It is easy to see why Derek Trucks was sitting in with the Allmans at 12 and then joining as a semi-regular tour member at age 14. I can definitely understand why Eric Clapton took him on tour in 2006 and 2007. He is, in one word, a prodigy. He makes playing guitar look so easy…nonchalantly finger-picking his way through purposeful slide guitar melodies and solos like it was his…um…job.

His band, the Derek Trucks Band, played a private gig for Rolling Stone a couple weeks back at the Hard Rock Café Times Square. The show was the celebrate the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs list, and the staff chose DTB specifically for this night. As for the set, I thought it was an overall solid show. Highlights were the DTB staple “Soul Serenade” and an encore version of the Band’s classic “The Weight.” Trucks’ wife, musician Susan Tedeschi, added vocals and guitar on a few songs.

DTB is working on a new album due out in early 09. Read on for my photos from the night…

Photos © Ryan Barkan