Tedeschi Trucks Band Visit Australia
Melbourne 3 April and 6 April Sydney
Derek Trucks has been playing for some time now and is the best slide player on either side of the equator. He is now 44 and formed The Derek Trucks Band in 1994 when he was 15. His first appearance in Australia was with Eric Clapton in 2007. He also put in some years as an Allman Brother from 1999 until 2014.
In 2008 he made an exclusive journey (with his band) to Australia to play in Adelaide @ The Adelaide Guitar Festival. His show back then consisted of this band:
Derek Trucks: Guitar
Todd Smallie: Bass, vocals
Yonrico Scott: Drums (1955-2019)
Mike Mattison: Vocals
Kofi Burbridge: Keyboards, Flute, vocals (1961-2019)
Count M'Butu: Percussion (1945-2021)
Before the Derek Trucks Band (DTB) came to Adelaide I had chatted to everyone except the Count to get a feel of what was happening in that unit. What a fabulous bunch of individuals and we miss the 3 that are no longer with us today. With the DTB being a smaller unit Derek was given a lot of room to solo. My Favourite Things and Key To The Highway were two highlights from The Wah Bar that night. If you were among the few hundred that evening you know that 2 hours was loud and wild.
When he was here as part of Eric Clapton’s Band he was gracious enough to invite me and my mate Bruce backstage for a brief visit. Those shows with Clapton, Doyle Bramhall II and Trucks trading guitar licks over blues classics and Derek and The Domino tunes were astounding.
At some point after that, I believe he recorded some music at Bruce’s studio in Columba, Missouri. I also caught up with him and Susan over lunch one day for a lengthy chat which cemented my fandom and belief that they were solid enough to hold this big unit of talent together.
Fast forward to today; we have had the TTB around for 14 years. Having graced the stage at Bluesfest they have also done double bills with Robert Randolph (2010) and Trombone Shorty (2013). That show with Shorty was off the charts. That was also the last time the TTB had graced our shores.
During the early days of the TTB, I heard some people complain that having a larger band and Susan up front it was taking away from Derek’s guitar time. Little did they know that Derek had a plan to build this 12-wheel tractor-trailer of soul and blues into a remarkable unit. Think of the Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour and imagine keeping it on the road for over close to a decade and a 1/2. Different times for sure.
Susan Tedeschi is amazing. Her solo career had her shooting towards the top of blues guitarist/singers and her voice over the years has gained richness and beauty. Did I mention her stunning guitar playing? How sweet it would be to sit around their home in Florida and just listen to them fool around on their axes?
In 2022 I was able to catch them 4 x in the USA. All 4 shows were with Los Lobos and each night they always jammed for at least one song. The 2 shows in Red Rocks in July 2022 caused some seismic disruptions. The 2nd night with Jerry Douglas and Los Lobos on stage was quite possibly one of the greatest concert experiences I have witnessed in my 54 years of gig craziness.
I knew that one show on this 2024 visit was not going to satiate my hunger for the best live band on the planet now.
Night 1-The Palais-Naarm-3 April 2024
Mid-week and the crowd were seated until the encore. In the US I did not see as many people sitting during the concerts, but the numbers don’t lie, and the age bracket of the attendees in Melbourne was high. Maybe it is due to the cost of tickets or maybe the youngsters just don’t know what they are missing.
The TTB have taken to playing 2 sets which was not what I had seen before. No matter, after kicking off with a cover of The Letter by The Boxtops, a fabulous version of Do I Look Worried and the Eddie Kirkland blues number I Must Have Done Somebody Wrong, an Allman Brothers fave, the crowd needed a stretch. We were 8 songs deep and everyone was in some sort of rapture.
There are so many people to watch on the stage and each of the 12 members gets a chance to shine. Set 2 kicked off with Springsteen’s State Trooper. Anyhow and La Di Da came next and the vocals and solos all over the place had everyone spinning. Trucks and the band delved into Derek and The Domino’s territory with Keep on Growing. If you get the chance check out the live recording they did of Layla Revisited (Live at LOCKN'). It is a remarkable homage to the roots of Truck’s music and he is joined by Trey Anastasio at that show. Some say it is better than the original. You be the judge!
Susan’s vocals shined on Midnight In Harlem and the horn section and backing vocals were beyond words, so I won’t type any. Beck’s Bolero, a Jeff Beck tune, ended the set proper and the Billy Taylor chestnut I Wish I Knew closed the show down. Everyone was on their feet and we all could have gone another few hours, well I know I could have.
Night 2-The State Theatre-Eora-6 April 2024
Saturday Night!
Everyone always says that the best gigs are on Saturday night. The crowd is relaxed and primed and the band feeds off the audience. This was also the last night of the 5 nights in Australia so the band was loose, and you could feel a different energy. Night one at The State had been amazing from all reports but this set-list was one for the ages.
Once again we had 8 songs making up the first set. Playing With My Emotions exploded out and some people were on their feet. Do I Look Worried from their Made Up Mind record was followed by the Junior Wells rave-up Little By Little.
Throw in the first taste of the ABB tonight with a stunning Stand Back and the crowd could hardly be held back as Idle Wind took us to the break.
Another ABB standard, the Blind Willie McTell Statesboro Blues, got us rolling into the 9 songs that made up the end of the TTB stay in Australia. Gabe and Susan dueted on I Am The Moon with guitars and keyboards and horns and everything filling the theatre. Anyday was blinding, Van Morrisons Caravan was a delight and the instrumental ABB Little Martha took us into Midnight In Harlem. Trucks and his Gibson-SG made sounds that I had never heard before and that seem to happen every time I hear him play.
Could things get any better? If you like the blues and you like Tedeschi to shout, I Pity The Fool (Bobby Bland) nearly took the roof off and blew it down George Street.
Space Captain was on the set-list sheet to close tonight but they mixed it up and decided to head into Dr. John territory with I Walk On Guilded Splinters.
We all finally took a breath and we understood the night was over.
Having come to the gig with some first-timers I could see in their eyes, expressions, and words that their faces had been melted. Some had said it was the best gig they had seen in their lives. It was up in my top 10 of all time and if I keep seeing this band they may fill my top 10.
Yes, they are that good.
You know if you have seen them.
And if you have not delved into the family of musicians that Derek and Susan have gathered, what are you waiting for?
See ya soon, we hope.
Susan Tedeschi – lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar (2010–present)
Derek Trucks – slide and lead guitar (2010–present)
Tyler Greenwell – drums, percussion (2010–present)
Mike Mattison – harmony vocals, acoustic guitar (2010–present)
Mark Rivers – harmony vocals (2010–present)
Kebbi Williams – saxophone (2010–present)
Ephraim Owens – trumpet (2015–present)
Elizabeth Lea – trombone (2015–present)
Alecia Chakour – harmony vocals (2015–present)
Brandon Boone – bass guitar (2019–present)
Gabe Dixon – keyboards, vocals (2019–present)
Isaac Eady – drums, percussion (2021–present)
