The Wheels of Soul Tour stopped by Artpark this past Tuesday evening and provided everyone in attendance a deep southern musical experience. Susan Tedeschi and her husband Derek Trucks have a supporting cast of 11 and they provided a mesmerizing hour and 40-minute set of tasty jams and spot on musical proficiency.
The band started the set off with my favorite song they do in “Bound for Glory.” After the first few songs, the band were locked in and ready to go. Tedeschi who is an underrated singer, has a perfect range for the music they deliver. It wasn’t more evident on “Don’t Know What it Means.” The accompanying horn section made it for one of the highlights of the set.
What hasn’t been said about Trucks that hasn’t been said before? A guitar prodigy who joined the Allman Brothers at age 20 and is revered not only in the blues circles, but all musical genres. Trucks rarely uses a pick and either plays by picking at the strings or using a bottle slide. The notes seem to have more feel to it when he plays like that I believe. Even though he is worldly player, his demeanor will never show it. This gives the rest of the band the comfort level to not be intimidated and to play right along with him.
The band changes the setlist every night to keep things fresh for its audience. When they do this, the band needs to be on its toes and by Tuesdays performance, you won’t find too many better payers assembled in one group. The horn section were a joy to listen to. Backup singer Mike Mattison took leads on “Going Down Slow” and did a terrific job! In addition, they brought up opener Marcus Wilson for the Elmore James cover “The Sky is Crying” and Drive by Truckers Patterson Hood for “Let Me Roll It.”
Artpark has provided a very diverse lineup this year and the blues portion of it were played by perfection by Tedeschi Trucks Band!
Setlist:
Bound for Glory
Made up Mind
All That I Need
Ball and Chain
Don’t Know What it Means
Shame
Going Down Slow
The Sky is Crying (Elmore James cover)
Angel from Montgomery/Sugarfree
Laugh About It
I Want More
Encore:
Midnight in Harlem
Let Me Roll It (Wings cover)
We would like to thank Dave Wedekindt for the credentials to review the show.
