A Weekend with Tedeschi Trucks Band
Last Friday and Saturday night, this photographer was privileged to attend back-to-back Tedeschi Trucks Band shows in Portland and Spokane (at the Schnitzer and INB Performing Arts Center, respectively)—one of the most amazing weekends of family, friends and music I’ve ever experienced. Husband-and-wife duo Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, part of an 11-member family of musicians (featuring Trucks on guitar, Tedeschi on guitar and vocals, Tim Lefebvre on bass, Kofi Burbridge on keys and flute, Tyler Greenwell on drums and percussion, J.J. Johnson on drums, Mike Mattison and Mark Rivers with harmony vocals, Kebbi Williams on sax, Maurice Brown on trumpet, and Saunders Sermons on trombone), have, in my opinion, launched themselves into the stratosphere as one of the greatest live acts on the road today.
With Trucks at the helm and his wife Tedeschi at his side, TTB featured songs from their 2013 release, Made Up Mind, and their Grammy-winning 2011 album, Revelator, alongside classics from Bobby “Blue” Bland, Willie Johnson, Freddie King, The Rolling Stones and Derek and the Dominos. They played a blend of blues, soul, funk, jazz, folk and good old southern rock, showcasing each band member's skills, Tedeschi's outstanding vocals and guitar playing, full-on jam band grooves, and, of course, Trucks on guitar who—without question—is one of the most awe-inspiring guitarists you will ever see and hear. (Check out the complete set lists from each night in the gallery above.)
Opening both shows were the Austin-based Greyhounds featuring guitarist Andrew Trube and keyboardist Anthony Farrell, along with drummer Anthony Cole, who have been making music and touring for 15 years, most recently as part of JJ Grey’s Mofro. Their sound, as Trube calls it, is “Hall & Oates meet ZZ Top.” The band also has long ties to Memphis, home of the soul music that inspires them. For further listening, check out their most recent release Accumulator on the independent label Ardent Music.
