By Kate Bartlett
Nick Pitillo, possibly The Allman Brothers biggest fan, is bringing their premier tribute band “Friends of the Brothers” to Villaggio Friday, August 5th. Nick has traveled the country and attended over 100 live performances by the Allman Brothers and says, “absolutely no one compares to this band, they’re not a tribute band, they’re a continuation of the Allman Brothers. This show is not to be missed.”
“Every key member is closely associated with the original band. Their first-hand experience with the Allman Brothers Band and their deep knowledge of the repertoire and the music’s roots and heritage allows them to play with an unrivaled depth.” Friends of the Brothers perform songs from every stage of the Allman Brothers Band’s career, making for the ultimate concert experience.
The credentials and musical talent of this band is unmatched. The Villager had the pleasure of speaking with Alan Paul, singer and acoustic guitar for Friends of the Brothers. Alan is also the author of the New York Times bestseller One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band, considered the definitive biography of the band. Alan had an inside view of much of the band’s last 25 years. The band’s other front men also have close associations with the Allman Brothers Band as a journalist and confidante. Guitarist/singer Junior Mack has fronted Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band for 12 years. Guitarist Andy Aledort played with Dickey Betts for over a decade. Keyboardist Peter Levin played with Gregg Allman for the last years of his solo band.
The band came together to pay tribute to drummer Butch Trucks, after his very shocking, very tragic death in January, 2017. “I was pretty close with Butch and was just torn apart. Once the shock wore off a little, I was determined not to let his passing go unmarked”, says Paul. “I wanted to pay him proper tribute, because Butch was as integral a part of the Allman Brothers Band. I made some calls and we got to work on putting a show together. I asked three friends who I thought were the absolute best at playing the music right to join: Junior Mack, Andy Aledort, and Peter Levin. All of them felt the same way I did about the music, about Butch, about the importance of doing it right and of making it a celebration. We sold out a club in Manhattan and we had a great show. It was done purely in passionate remembrance of Butch and love for the music. We all had so much fun that we decided to keep going.”
“This band is based around our shared love of the Allman Brothers Band and our friendships with one another. It’s not just a gig. We’ve really kept this spirit alive and it is what drives us. The music of the Allman Brothers Band is entirely unique and it can hit you in the heart, the head and the guts all at the same time, so that’s what I want to do in this band. I formed the band, but really just feel honored to be able to play in it, and happy to bring this approach to this music to as many people as possible.
Most of the band members are based out of the New York City area, living in New Jersey, Long Island and the surrounding areas with the exception of Peter, who now lives in Nashville. This upcoming event in Ellicottville is somewhat of a reunion for the band, as they haven’t all played together in a while. It marks the middle of a 3-show run that they’ll be playing with Peter, in between Rochester, then Pennsylvania.
“Villaggio is the perfect setting for an intimate evening of musical testimony, celebrating the legacy of one of music’s greatest genre-smashing bands” says Nick. General Admission tickets are $20, VIP with Italian dinner buffet $50. Nick has collaborated with EVL Lodge, Holiday Valley and Wingate to put together packages including overnight accommodations paired with event tickets for the ultimate experience. Visit their website for updated information and to purchase tickets, or scan the QR code associated with this article for easy pay. Tickets are expected to move quickly. You don’t want to miss this show, it’s sure to be a memorable night.
Special thank you to Good Leaf Dispensary as a presenting sponsor and Weed Ross Insurance and Ellicottville Brewing Company as gold sponsors, additional sponsorship opportunities available.