Review: Tedeschi Trucks Band overpower with talent

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Tedeschi_Trucks_Thomas_WolfeThe musical conversation between Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi was something to behold May 2 when The Tedeschi Trucks Band made its debut performance in Asheville at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium.

Trucks’ masterful slide guitar, and Tedeschi’s soaring voice, together told a story of a band at its technical and artful best. The two really stood out during slow rolling tunes, including “Angel From Montgomery,” but throughout their musical conversation sustained the show.

That’s important, because at times the show lagged a little visual flash. Trucks is one of the all-time greatest guitarists, but as he slumps into his work and turns his slightly away from his audience, his power can be lost. The same goes for Tedeschi. The woman’s voice is so big and flies so high that even she seems overwhelmed a bit, simply standing and belting away. Just a little more to look at on stage would go a long way to show off these two incredible talents.

The up-and-down quality of the show was also apparent in the musical choices. Was this a blues band? A funk band? Country? The band stood out on the blues numbers, but that could be this reviewers preference. Still, there might be a more cohesive mix of musical choices to hold audience-members in their seats.

Those are minor detractions to a night of musical mastery. “The Sky Is Crying”? Yes, that was tune, but it was Tedeschi Trucks listeners who were brought to tears for the witness of such sheer talent. Trucks’ guitar has a sweep that is unmatched. Tedeschi has a voice that is out of this world.

Together, they brought local music lovers the best show of a week of music in Asheville that was incredibly rich (Bob Dylan, Band of Horses, James McMurtry to nam a few.)

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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2 Comments

  1. Asheville Foodie May 9, 2013

    The fact that Derek rarely faced the audience while playing made me very uncomfortable. It was as if he was only playing to Susan, which is a beautiful sentiment, but we bought the tickets. I wish he had commanded the stage with the same authority he commanded his guitar.

    Reply
    1. D.T. Letdown October 25, 2014

      Trucks and better half definitely were having problems… remember Jeff and Susan used to be a item years ago and The Jeff Sipe Trio stole the show..truly saved my 3 hr drive with electric wheelchair in tow. Will not make long drives to see TTB anymore to be let down by a personal problem that carried over into what could have made an historical event after JST performed amazingly.
      ( Save it for after the show DT. )

      Reply

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