Band continues a sold out run at Warner Theater
Tedeschi Trucks, the prolific blues rock group, pulled into DC (sorry, I had to) for a second run of shows Thursday (Mar 2nd) after a successful sold out run at Warner Theater in February.
Killer guitarist Derek Trucks and sultry vocalist Susan Tedeschi front the massive ensemble. Complete with a horn section and double drum set up, they create a full sound that has cross-generational appeal.
The crowd at Warner Theater ranged from college-aged students to senior citizens. The elders in the crowd no doubt enjoying the revival Allman Brothers flavor to TTB, while the younger set immerse themselves in the fresh and lively arrangements. All of it anchored by Tedeschi’s powerfully soulful voice, Trucks’ Dickey Bert’s-like playing. The married couple have been making music together as Tedeschi Trucks Band since 2010.
And it was an immersive experience with the fans on their feet and feeling the groove all night long. This is remarkable as, in gorgeously ornate theaters with plush raked seating, most crowds sit and enjoy from the velvet comfort. Not so at Warner. The crowd seemed to breathe with the beat.
Musically, the night moved effortlessly between moods. There were the old-school rock moments like “Got To Change Sometime,” there was also plenty of the mid tempo pensive numbers that fit so beautifully in the blues genre. “Laugh About It” is an excellently introspective tune. And silky-smooth slow burner “D’Gary” highlighted the purity of Tedeschi’s voice.
But there was another singer in the mix worth mentioning. Mike Mattison took the mic on a large chunk of the more uptempo numbers, his deep voice bringing a distinctly Motown angle to this colorful prism of blues rock.
The background on stage also nodded to the clear 70s influence on TTB’s music, with a bright yellow and orange border. As for projection, they kept it simple, choosing to display artwork respective to the song that they were playing.
The real magic happened when the need for lyrics fell aside, and the group could jam. Their chemistry is magic that must be experienced. Tedeschi Trucks Band is quite possibly the tightest blues jam band performing today. It is that reputation that, 13 years on, that sees them sell out multiple nights across the country. Because, to paraphrase the song, their fan base keeps on growing.
