Saturday evening in Salem began with a wet but high-energy set by Los Lobos. Showcasing the versatility of a band with 45-plus years of experience behind them, not only did they have the crowd on their feet and dancing in the rain, Susan Tedeschi and her bandmates were side stage doing the same as Derek Trucks snapped a few pictures and took in a performance which fittingly included a blistering version of “Wicked Rain,” a terrific cover of “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” a rocking “Crossroads” and Traffic’s "Dear Mr. Fantasy."
The Tedeschi Trucks Band family took us on a wonderful musical journey through their rich musical history. One of the highlights of seeing this band live is their seemingly endless catalog classics like “How Blue Can You Get,” “Anyday / Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’" (performed with David Hilgado), and “Darling Be Home Soon.” This band creates music that is not only heard, but felt, through their approach to original material like the flowing “Midnight in Harlem” or the inspirational “Bound For Glory” (with Steve Berlin) and new songs like “When Will I Begin” where Tedeschi's soulful and emotion-filled vocals are at their best.
Every set and every song seemed to take on a life of their own; with Derek leading the band through each song they seemingly flowed so naturally. The freedom in the performances is what sets this band apart, and their chemistry is indescribable.
