2009.09.11
Wayback machine: Betts, Hall, Leavell and Trucks at the Coffee Pot, circa 1983
What a crazy youtube.com discovery. Go to the bottom of this clip to read the back story about how I came to find these videos. At the end of the vid, you'll see options for more clips from that long-ago show at the Coffee Pot.
More than 25 years have passed since a show that the Coffee Pot’s owner, Carroll Bell, calls his room’s claim to fame.
About 1983, a post-Allman Brothers Band Dickey Betts came to the Pot with BHLT and Friends — including Allmans' keyboardist Chuck Leavell and drummer Butch Trucks, and frontman Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie fame. The USA television network taped and broadcast the concert.
Bell said he made a videotape of the show, then lent it to a friend. Since then, Bell has forgotten who borrowed it, and that person has never returned it, Bell lamented on a recent night at the Pot.
Turns out, some of that performance is living on the World Wide Web. A Google search turned up BHLT performing “Ramblin’ Man,” “Rain” and “Nothin’ You Can Do” on YouTube.
The latter clip (embedded above) shows a raucous crowd “getting ready for some jammin’ tonight ... waiting in line to jam with a new supergroup of American rock” at “our USA hot spot tonight, the Coffee Pot in Roanoke, Va.,” according to the host.
Check out both videos at blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch. And hey, if you’ve got that old video cassette, why don’t you drop it by the Pot. If you can identify the show host, let me know.
— Tad Dickens
Swear to God...
I was sitting in my apartment in Greeley Colorado, channel surfing.. which meant actually getting up and twisting the dial, and watched this show...
Comment by mike scott — September 12, 2009 @ 7:57 am
This footage was/is circulated amongst Allman Brothers Band traders. If you went to the ABB website and looked in the trades section, I am sure someone would have a copy. If I remember correctly, I had the audio from this show but it is long since lost.
Comment by Tori — September 12, 2009 @ 12:17 pm
I recall a show at the 'Pot in the 80's but thought it was just a Dickey Betts show. It was winter time and a loooooong wait outside for the band to set up. There were two shows and were (supposed to be) taped for a weekly program that used to run on the USA Network. Different concert or not, the footage may be available somewhere. Didn't see a lot of TV cameras in the video though.
Comment by LarryS — September 12, 2009 @ 8:11 pm
Hey...Dig one up of Woodsmoke who was a regular at the Coffee Pot. A great local band from the mid-1970's era.
Comment by jim parker — September 14, 2009 @ 11:07 am
The Noke is my hometown and I was at this gig that night with my friend Jimmy Hall. He has two audio clips from this show available on his web site http://www.jimmyhall.com. Yes, that was a room full of talent that night.
Comment by Dan the Man — September 14, 2009 @ 2:03 pm
Thanks for all the comments. Sounds like a really fun night. So Jim, there's Woodsmoke footage on youtube?
Comment by Tad Dickens — September 14, 2009 @ 4:49 pm