Since getting back together from the draconian COVID lockdown, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks have made some changes in their band over the past couple of years, and all three shows at the Greek this Friday night reflected how problems that we face can actually turn into opportunities for growth, both musically and personally, with the listening audience reaping the benefits.
Up first was was fairly recent addition Gabe Dixon on keyboards, mixing and matching his team of Isaac Eady/dr and Brandon Boone/b with without horns to create a half hour set of Dr. John-ish gumbo R&B with classic singer/songwriter tunes enhanced by his wide ranging and expressive voice. You can tell that these three gents are going to fit in well with the larger ensemble.
For the next hour, the venerable East LA garage band Los Lobos cruised like a 57 Chevy down Van Nuys Boulevard. David Hildago/voc-g-acc, Louie Perez/dr, Cesar Rosas/g-voc, Conrad Lozano/b and Steve Berlin/bari-key delivered roots tunes that sounded like a Pacoima wedding party, with tunes like “Will The Wolf Survive” and “Chuco’s Cumbia” before Susan Tedeschi joined the team for a heartfelt take of “What’s Goin’ On?” and then Derek Trucks plugging in for a delicious and spicy jam. Just keep it coming, and no one gets hurt!
The revamped Tedeschi Trucks band sounded inspired and invigorated by the new blood listed above, along with drummer Tyler Greenwell bringing a second drum to the rumbling rhythm section in addition to a vocal choir of Mike Mattison-Mark Rivers-Alecia Chakour and a horn team of Kebbi Williams/ts, Ephraim Owens/tp and Elizabeth Lea/tb. For the almost 2 hour set, the band explored colors of the musical palate that gave hints of Derek and the Dominos, The Allman Brothers and Booker T and the MGs, creating a southern soul fest of blues, gospel and earthy folk.
A healthy dose of material from their latest album, I Am The Moon, reflected dark full mooned moods on still waters, with Tedeschi’s vocals in lyrical form on “Hear My Dear” and agonizing over the smoky B3 on ”I Am The Moon” . Sharing vocals with the choir members she yearned on both voice and guitar as Trucks’ slide guitar seared through and around the hovering tones. Ms Tedeschi showed her guitar prowess as well, volleying back and forth with her psychedelic and acidic strings against Trucks swampy notes like bickering spouses on “Outside Woman Blues”
Trucks, with his patented use of slide guitar juxtaposed with a right hand the flicks and strums the strings like he’s proving that the hand is quicker than the eye, gave a howling intro a vintage Slowhand take of “Keep On Growin’”, sliding better than vintage Ricky Henderson. During the jam of “Pasaquan” with a stripped down band, Trucks worked around the rumbling drummers like an open field punt returner, changing direction, dodging obstacles and veering around Dixon’s humming Jimmy Smith’d Hammond like a man popping his clutch.
Not only does the new material sound promising, but even the closing tunes and encores, such as the glorious “I Want More” and “Bound For Glory” not only reveal a fresh wine for the wineskins, but the titles also reveal the optimism that this band, possibly the best bluesers around, have about their musical world view, with the soulful wheels turning in the right direction .
Upcoming shows at the Greek include 09/04 Jackson Browne, 09/06-07 Alicia Keys, 9/24 Bonnie Riatt w/ Mavis Staples and 10/16 Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band