Early years
Devon is the son of Gregg Allman (of The Allman Brothers Band) and Shelley Kay Jefts. His parents divorced when he was an infant, and he grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, as well as Tennessee and St. Louis, Missouri, raised by his mother in a typical suburban American household.
Devon began playing music as a teen, but was not influenced by his famous father. He did not meet his father until he was in his teens, but they then bonded instantly. For several years in the 1990s he performed around the growing St. Louis blues and rock music scene, while also managing a suburban Guitar Center store.
In his twenties, Allman tried various musical styles and sounds to distance himself from his father's sound and avoid obvious comparisons, though his father did not meddle in Devon's career. In his thirties, Allman embraced the blues and rock style of music that was in his blood, realizing that it was inherited naturally.[2]
Influences
His family’s prestigious musical history actually had little effect on him. He initially found his own way at age five while listening to The Beatles and Kiss, and from there started to learn guitar. Later in life, after meeting his dad and getting to see what was involved in a musical career, he became inspired to improve his craft.
Devon grew up on classic, blues-inspired rock music, and has specifically mentioned Santana, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, and The Allman Brothers Band.
When asked if there was one record that he could cite as the definitive recording that has influenced and inspired him, Devon responded with Layla, by Derek and The Dominos. He explained, "Although it's not straight blues, it's obviously dripping with soulful blues guitar. Layla has always appealed to me because you can really really ‘feel’ what Clapton was going through. That man was straight up in love. It brought out a burning passion in his throat and fingers that is undeniable, and it obviously soaked into the other players on the record. My uncle Duane just sounds like a bird on it as well! It has so much raw energy and passion that it sounds ultra fresh every time I put it on. Front to back, one of the few records that can bring me to tears if I let it."
Musical Career
Honeytribe
Honeytribe was formed by Devon Allman in 1999. In 2001, the band broke up so Allman could spend time with his newly born son. They re-formed in 2005 with their original lineup, and have since toured in the United States, Europe, and Canada, and have recorded two albums. They recorded Torch in 2006 and hit the road, playing up to 300 shows a year in 42 states and ten countries. Allman eventually grew restless with the original Honeytribe sound and pared the band down to a power trio in 2008 with bassist George Potsos and new drummer Gabriel Strange. This incarnation of Devon Allman's Honeytribe issued Space Age Blues in the fall of 2010.
Royal Southern Brotherhood
In October 2011, Allman began working on a project titled the Royal Southern Brotherhood. The blues-rock supergroup includes Cyril Neville, Mike Zito., Grammy-award winning drummer Yonrico Scott and bassist Charlie Wooton. Allman was skeptical of joining the group at first, telling his manager "Dude are you crazy? Thats like putting five quarterbacks in a room and saying 'go play football'. What the Hell are you talking about?" However he soon changed his mind and the group recorded their first album in December 2011, over five days at Dockside Studio, a 12 acre estate on the banks of Vermilion Bayou, in Maurice, Louisiana. The group made its stage debut in September 2011 at the Rock ’n’ Bowl in New Orleans. As of September, 2012 they've toured exensively in the U.S. and fourteen foreign countries.
Solo
In September 2012, Allman finished recording sessions for his first solo album, titled "Turquoise," which features Myles Weeks on bass and Yonrico Scott on drums. The sessions were recorded at Ardent Studios, in Memphis, Tennessee, engineered by Pete Matthews and produced by Jim Gaines, and includes guest musicians Luther Dickinson, Samantha Fish, Rick Steff and Ron Holloway. A solo tour began in November 2012, and the touring band include Pedro Arevalo on bass, Bobby Schneck Jr. on second guitar, and Anthony Nanney on drums. The album is scheduled to be released on 12 February 2013, and the projected track listing is: Don't Set Me Free; When I Left Home; There's No Time; Time Machine; Stop Draggin' My Heart Around; Strategy; Yadi's Lullaby; Key Lime Pie; Turn off the World; Homesick; Into the Darkness.
Other Contributions
In 2005 Allman appeared on Love, Union, Peace with bluesman Javier Vargas' Vargas Blues Band (along with Jack Bruce, Reese Wynans, and others), and in 2008 on the Flamenco Blues Experience recording by the same outfit. In 2007 Devon guested on Paris Luna's City Lights album. He has also made appearances at various festivals and on MTV Europe.
Discography
Solo
Turquoise (2013)
Ocean Six
Ocean Six - Somewhere Between Day and Night (2003): Guitar and vocals
Honeytribe
Devon Allman's Honeytribe - Torch (2006)
Devon Allman's Honeytribe - Space Age Blues (2010)
Royal Southern Brotherhood
Royal Southern Brotherhood (2012)
Other Contributions
Vargas Blues Band - Love, Union, Peace (2005): Vocals on "Dance Away The Blues", "How Verso Are You?", and "Magic of the Gods"
Vargas Blues Band - Lost & Found (2007): Vocals on "One Way Out", "Statesboro Blues" and "Layla"
A Song for My Father (2007): Midnight Rider
Vargas Blues Band - Flamenco Blues Experience (2008): Vocals on "Blues In My Soul"
Vargas Blues Band - Comes Alive With Friends (2009): Guitar and vocals on "One Way Out", "How Verso Are You?", and "Down by the River"; vocals on "Blues In My Soul"
Dan Bruder Band - Act of Kindness (2010)
Official Website: Devon Allman
Time Machine
Devon Allman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through the best years of your life
The greatest hits and most memorable scenes
Let this be your time machine
Remember what it's like to be young
We'd play outside until the sun
Disappeared behind the tall trees
Good times come & good times go
Bad times roll in and out like a storm
Time floats by like waves on the sea
All aboard the time machine
Your first car, your first kiss and the night
Innocence was lost deep inside
The only apples we had grew on trees
Time went by slower it seems
Good times come & good times go
Bad times roll in and out like a storm
Time floats by like waves on the sea
All aboard the time machine
Remember what it's like?
The song "Time Machine" by Devon Allman takes the listener on a nostalgic journey as the singer invites us to take a ride through the best years of our lives on a time machine. The lyrics evoke memories of carefree and innocent youth, reminiscing about the greatest hits and most memorable scenes that defined our past. The song urges us to remember what it's like to be young, playing outside until the sun sets and time seems to evaporate on the breeze.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the fleeting nature of time and how it ebbs and flows like waves on the sea, bringing good and bad times with it. Devon Allman's soulful and emotive vocal delivery adds depth to the nostalgic themes of the song, as he sings about first cars, first kisses, and the loss of innocence. The song ends with a hopeful call to remember those moments of our past and relive them through the power of the time machine.
Overall, "Time Machine" is a tender and poignant song that reminds us of the beauty and value of our memories. It encourages us to cherish those moments that define us and shaped our lives, no matter how fleeting they may seem.
Line by Line Meaning
Come with me let's take a ride
Join me on a journey to revisit some of the most memorable experiences of your life.
Through the best years of your life
Through the years you thought were the most enjoyable and fulfilling in your life.
The greatest hits and most memorable scenes
The moments or memories that had the most significant impact on you, the highlights reel of your life.
Let this be your time machine
Embrace this experience like a time machine that will transport you back to the moments that were magical for you.
Remember what it's like to be young
Recall the feeling of being young, and the hopes, dreams, and aspirations that came with it.
We'd play outside until the sun
The carefree, innocent times when you and your friends would play outside, enjoying nature and the sunshine.
Disappeared behind the tall trees
As the day would come to an end, the sunlight would disappear, with the tall trees providing a beautiful view of the sky.
Time evaporates on the breeze
Time seems to sneak away from us, much like how a breeze carries away things without us realizing it.
Good times come & good times go
Just like the fluctuations of life, there are ups and downs, happy and sad moments that come and go.
Bad times roll in and out like a storm
There are moments of hardships or struggles, which come in like a storm, remain for a while, and then pass by.
Time floats by like waves on the sea
Time-like waves in the sea never stops, keep on moving forward and never look back.
All aboard the time machine
It's time to get on board the journey to the past and embrace the memories that we can cherish for a lifetime.
Your first car, your first kiss and the night
Memorable moments from your past, such as your first car or first kiss with that special someone.
Innocence was lost deep inside
The moment when one's innocence is lost forever, leaving one forever changed.
The only apples we had grew on trees
Life was much simpler back then when the only apples that existed were the ones from the trees in your backyard.
Time went by slower it seems
When looking back, time seems to have passed much more slowly than it does in the moment.
Remember what it's like?
Wondering whether you remember what it's like to revisit the past moments, see life from a different perspective, and relive the beautiful memories.
Contributed by Kaitlyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
greta joseph
..this album is truly a work of art, sharing over n' over to enlighten and brighten the family, friends, and loved ones that need more beauty in their lives . .
Lawnboy From Hell
Not hard to tell he's an Allman! Good stuff!
Vitor Meyer
I just got here... how come this guy has only 9k views? This is some great music!
lukjanowitsch1
Good song!
Folsom Blues28
Good dam music here. Cold dark day on earth that this only has 10k
sl1ckk1ll3r
I'll be the first comment and say I love this song