The New England Patriots will have their first official test this Thursday when they battle the New Orleans Saints at Gillette Stadium. The game follows a pair of joint practices between the two teams set up by Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Saints interim coach Joe Vitt. There has been a lot of buzz at Patriots training camp over the past few days. (more)

Forty-three years strong and still counting The Allman Brothers Band is still getting it done. For a band that’s been through so many ups, downs, and years of hard living they’re still able to bring their Southern flavored blues to the stage. (more)

The Allman Brothers Band has announced dates for its annual residency at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. (more)

The Allman Brothers Band will return to the stage once again late this fall for the first time since Gregg Allman’s liver transplant. Kicking off an intimate East Coast tour with three nights of shows at Boston’s Orpheum Theatre, the Allman Brothers will continue the eleven year touring span that’s been in full bloom since 1989. After years of health trouble stemming from Hepatitis C, in 2007, doctors deemed the damage to Gregg Allman’s liver so severe that a transplant was in order. Three years later, the wait for a donor was up and the founding member of the band underwent successful liver transplant surgery in late June. When the troubles first arose, the Allman Brothers were forced to cancel their annual residency at the Beacon Theater in New York City in 2008. The sudden surgery caused a similar interruption, forcing the band to cancel their performance at this summer’s Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival in Chicago. Gregg Allman left the hospital on July 2 and set out for a quick recovery, with doctors suggesting a stage return by November, at the earliest. Allman has taken the doctor’s word and already planned a late 2010 tour to take place following recovery. “I’ve been itching to play since I got the operation,” Gregg Allman said in a statement. “Can’t thank everyone enough for their help and support.” Beginning with three shows at the Orpheum Theater, the rest of the “Evening With the Allman Brothers” tour dates have yet to be announced. Allman is crossing his finger with hopes to get back into performance mode before November, pressing to appear for a pair of solo shows at New Brunswick’s Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival in mid-September. Allman will perform with the longstanding Allman Brothers lineup of guitarists Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes, drummers Butch Trucks and Jaimoe, bassist Oteil Burbridge and percussionist Marc Quinones at the Orpheum on November 18th, 19th and 20th, with tickets going on sale today.