Rock and roll’s powerhouse couple, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, brought their 12-piece Tedeschi Trucks Band back to the Beacon Theatre in Manhattan’s Upper West on Wednesday for the second time in as many nights. This year, Derek, Susan, and company slimmed down its typical fall residency at storied venue, well-known for its history with one of Trucks’ “old groups,” the Allman Brothers Band, opting instead for a two-night stint uptown and a two-show run at Brooklyn’s Kings Theater this weekend. Still, it seemed that traces of Derek’s former outfits were never far away on Wednesday night at the Beacon.
Not wastin’ time (no more), the band opened with a poignant and mellow “Don’t Drift Away”. Derek interjected an early solo before moving on to “Part of Me”. Alecia Chakour anchored a soaring vocal section before Kebbi Williams stepped up for a massive saxophone solo. Derek donned his slide for a maelstrom of weeping riffs on his second solo of the night.
As Gabe Dixon introduced “I Am the Moon”, the centerpiece of their most recent album, with crooning echoes, Susan picked up her autographed teal Telecaster and let her voice blend in harmony with Gabe’s. That heroic, four-part album is steeped in synchronicities that only become magnified when the songs appear live: I Am the Moon was inspired inspired by a mythic Persian poem, Layla & Majnun, a tale of star-crossed lovers. As one might guess, this poem also served as the inspiration for Derek and the Dominos’ Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, which in turn inspired TTB’s Trucks’ given name.
Susan stayed at the helm during a dirty blues cover of Junior Wells’ “Little by Little”. After a blazing guitar solo, Tedeschi led the band into the steadily build-up of “Anyhow” that screeched to a climax on the wings of Derek’s unmatched tone. From there, Chakour commandeered the vocal lead for a standout performance of Aretha Franklin’s “It Ain’t Fair”, which famously featured Duane Allman on guitar on its original 1970 recording.
Tedeschi Trucks Band – “It Ain’t Fair” (Aretha Franklin), “Dreams (Allman Brothers Band) – 9/25/24
[Video: themeboudin]
Gabe Dixon embodied Gregg Allman’s spirit to belt out the Allman Brothers Band’s “Dreams”, bringing back fond memories for those still peakin’ at the Beacon. To close out the first frame, Tedeschi Trucks Band covered Joe Tex’s “Show Me”. Mark Rivers came forward to showcase his powerful voice and Kebbi blared another sax solo, but it was Justin Jackson’s trumpet (from Marcus King Band, and filling in for Ephraim Owens) that had the final say before set break.
The second set began in unusual and intimate fashion with a slimmed down, acoustic arrangement of the band that started small and grew in size with each successive song. The opening number, Son House’s “Preacher Blues”, featured only half the band onstage and marked the first of several former Derek Trucks Band staples of the night. Mike Mattison’s gravely vocals and Brandon Boone on the upright bass gave the rendition a raw, gritty feel.
Susan took a seat on stage for a soothing acoustic rendition of “I Can Feel You Smiling” next before trekking onward through a pair of Bob Dylan tunes, “Meet Me in the Morning” and “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right”. Derek walked offstage to let his wife shine alone in the spotlight before the band returned in full for a brassy “I Want More”. Riding that momentum, Derek then paid tribute to Jeff Beck with the heavy riffs of “Beck’s Bolero”, complete with a “Freeway Jam” tease.
Tedeschi Trucks Band (Acoustic) – “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” (Bob Dylan) – 9/25/24
Tedeschi Trucks Band (Acoustic) – “I Can Feel You Smiling” – 9/25/24
[Videos: themeboudin]
Mattison sauntered back to the front of the stage for a cover of Sleepy John Estes’ “Leaving Trunk”, but in the more familiar style of Taj Mahal. Tipping their cap to their recent and longtime touring partners, the band teased Little Feat’s “Dixie Chicken” before Derek continued his own personal homage to his past bands and his ongoing relationship with this legendary venue.
Buckling down, Derek weaved through Derek Trucks Band’s “This Sky”, Allman Brothers Band’s moving instrumental, “Little Martha”, and yet another DTB piece in “Swamp Raga” before punctuating this segue-heavy jam with powerful TTB fan-favorite “Midnight in Harlem”.
The Derek Trucks Band influence persevered as Mike Mattison took the lead for the final time during the third Bob Dylan cover of the set, a scorchin’ take on “Down in the Flood”. As the gathered audience attempted to pick their jaws up off the floor, Susan dug into her roots with “Just Won’t Burn” before bringing the second set to a close with a celebratory “Made Up Mind”.
For the last song of the night and this painfully short Beacon run, Tedeschi Trucks Band leaned into its Mad Dogs & Englishmen arsenal for a soaring “Space Captain” that recalled the outfit’s world-class headlining tribute set from LOCKN’ Festival in 2014.
Tedeschi Trucks Band– “Space Captain” (Matthew Moore) – 9/25/24
[Videos: themeboudin]
Brandon Boone and other members of the band are performing tonight at the Bitter End in Manhattan’s West Village neighborhood before turning their sights toward Brooklyn for two-nights at the King’s Theatre on Friday and Saturday. This marks the first time the band will perform at the austere Flatbush venue. Safe travels this weekend and cheers to everyone that made it out to the Beacon last night for this top-tier Tedeschi Trucks show.
View the setlist from Wednesday night at the Beacon below. Find tickets to upcoming Tedeschi Trucks Band shows here.
Setlist: Tedeschi Trucks Band | Beacon Theatre | New York, NY | 9/25/24
Set One: Don’t Drift Away, Part of Me [1], I Am the Moon, Crying Over You, Little by Little (Junior Wells), Anyhow, It Ain’t Fair (Aretha Franklin) > Dreams (The Allman Brothers Band), Show Me (Joe Tex)
Set Two: Preachin’ Blues (Son House) [2], I Can Feel You Smiling [2], Meet Me in the Morning (Bob Dylan) [2], I Want More > Beck’s Bolero (Jeff Beck), Leaving Trunk (Sleepy John Estes), This Sky (Derek Trucks Band) > Little Martha (The Allman Brothers Band) > Swamp Raga (Derek Trucks Band) > Midnight in Harlem, Down in the Flood (Bob Dylan), Just Won’t Burn (Susan Tedeschi), Made Up Mind
Encore: Space Captain (Matthew Moore)
Notes: [1] with I Can Feel You Smiling tease, [2] Acoustic;