Allman Brothers meet Leslie West - Crossroads live at the Beacon Theater, NY 3/24/11

A first rate, one-of-a kind-jam. The Allman Brothers meet Leslie West onstage at the Beacon Theatre, March 24th, 2011. I was there and I can tell you first hand this take of Crossroads tore down the HOUSE! This one was personal. Their ADMIRATION for each other was clear to not only those onstage, but to everyone in the Theatre that evening.
Leslie West, Warren Haynes, & Derek Trucks (One of the great slide guitarists).
Forget the Three Tenors. Watch and listen to The Three Kings of Guitar Tone!
Enjoy fans!!!
DRUMS: Shawn Pelton (Long-time drummer for Saturday Night Live Band)
KEYBOARDS: Danny Louis (from bands Stockholm Syndrome and Gov't Mule)
Join the Leslie West & MOUNTAIN Fan Club: / thegreatfatsbies

[@jamesnorwood4084]

Leslie effortlessly puts those bends in orbit while the others play catch-up. The tone master at work.

[@HansJaussmann]

Damn, I miss the Beacon shows SOOOO much. A special time in history.

[@2digitaldesign]

Those fingers, his tone, the punch, the balls, you can see it 30 years later they still don't have that tone of the master from Queens.

[@Edyth_Hedd]

Leslie West has always had one of the best vibratos in rock.

[@LisaRichards_123]

The thing I like the most about Leslie’s playing is it so tasteful, and his voice goes so well with his playing.

[@johng2880]

And that thick crushing tone.

[@spudfriley]

I had the fortune to open for Mountain back in the early 80's at Harpos in Detroit when I sang for Skydancer.

[@v2vroth]

Dear God ,please start making more gifted musicians like these guys.

[@TheSparky5363]

I love this it's great to hear Leslie play, Waren as always sure and steady, I consider that we are blessed to have the youngster Mr Trucks to carry on the traditions of the slide guitar!

[@allgoo1964]

Leslie West must be a very fun guy to jam with. The guy knows how to bring out the best of whoever he's playing with without hurting their egos.

[@amandawoods8323]

Leslie West is good enough to hear the music and give attention to their assets and showcase their abilities. Expertise earned from a lifelong perspective of learning his trade and the keys of understanding the applied skills in relationship between his musicianship skills and applied investment in learning the breadth of each classification, style and techniques to render the ability of instruments to perform .

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

We all know Leslie can play, but he's one of the great under appreciated voices. Still bringing it in his 70s!

[@4747robo]

Leslie West was 66y/o for this gig here.

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

@@4747robo Close enough.

[@mechcavandy986]

He’s singing with Felix in Heaven now.

[@spiderreed350]

To be honest, I never thought much about his voice, I really didn't care for it much,put his playing is off the charts great.

[@janejohnson6522]

Mountain was my first concert in 1972- still a huge fan

[@KymMcGarry]

Leslie meets Warren and Derek. Perfection.

[@msaintpc]

Derek Trucks is so fkn cool, a real class act!

[@Basketregj]

One and only Mr. Leslie West!!! RIP.

[@raychapman7966]

Yeah, Leslie is Mr. Tone. He toured with a band I was playing with in 1986, in the U.S. Lots of great musical moments to be sure - and what a wild character he is as well. 'Colourful' to put it mildly. Although his isn't a house hold name, he's been a big part of the scene all his life. Rock on Leslie. Sorry to hear about his leg.

[@whooziss]

Can you imagine what a rush it must be for guys this good to bounce off each other like this? 3 sublime talents at once......... Warren Haynes is the greatest unknown guitar player in the world.

[@davidmartin7081]

I think Warren is about the most versatile player there is. Between his styles of playing, his slide work, the variety of music, he about impossible to beat for a all round player!!

[@stevepomeroy-rockin-pa-realtor]

Haha Nobody turns the sound down on Leslie West and lives to tell the tale. Big Les put that knob right back where it belongs!! :) Awesome playing from Leslie and Derek. Warren brought a knife to a gun fight and looks lost in the parking lot here ... still lot of great talent on that stage, including Warren.

[@alexalessandri917]

mountain...what a band !!!...allman bros band...what a band !!!! true rock

[@bndeyo]

Maybe the first year Derek toured w ABB, he and Oteil were in a little jazz club in Cincinnati...sitting in the back of the room. They sent a generous tip to the band, and, on a break, my friend the bass player went back to thank them- that's when he realized who they were. He told them that his 2sons were going to the ABB concert the next night, so Derek and Oteil got the sons' tickets upgraded to "way down front with backstage passes". Classy, humble people.

[@teacup3133]

Nice story, cool guys!

[@msaintpc]

Leslie's so good he just let the other two just stare at his hands while he was showing them how it's done. And even then he was still holding back. The boys got to jam with a REAL MASTER! What a lesson in humility that must've been for Warren and Derek, and what a learning experience it must've been too! The great Leslie West, one of the best who ever did, or will ever do it!

[@stevek4928]

That's laughable

[@MrRadioKing]

@m. saint: It's not a competition.

[@scottdwhite50]

Derek Trucks is the true master on this stage...easily the most musical and inventive player of the three...but it's not a competition 😀

[@christina.harrison1494]

This guy is the man mississippi queen.

[@mmusicmann]

i'm really liking how the Allmans are drawing these iconic legends to their beacon jams. it's like a meeting of survivors from 'real' rock years. You don';t see a lot of this except with maybe another great, Clapton.

[@waygonedon]

I saw Leslie West at the Bottom Line; he walked on during a Corky Laing show and blew out my ears. After the show he stole my taxi. I went from WTF to "after you, Mr. West."

[@williamaRegad]

you can never get enough of the ABB and Leslie

[@slant40]

An absolutely awesome performance! And yes, the Old Perfesser can still turn heads with his guitar playing. God Bless 'em!

[@MrSpacejase]

My take on this is three great guitarist playing on stage. Leslie cranks his amp up so high that Warren turns it down..and Leslie looks back and says What?..turns it back up. Warren plays with an all for one attitude Leslie plays like "get out of the way look at me" lol He has always been awesome so is Warren and Derrick is a slide guitar ninja. Leslie hogs every bodies solo spot lol..he cant stop playing...but with that tone who would want to?

[@odedgreenberg5443]

RIP Leslie, I hope youre jammin with Duane in heaven

[@stevearinoful1]

Excellent! You know they don't make music like this anymore!

[@depper]

That killer single note at 8:00 was a powerful message from a guitar God to super talent Derek Trucks to slow it down and FEEL what you are playing. Funny part for me is at 8:15 when Warren is like Come on move on POINT PROVEN POINT PROVEN!! :)  NOONE says more with less notes than Mr Leslie West!

[@amandawoods8323]

Good point. Less is more, like Duane Allman said it's the notes that don't get played.

[@amandawoods8323]

Giving them a gift. An heirloom passed through the the confidence of knowledge and expertise. A teacher. Here is this moment in time with these fellow musicians. What can I contribute.

[@randallstarling2425]

Randall Starling Leslie has been thru so much adversity as of late with his health but I was so happy to see him live at the House of Blues in New Orleans together with Joe Satriani. What a fantastic show by these legends of guitar!!!

[@rmatrix4777]

That was Awesome!!!! Loved it!!!

[@GHeuett]

Fantastic! Excellent quality to boot! Many thanks.

[@MultiMusicfan99]

So one listens to Jack, Ginger, and Eric knock this out...love these guys doing what they can...

[@adrianherzfeld1694]

My heart is pumping looking at this wow

[@Peter64n]

this is great, awesome performance!!!!!!!

[@captinmurica6467]

this iz great, thank you for the show,some guyz just havin fun ...thx again ,,,i love the way west plays.. hall of the mountin king ...iz great too

[@nunyabeeswax186]

What would the Movie "Vanishing Point" been without Mountain? Was a child but I loved it!

[@Bluesrockbbq]

Dam what a Jam THANKS for sharing .

[@stevenrakett985]

I've seen mountain about 40 times, all I did when I was younger was go To concerts of my favorite bands. I was lucky enough to see Pink Floyd 3 times, dark side of the moon, whish you were here and animals.

[@Lisa58Mc]

awesome....wish I could have seen this!!!! Thank you so much for sharing this :)

[@LaurenDelsackAstrologer]

Sweet! Thank you

[@suffes1]

Yes great!!! Thank you depper for doing a great job! Yuo have given me a new life since i discovered your port. I´m from Sweden and became a Mountain fan 1969. Never saw them but did saw W,B & Laing 1973 in Gothenburg. Have all LP they gave out but after 1980 i was not aware of that LW was still active. Unfortunately i missed Leslies visit to Gothenburg and his blues session at a club some 2 years ago !!! Did not know about it!!!

[@afegus9]

... Love the Leslie West and Mountain , named my Daughter after some lyrics in Nantucket Sleighride... WHOOOOOooooo !

[@foamulator]

Thanks, Depper. This is very very cool! .....and totally unexpected.

[@closertotheheart]

What a sound. Doesn't matter what gears he plays, it always sounds like a big "mountain" of fuzz up to TWENTY.

[@uweahlers5183]

Jasper Yangchareon l])

[@rpm4589]

Love how Warren initially misreads Leslie's take on lead, but then immediately steps back to let him have it first. Music first, ego second, like it should be.

[@gernotboesser6901]

👌

[@fiestygnome]

Don't forget Otiel. The very fortunate bassist that gets to provide the foundation for this great show. Man!

[@russbrinn]

love it...Leslie is not one to be in the background...even with these guys.

[@purplecowideal]

no he's not. haha

[@mikebramlett883]

good catch,...he is one bad assed and yet humble musician

[@mitchnelsen]

Phenomenal!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jamesy2913]

Are they fighting over whose loudest lol brilliant

[@conradloehlein6636]

Great Jam three great guitarists.

[@rottendrums]

just great!

[@FLSandye]

When Derek Trucks was a kid he used to play gigs, regularly, at a blues club down here in St. Petersburg Florida. Because it was a bar, and he was under age, he had to leave the club early like around 9-10p. Gawd that kid could play !!!!

[@Trademark691]

Godamnit, the day before my first Beacon show...i would have loved to see Leslie West...

[@mannythedrummer]

I love it

[@Snagglefratz]

This kicks ass!

[@m.a.c.8366]

excellent video and recording thanks depper, sry to be just catching up.

[@anandaji4075]

~thanks

[@dquillen1]

Leslie West, Warren Haynes, and Derek Trucks, now that is a guitar trio...

[@golds04]

Look at Derek smile at the beginning- kid w a Christmas gift. Hope all had ear protection!!

[@williamdon3442]

I don’t know what it is but good gawd do I love what Leslie west can do with a guitar.

[@paulblakey4589]

Fannnnnntastic

[@Deliquescentinsight]

I never realised it was Leslie who was singing on a lot of the Mountain tracks, great voice! This is bit 'disorganised' but tremendous all the same!

[@tawpgk]

Leslie and Felix split the singing, probably more Leslie than Felix for Mountain anyway. I don't recall Lang singing. I wasn't into WBL as much. Big Felix fan.

[@Quadrant14]

loved this gang:-}

[@McNasty14u]

Rock n Roll........ It don't get better than this ... I seen "James Gang", Joe Walsh, at the "Barn" , it was an old barn.... kool as hell... this was 1973, or so Ha Ha...oh yea, Peoria, IL.... the same town Richard Prior was born in, and me too.

[@hoz49]

YOWSA! Giants on stage that night.

[@dandelionvideosworldwide6220]

Aloha from Hawaii 🏝️ 😎🤙

[@Mission2Transition641]

Leslie West....the MOUNTAIN of TONE....dig his tone here....man, he is smoking...as much as I dig Warren..he just looks like he is trying to find his way in the beginning..lol. Leslie showin em how its done..down at the Crossroads!

[@stevek4928]

"trying to find his way in the beginning" that's because Leslie is doing everything wrong. Yes they are confused because Leslie is so far out of step.

[@johneisenhauer7325]

The sound quality is excellent.

[@klv400]

Great!

[@ukkfayooyay]

Oh my goodness, a 1967-style psychedelic light show in the background. Just like when Jefferson Airplane was on the Ed Sullivan show. LOL

[@jg6698]

leslie took these guest performer gigs to melt the faces of the bands' guitarist. Cat was competitive, territorial. Lol.

[@nedjohnson2421]

Good comparison Dave. When I was watching it live on Moogis and he was tuning up I thought this is powerful!

[@daveebryan828]

...luv the patter at the start

[@heyhuey4429]

BB King found it impossible to sing and play guitar at the same time. For Leslie it was in his DNA.

[@ReneNYG1]

Awesome

[@ReneNYG1]

Love this song and they way they do it together is sweet.Leslie with Mountain fame rocks on this set.

[@mfradell]

• +joe votta • That's Leslie West, used to be with Mountain and a great guitarist. I don't get him now though. when he was with Mountain I really looked up to him, I LOVED his playing being the first person to use pinch harmonics popular and that awesome vibrato and sound. I'm sure someone did pinch harmonics before him but it was his that got noticed. I went out and bought a 54 Les Paul TV, just like the Junior he played but in TV Yellow. I just wanted to get the sound he got and couldn't get it with humbucking pickups but that guitar through a Marshall stack nailed it and so much more. Now he seems like a bit of a Ham, he is always playing over anybody else's solos. I've been a lead guitarist in bands all my life and if anyone come up and jammed I would make sure they got the stage, I was up all night and didn't need any more attention and I felt let the new person shine. Times I jammed with others if someone played/acted like West did in this jam, I would quiet down, play the bare minimum and let the show-off get the attention he so badly wanted, it wasn't worth the aggravation. • • There's a part in the beginning when it seem West asks Haynes to make his amp louder. At 2:30 is where Warren Haynes seems to adjust West's amp the West goes back and adjusts it again making himself even louder throwing tha balance way off. That's what sound checks are for to balance the stage volume so the mics can do their job and the musicians can all hear each other. West was way too loud, listen how if he is playing over someone else you hear him %75 and Haynes or Trucks only %25. • • So I started looking for other videos of West playing with others, found one with Johnny Winter, and he does the same thing, playing all over him. If they do a call and answer which I see he is fond of turning the other player's solo into, after a few back and forth he starts playing straight through the other guys answer then he takes over as his solo. • • I know I'm on a bit of a rant but this brought back so many bad memories of playing with other show-off musicians that it really got to me. The crazy thing is that most of the time they are really good players. Is it that they feel they are so much better the audience needs them to play? I don't know or have all the answers, it's just my opinion. Please reply to me if you have something interesting to say.

[@depper]

+Michael Fradella With all due respect Michael, I'd trust Leslie West over just about anyone alive to questions of tone, pinch harmonics, feel, vibrato, stage presence, levels, and anything else having to do with a guitar or amplifier. Warren and Leslie didnt mesh extremely well here but still, they rocked it. Johnny was ill and Leslie came out in support so they didnt rehearse at all, and it still sounded fantastic. To call Leslie West a "ham" based on these two performances is just preposterous and unfair. Now let's see the other side of the coin. Look at Leslie play with Peter Frampton, Alvin Lee, Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Joe Lynn Turner, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, ULI JON ROTH... and the chemistry rises considerably. He clearly does not play over everybody's solos. He's a confident player and makes others sound awesome. That's why so many want to play with him. But Leslie is absolutely going to play loud... when you play with Leslie on a stage... you cant bring a knife to a gunfight!! :)

[@jg6698]

Leslie did as he pleased. Lol

[@misst1586]

Yes

[@TR5T]

Do any young people know what this IS? Some of the greatest axemen of all time!!

[@purplecowideal]

no, I don't think they do. That one gal at the beginning asks, I think there's a girl?

[@jg6698]

Thanks, boomer.

[@TheHuester44]

Long live Leslie West !

[@ShaKimono]

Leslie still cranking out Loud in your face guitar since the the days of Sunn Coliseum pa heads and sunn stacks

[@joelcampbell1491]

Big Les could play .One of my favorites

[@depper]

HERE'S YOUR CHANCE FANS: Do you feel Leslie West & MOUNTAIN should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Sign the petition! www.ipetitions.com/petition/get-leslie-west-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll

[@mitchnelsen]

Absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@johng2880]

Otiel was tearing it up too. Killer jam.

[@stanvanderlugt8271]

RIP LESLIE

[@billy38010]

Man I Love the sound of Leslie's LP, I'd bet it's a 50's model,....Cheers!

[@tonytribble2977]

billy38010 sorry, it’s a damn Dean guitar. Still sounds good, but not like the junior !

[@ericanderson2987]

Could you imagine a Duet of Dwaine Allman and West? WIW!

[@mse1576]

Derek Trucks. Leslie West. Warren Haynes. Unbelievable.

[@2253glen]

West looks great. And playin his ass off. Always a fantastic axeman.

[@sammyvh11]

Rip to all!

[@3jet3]

And there is Derek Trucks keeping as smooth as possible with these gents.

[@davidmartin7081]

If Derek smiled like that then everything is gonna be alright!!

[@DavidLeBlanc]

Leslie West and Duane and Betts all playing together. That would be good.

[@imprettystoned]

Get well soon Leslie!!! To soon to take that Southbound Train!!!

[@kynyrdskynyrd]

That is 100 percent big time heavy!

[@olivergoldthorpe9493]

RIP Leslie West

[@greghenderson4856]

Leslie was not going to be denied .......or turned down !!!!

[@19800bon]

Las West handing out lessons here!

[@michaelheller8841]

Warren goes up to Leslie's amp and turns it all the way up, freaking cool! RIP The Mountain "Leslie West" great show!

[@gitterich]

A German music freak says: Good journey to the other side Leslie West. Greet the guys and play something nice together.

[@roitco1]

LeslIe tonite NYC @ The Iridium. Gonna be good.