The Allmond Brothers
Tribute to the Allman Brothers Band
…Sometimes You Feel Like Bustin’ a Nut
Authentic and entertaining, the Allmond Brothers is a cluster of top-shelf Bay Area musicians led by Josh Brough (Poor Man’s Whiskey,) Jimmy Leslie (Guitar Player, Spirit Hustler) and bottleneck blues maestro Jules Leyhe. The Allmond Brothers do justice to the landmark live album, At Fillmore East, and capture the spirit of the ABB’s greatest songs including “Midnight Rider” and “Ramblin’ Man” plus “Melissa,” “Blue Sky” and other choice Southern-flavored favorites.
Josh Brough has led Poor Man’s Whiskey on tours across America for twenty years, and has sold out historic venues such as the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. Brough is incredibly convincing as Gregg Allman on vocals and keyboards, earning him the nickname “Allmond Boy.”
Jules Leyhe has “the best slide licks since Derek Trucks, maybe even Duane Allman,” according to Premier Guitar. He regularly plays the National Anthem at the Oakland Colosseum and Oracle Park for events including major league baseball games and monster truck rallies. He also plays along with Leslie in the modern/classic rock outfit Spirit Hustler. Bandmates call Jules “Greasy” because Leyhe’s Southern-fried slide licks are so damn tasty!
Jimmy Leslie is Frets Editor at Guitar Player and veteran of the all-star Allman Family Revival shows at the Fillmore. Leslie plays the Dickey Betts role with a fiery Southern flare on vocals and guitar, aka Trickey Frets. The Allmond Brothers was born when Leslie produced Guitar Player Presents 5th anniversary celebration honoring Duane Allman at John Lee Hooker’s legendary Boom Boom Room across the street from the Fillmore. 15 musicians including special guests Luther Dickinson (Black Crowes, North Mississippi Allstars), Marke “Jellyroll” Burgstahler (Gregg Allman & Friends, Alameda Allstars) and James Nash (The Waybacks) played their hearts out to an overjoyed audience that went absolutely nuts. There was too much for love for it not to live on as—The Allmond Brothers!
Eric Wood of the East Bay’s Foreigner & Journey tribute Forejour plays drums and adds a remarkable third vocal. Adam Briere (Stung, New School of Jazz NYC) brings youthful energy to the skins as well. Several low end experts are in the Allmonds mix including Murph Murphy (New Monsoon, Poor Man’s Whiskey), Brian Fox (former Chief Editor at Bass Player) Mike Meagher (Smoke Daddies), and Tommy O’Mahonny (Soul Ska).
Highlights of many road conquests include explosive performances at the High Sierra Music Festival, Guitarfish and Star City Music Festivals.
The Allmond Brothers Clan at High Sierra by Dennis Cook, Jambase
“A tribute band is a tricky thing. Genuflect too much and you’re a boring recreation, stray too far off the blueprint and folks won’t recognize the source material, which is a central aspect to a tribute’s pleasure. This Allman Brothers homage led by Guitar Player Magazine’s Jimmy Leslie (who plays the Dickey role) gets the balance just right. Unlike the Grateful Dead, Beatles or Stones, few bands cover the Allmans because it is a separate language that swirls gutbucket blues with jazz sophistication. Just as most of us don’t speak Esperanto, Allman-ese isn’t common and it was exciting to see this large band teach themselves how to talk eloquently. Unlike today’s ABB, the Allmond Clan uses the At The Fillmore East era as their Rosetta Stone, and one suspects their grasping at these numbers mirrors the Allmans’ own during that time period. Simon “Eli Jebidah” Kurth was a fire hose of great guitar riffing as Duane “Sky Frog” Allmond, and stellar guest turns from Sean Leahy, Josh Clark, Greg Loiacono and Lebo added further air guitar heft to the session. PMW’s Josh Brough was also murderously good as Gregg “Allmond Boy” Allmond, attacking the organ and vocals with the gusto of a young Gregg. Most of us weren’t able to see ABB when Duane was alive but the hunger for that music remains. The Allmond Bros Clan fulfills that appetite in a way that honors Duane’s memory by really wrestling with this music in a quite alive way. Festival bookers take note: Don’t let the other guys get to this project before you.”
Dennis Cook: Jambase.com
http://www.jambase.com/Articles/23337/High-Sierra-Music-Festival-07.01-07.04-California/3
Current Allmonds
Josh Brough, aka Allmond Boy, vocals and keys (Poor Man’s Whiskey)
Jimmy Leslie, aka Trickey Frets, vocals & guitar – (Spirit Hustler, Guitar Player, Honey Island Swamp Band, Shanna Morrison)
Jules Leyhe aka “Greasy,” slide guitar (Spirit Hustler, Chris Cain, Berkelee College of Music)
Eric Wood, aka, Butch Nuts, drums & percussion (Forejour, Stung)
Adam Briere, aka Young Nuts, drums (Jimbo Mathus, Spirit Hustler)
Woody Oakley, bass – Murph Murphy (New Monsoon, Poor Man’s Whiskey, Peter Sawyer’s Monkey Wrench Gang) Brian Fox (Bass Player) Tommy O’Mahoney (Soul Ska)
Other Nuts in the Mix
Fletcher Nielsen, aka Fresh, keyboards (Tracorum)
Jeremy Hoenig, aka J Flow, drums & percussion (Melvin Seals & JGB)
Steven LaBella, aka Biggie, bass (Pamela Parker’s Fantastic Machine)
Sean Leahy, aka Stains, slide guitar (Guitarmageddon, Four Year Bender)
Mixed Nuts from Performances Past
Simon Kurth, aka Sky Frog, slide guitar (Poor Man’s Whiskey, Mescalito)
Steve Adams & Dave Brogan (ALO) Teague Kearnan, aka Gritty Pipes, (Shantytown)
REST IN PEACH
