Tedeschi Trucks Band performed the penultimate show of its annual autumnal, seven-night Beacon Theatre residency last night. The rain that persisted for most of the week subsided and allowed fans to explore the pizzerias, parks, and restaurants around NYC’s labyrinth cityscape. Without an opening act, the 12-piece band performed two sets and dug heavily into their latest release, I Am The Moon, while mixing in covers from the Allman Brothers Band, Derek and The Dominos, and Susan Tedeschi’s catalog.
To open the show, TTB performed a tender “Hear My Dear” before Gabe Dixon’s vocals led the group into “Gravity”, listed on I Am The Moon I. Crescent and III. The Fall, respectively. A rumbling “Do I Look Worried” shook the quiet streets of the Upper West Side from as far as Zabar’s to the north and Trader Joes to the south.
Tedeschi Trucks Band – “Hear My Dear” – 10/7/22
[Video: HotF’nTuna]
Susan Tedeschi’s vocals shone like the moon that was rising over Central Park during “All The Love” until Mike Mattison stepped to the front with an acoustic guitar in hand to sing “Emmaline”, songs featured on the group’s recently released I Am the Moon, II. Ascension and III. The Fall, correspondingly.
The horn section, who exited the stage when Mattison walked to the front, remained absent as Gabe Dixon introduced “The Feeling Music Brings”. It didn’t take long for Susan to commandeer her own composition with voice and guitar.
A pair of Allman Brothers Band songs followed as Dixon belted out Gregg Allman’s lyrics in “Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’” before the band dialed it in for an instrumental dive into “Les Bres in A Minor”. Brandon Boone’s bass line introduced and anchored the melody as TTB’s horn section flourished—especially Kebbi Williams on saxophone.
Tedeschi Trucks Band – “Don’t Keep Me Wonderin'” (Allman Brothers Band) – 10/7/22
[Video: HotF’nTuna]
To close out the first frame, every musician cleared the stage to make room for Gabe Dixon and Susan Tedeschi during a poignant cover of “I Can’t Make You Love Me”, a song written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin first featured on Bonnie Raitt‘s 1991 album Luck of the Draw. This performance marked TTB’s third time covering the song, the first being earlier this year on April 16th, 2022.
After a short set break gave the audience a chance to refresh, Derek Trucks took a seat for “So Long Savior” before standing up to conduct a brassy “Playing With My Emotions”. Both songs were included on I Am The Moon: II. Ascension.
Four covers ensued as Susan Tedeschi sang a heartfelt rendition of The Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Darlin’ Be Home Soon”. Mike Mattison returned to the front of the stage to take over on vocals during Taj Mahal’s “Everybody Got to Change Sometime”. Gabe Dixon, Susan Tedeschi, and Derek Trucks passed the jam baton in succession until Trucks conducted a maestro’s finish.
Tedeschi Trucks Band – “Everybody’s Got To Change Sometime” – 10/7/22
[Video: HotF’nTuna]
Barreling down the tracks of the second set with the force of a subway train, TTB presented consecutive Derek and The Dominos tunes with “Bell Bottom Blues” leading into “Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?” At the end of the jam, Gabe Dixon included a tease of ABB’s beloved instrumental “Jessica” during a piano solo.
Returning to their own catalog, Mattison’s gravelly voice led the band through a horn-infused performance of “Right on Time”. Before fading off, Derek Trucks steered into “Made Up Mind” which was bookended by Mark Rivers wailing outro.
To follow, Susan carved the way through “Just Won’t Burn” from her 1998 album of the same name. Winding down the set yet showing no signs of slowing down, Tyler Greenwell hammered out a drum introduction to “I Want More”, and after a percussive breakdown, Brandon Boone picked up the pieces with a fierce bass solo before the band flowed into Santana’s “Soul Sacrifice” for an expertly paired outro.
Tedeschi Trucks Band – “Just Won’t Burn”, “I Want More” – 10/7/22
[Video: HotF’nTuna]
Following a braid encore break, TTB filed back on stage for one last revisit of I Am The Moon with “Soul Sweet Song”, off the appropriately titled, IV. Farewell. To finish the penultimate show of the residency, Susan led the band into the side alleys of Manhattan for a rendition of The Coasters’ “Let’s Go Get Stoned”. Nearly everybody in the band said their piece, Alecia Chakour, Mark Rivers, and Mike Mattison’s vocals soared while the horn section remained entrenched with hearty solos from Ephraim Owens’ trumpet and Elizabeth Lea’s trombone.
TTB has only one show left on the table before the band takes its world-class blues act overseas to Europe. For the full breakdown, click here. Enjoy the music. Remember, we might never be here again. Godspeed.
Setlist: Tedeschi Trucks Band | Beacon Theatre | New York, NY | 10/7/22
Set 1: Hear My Dear, Gravity, Do I Look Worried, All the Love, Emmaline, The Feeling Music Brings, Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’, Les Brers in A Minor, I Can’t Make You Love Me
Set 2: So Long Savior, Playing with my Emotions, Darlin’ Be Home Soon, Everybody’s Got to Change Sometime, Bell Bottom Blues, Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?, Right on Time, Made Up Mind, Just Won’t Burn, I Want More > Soul Sacrifice
Encore: IV: Soul Sweet Song, Let’s Go Get Stoned