I caught the Weds. 10/6 TTB Beacon show, and it was stellar. It is a cliche to ask how this band can keep getting better, but I ask it every time I see them, because they do.
Jorma opened acoustic. I had low expectations because I thought electric Hot Tuna opening for TTB a few summers back in CT were just meh. Jorma's set started out slow and mellow and I was wondering if he was the right opener. The ballad he did for his daughter was gorgeous but so mellow, in advance for a kick-ass loud band. However, Jorma is soulful, bluesy, and authentic; he is a virtuoso; he has these in common with TTB. As his set went on, he did bring in more energy and I just better understood what he was putting out. He got better and better response from the crowd with each song, and he got looser and louder with each song too. I ended up really enjoying it.
TTB came out with a mission. They opened with "Darlin Be Home Soon," a song I love but that at times I have felt has had a disconnect between the gorgeous vocal part and the eventual Derek solo. Well, this time the transition between the two parts was seamless, but also, Derek just soared off into the cosmos on the solo. I love the huge balls of taking the very first song out and making a musical statement with it: this will be a jammy night!!!
I'll add more in a bit, but I will say this: I follow some of the TTB fan groups on Facebook, and before this show, there were a LOT of last-minute ticket sales and even people giving tickets away. I myself had a pal who had a last-minute family issue come up, and he was looking to give his ticket to anyone for free. The TTB are on fire, and the Beacon is THE place to see them, so do yourself a favor. If you do not have a ticket yet, look around; they are out there, and this is a great show.
One of the big things I miss about living in NYC is TTB Beacon shows. But I just got tickets to TTB in Key West, which ain't half bad. Can't wait - my last concert was...TTB in Macon.
Thanks Jim. I, too, was there last night. I was blown away. I had a very similar reaction to Jorma and thought they really would need to come out and blow the roof off the Beacon to juxtapose the vibe from the opener.......and they did just that. Setlist was outstanding:
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(The Lovin’ Spoonful cover)
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(The Derek Trucks Band cover)
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(The Allman Brothers Band cover)
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(Bob Dylan cover) (with Jorma Kaukonen)
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(Charles Segar cover) (with Jorma Kaukonen)
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(Rahsaan Roland Kirk cover) (with Marcus King)
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- Encore:
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(George Harrison cover)
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(The Derek Trucks Band cover)
@tumbleweed I bet Derek considers Key To The Highway a Derek and the Dominos cover:) Just kidding.
Duane Allman " While we are doing this blues thing we'll go on ahead and play this old Bobby Bland song...Actually it's a T Bone Walker song".
Well you are you covering Duane? 
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They picked the perfect songs for Jorma to sit in on. His electric playing was tasty and lovely; he did some really nice "weaving" with Derek, playing with and around what Derek was playing in really unique and unpredictable ways that were still melodic and fitting.
I was at the back of the Loge, always good for some laughs. When they played the opening licks of "Don't Keep Me Wondering," the drunken yappers behind us yelled "Stand Back!"
When they launched into the spacy intro of "In A Silent Way," the yappers shouted "Genesis!" I GUESS you could say it sounded a bit like something from side 3 of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, but....
Those songs were freaking great. The "Silent Way" had such nice trumpet playing, so tasty and cool. I think it fed into the way Derek played "Midnight in Harlem" - very deliberate, somber, with long pauses and a minimalistic approach for longer than usual. "Don't Keep Me Wondering" was just so insanely powerful, and Derek really put on some Duane fireworks on it. Jeez. And the new keyboard player Gabe Dixon sang the HECK out of it. He sounded a little like Steve Winwood.
Earlier in the show, "Right on Time" was really stellar. What a unique song, and the trombone player and Derek had some really nice back and forth.
It was the 8th time I've seen TTB and probably the best. I hope I can get a recording.
Unfortunately I haven't been to any of these shows but I have listened to them all on the archive, and - WOW is an appropriate description. Some new, interesting covers -Helpless, Oh Doctor (Stones), Angel (Jimi), Loan Me a Dime. The run started with DWYNM>It's Not My Cross to Bear. The whole band is hot and Derek especially is on fire. He seems to be more in the front this run. Afro Blue > Shame from 10/05 was especially amazing - for those of you who want to hear Derek play more fusion/space check this out.
Can't wait to hear more.
Jaimoe and some others claim Jack Pearson was the closest to Duane Allman on slide. But when Derek Trucks got in the band in 1999, I thought Derek was. Also ( I never paid attention to Duane's fingers on his left hand when I saw him) some claim Duane didn't use his free fingers on his left hand to damp the strings to keep them from making unwanted sounds as do most slide players. It seems Derek plays that way often does he not? It looks as if Duane just had the slide touching the strings in the above video.
Jaimoe and some others claim Jack Pearson was the closest to Duane Allman on slide. But when Derek Trucks got in the band in 1999, I thought Derek was. Also ( I never paid attention to Duane's fingers on his left hand when I saw him) some claim Duane didn't use his free fingers on his left hand to damp the strings to keep them from making unwanted sounds as do most slide players. It seems Derek plays that way often does he not? It looks as if Duane just had the slide touching the strings in the above video.
Another old friend showed up last night.
