made to the music world. His exquisite ability to let emotions flow through his guitar, acoustic and electric, takes center stage.

On this album, he includes a transcendent version of “Amazing Grace”. His guitar combined with his wife on piano, is truly one of the most awe-inspiring versions I have ever heard. “Searching For You”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiAcqXZsZYE, “Only For You”, and “Spring Rain” are three of the songs he wrote himself.

Pete had been working on this album for several years but due to his illness and subsequent passing, he was unable to finish it completely. His wife, Charlotte Price Carr, took what he did complete, right as he left it, and completed his dream. This album was released on January 28, 2022 under Pete’s production and media company, Fifth Wave Media. Thanks to her, we have this final work of art by a true creative genius.

You can purchase this album at

https://fifthwavemedia.com/.

Song list:

Don’t Think Twice (It’s alright)

If Not For You

Sweet Dreams

Oh Darling

Can’t Help Falling in Love With You

Amazing Grace

Spring Rain

Searching For You

Only For You

Let it Be

Imagine

Here We Go Again

You Really Got a Hold on Me

Fire and Rain

Written by Brenda Lorenz

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