“These Days” the legacy of Gregg Allman is carried on by his son Devon Allman. The Allman Betts Band leader recently honored his father alongside Maggie Rose with a take on Gregg’s borrowed Jackson Browne tune “These Days”. Originally written by The Pretender, the track appears on Allman’s 1973 solo debut, Laid Back.
With “These Days” already a cover, the pressure isn’t so heavy on the heir to the Allman Brothers Band legacy. Instead, he and the rising Nashville singer-songwriter give new voices to the song about love, death, and regret.
“It’s a phenomenal song and Gregg did such a great job reimagining it,” Rose told American Songwriter. “When I suggested it to Devon, he thought it might be easier for him to cover because his dad didn’t write it. It was less daunting. We were paying tribute to his love for the song while doing something fun and creative together.”
The duo also stays true to Gregg’s alteration of Browne’s lyrics, with Gregg changing “Don’t confront me with my failures / I had not forgotten them,” to “Please don’t confront me with my failures / I’m aware of them.” Browne wrote “These Days” when he was 16, with Nico making the first recording in 1967 for her album Chelsea Girl. The song would later appear on Allman’s Laid Back as well as Browne’s 1973 sophomore album, For Everyman. The two versions were released within days of each other in October ’73.
“When [Allman] did it I thought that he really unlocked a power in that song that I sort of then emulated in my version,” Browne told KSGR in Austin in 2008. “I started playing the piano. I wasn’t trying to sing it like Gregg; I couldn’t possibly.”
Watch Devon Allman and Maggie Rose perform “These Days” as a tribute to Gregg Allman. The two will join forces this fall on the Allman Family Revival tour, set to kick off on Saturday, November 26th in Macon, GA. For tickets and a full lineup head here.
Devon Allman, Maggie Rose – “These Days” (Jackson Browne) [Official Video]
On January 13th, 2023, Maggie Rose will take part in the newly-expanded Denver Comes Alive. The first-ever two-night edition of the Mile High music marathon will begin with a bluegrass night featuring Rose alongside Yonder Mountain String Band, Kitchen Dwellers, and a WinterWonderWomen superjam with Bridget Law (Elephant Revival), Lindsay Lou, Mimi Naja (Fruition), Megan Letts (Mama Magnolia), Emma Rose (Big Richard), and Michelle Pietrafitta (Banshee Tree).
The following day will see a funk takeover by Lettuce, The Word (featuring Robert Randolph, John Medeski, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, and Ray Ray Holloman), The Main Squeeze with auxiliary backing ensemble Pulp Friction (featuring Will Phillips, Adryon de León, Shira Elias, Parris Fleming, and Nick Gerlach), and Super Sonic Shorties with Nikki Glaspie (The Nth Power), Katty Rodriguez (Beyoncé), Tonya Sweets (Klymaxx/Lizzo), Natalie Cressman (Trey Anastasio Band), Ella Feingold (Silk Sonic), Amy Bellamy (G. Love), and Erica Falls (Erica Falls Band).
Tickets for both nights of Denver Comes Alive 2023 are on sale now.
