Live Review: Tedeschi Trucks Band Rocks PPAC
Monday, December 07, 2015
A rock show arrived in Providence Saturday night where the Providence Performing Arts Center hosted the Tedeschi Trucks Band. A near sell out audience witnessed a band at its peak – a show that was part house party, part revival meeting, and total rock and roll.
Tedeschi Trucks Band
The husband/wife team of Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks came together in 2010 merging members of their separate bands to form the Tedeschi Trucks Band. With two studio albums and numerous shows and festivals behind them, as well as an appearance at the White House in 2013, the band has developed a reputation as one of the top touring acts out there today.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThere was a festive mood at the Providence show which served as a homecoming show for the Massachusetts native Tedeschi who sings lead vocals on most songs. Although the happy couple shares equal billing in name, it felt a little more like Tedeschi’s band. That is, her band with one of the best living guitar players out there who just happens to be her husband. It was also the couple’s 14th wedding anniversary, and although they rarely interact verbally on stage, the musical connection between the two is more than apparent.
Their set opened full speed ahead with “Made Up Mind,” the title song from their 2013 album of the same name. The show featured several from the album, which was #1 on the Blues charts and won the “Best Rock Blues Album” at the Blues Music Awards. “Don’t Know What it Means” followed, a song that included a “free” style jazz sax solo from Kebbi Williams.
Next up was “The Letter,” a rock and roll classic originally recorded by The Box Tops and later made famous by the late Joe Cocker. The tune featured the horn section with a nice trombone solo from Elizabeth Lea. Cocker’s influence on Tedeschi’s style is apparent, although many in attendance agreed her voice is more reminiscent of early to mid-career Bonnie Raitt.
The evening’s highlights centered Tedeschi’s voice and Trucks’ guitar. She upped the ante with each tune reaching an absolutely over the top crescendo on the encore, “With a Little Help From My Friends.”
Keep on Growing
Some of the biggest highlights of the evening came with covers like the previously mentioned “Letter” and Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice,” where Tedeschi revealed her softer side. Later, the Derek and the Dominos classic “Keep on Growing,” gave Trucks a chance to really stretch out on lead guitar. The arrangement also featured an extended flute solo from Kofi Burbridge.
No doubt, Trucks is influenced heavily by the late Dominos and Allman Brother legend Duane Allman, something he proved playing slide guitar with the Allman Brothers Band for the last 15 or so years.
It’s well known that Trucks is the nephew of Butch Trucks, one of two original Allman drummers. The multi percussion approach is also a feature of Tedeschi Trucks, with two drummers, Tyler Greenwell and J.J. Johnson, keeping the beat. To the delight of those assembled, they “drummed off” on a couple of percussion solos during the show.
Other show highlights included the soulful “Bound for Glory” and “Idle Wind,” original songs from their two released studio albums. The closer was a delightfully over the top version of the Beatles “With a Little Help From My Friends,” with full horns and background vocals. A warm and fitting end to a great night of rock and roll.
In recent years, some have (prematurely) mourned the death of “rock and roll.” In fact, some publicists and marketers shy away from even using the term. Tedeschi Trucks proves the naysayers wrong. Their sound is fresh, creative and inspired. And while there are numerous ways to define the genre, at its heart, rock and roll is about musicians giving it there all, relishing their craft, and connecting with their audience. This band understands that dynamic and then some!
Opening Act
Singer-Songwriter and traveling troubadour Shawn Mullins opened the evening with an impressive set. The Georgia native and his acoustic guitar filled the room with selections from his 14 album career including tunes from his 2015 release My Stupid Heart.
He shined on “The Ghost of Johnny Cash,” an ode to a fallen hero:
“You gotta stand for something
'Cause when you're gone you're gone
And the devil lost a lot of souls
When Johnny put that black suit on”
Other highlights included the socially conscious “Ferguson” from his new album and “Catoosa County,” a haunting tune set in the Civil War. He kindly covered his Grammy nominated “Lullaby,” from his 1998 album Soul’s Core. The set closed with the traditional roots number, “House of the Rising Sun.”
Ken Abrams review Roots, Rock and Blues for GoLocal. E-Mail him here.
Photos by Rick Farrell, Mojo Photography
Related Slideshow: The 2015 Local Music Scene
Rhode Island is home to a thriving community of musicians, including many nationally recognized performers. For Black Friday, GoLocal Music Critic Ken Abrams has compiled some of the best local albums of 2015. We've got releases in a variety of formats - including CD, vinyl, cassette and digital. Check out our slideshow, find out more about some great local artists, and then go "Buy Local Music!"
Related Articles
- Cray and Copeland Brings the Blues to RI
- Live Review: Solid Soul at The Vets
- Live Review- Dead & Company Rock Worcester