PHOTO RECAP: Tedeschi Trucks Band @ Orpheum Theatre Los Angeles 11.11.17

I flat out think the Tedeschi Trucks Band is one of the best touring bands on the road anywhere. It’s not just the nimbleness of a 12-piece unit that can fly like a jazz trio, or the cauldron that launches Derek Trucks’ journeys, or the purr to a growl joy of Susan Tedeschi matching those Strat/Tele/Les Paul driven sparks.

Tedeschi Trucks Band jams with intention and purpose built on a foundation of soul and blues. Their 15-tune, two-plus hour set that night at the Orpheum Theatre went deep. Personal highlights included “Midnight in Harlem”, a deceivingly languid stroll beautifully sung by Tedeschi, before Trucks shaped it into head shaking wonder. “Idle Wind”, which had to stretch 10-15 minutes, Trucks capping his solos with slide driven octave runs. Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “I Pity the Fool” which became a barn burner in Tedeschi’s hands, and featured some behind the head slinging of her Les Paul. The rambunctious “Let’s Go Get Stoned”.

The set closed with Trucks’ epic, “The Storm”, clouds gathering around a Hendrix infused foundation then drawn down to a five-piece of until the strains of a full throated “Whipping Post” outro emerged and Tedeschi returned to the stage to grab hold of the “sometimes I feel” finale. Man, there were at least five minutes here I wish I could bottle from this blistering closer. The band returned for some Petty love, with “You Don’t Know How It Feels”, before wrapping with a churning “Let Me Get By”.

The Dead. The Allman Brothers. TTB. Same breath. There, I said it. In my world, these guys are that good and I can’t wait to do this again.

1. Rollin’ and Tumblin’
2. Laugh About It
3. Until You Remember
4. Don’t Know What It Means
5. Comin’ Home (Delaney & Bonnie)
6. Midnight in Harlem
7. Sailing On (Toots & the Maytals)
8. Do I Look Worried
9. Idle Wind
10. I Pity the Fool (Bobby Blue Bland)
11. Get What You Deserved
12. Let’s Go Get Stoned (The Coasters)
13. The Storm>Whipping Post outro.

E:
You Don’t Know How It Feels (Tom Petty)
Let me get by