Guest Book

Derek Trucks Band October 25, 2002 Georgia Theater - Athens, GA Like many others here on this Web site, I feel that Derek Trucks approaches perfection as a player - and one of the things about perfection is that it is not stagnant. In order to be close to perfect, a player must constantly improve. The paradox is - how can a guy who is already so good, keep getting better? I can't explain it, but I can sure recognize it. Last night in Athens, Derek played the best I've ever heard him. I know that's saying a lot, but there it is. It's like the wild magic, shooting from the stage into our hearts. The goodness is so intense sometimes it almost hurts. Derek has developed a tone in his guitar that cuts right through the fog of living a life and connects directly with what makes you feel joy. It's far more than his technical skill - although that is quite formidable. There is no act when he is on stage. I've read reviewers who complained that he shows no emotion. He does, if you're close enough and know what to look for, but that's not the point. He doesn't show more when he's playing because it's the music that is of the essence. Last night Derek raised the bar against which future performances will be measured and he did it effortlessly, without even playing any of my favorite songs - No Maki Madni, no Rastaman, no Kam-Ma-Lay, no So Close, So Far Away! Thank God I taped it. Look for a B&P in the near future. GBer PatrickCrenshaw and I drove to Athens together and got there before the doors opened. We met up with Musichick3 in the parking lot before sailing right inside to set up my mics and catch the soundcheck. Before the night was out I'd met more folks than I can remember - ryanbelair, michaelwilliams, and many others. Randall Bramblett was a nice opening act and he demonstrated his fine songwriting skills. He played acoustic, while an electric bass and strat player sang harmony. He did one brand new song in its first performance that I really liked called Stupid Shoes, with a harp on a holder around his neck a la Bob Dylan. After a long break, the dTb took the stage at 11:35 and didn't give it back for nearly two hours. I tried to keep a set list, but the very first thing they played I couldn't identify - how frustrating! All night I kept asking folks, What was the name of the first song? I didn't get the answer to that question until much later, when soundman Marty Wall told me it was something they had just started playing. It had developed from a jam they'd done during a recent soundcheck and didn't have name yet - they were calling it 7/4 Jam (for the time signature). Anyway, it was awesome. And from there they segued into another tune I couldn't name that turned out to be Pleasant Garden off the Out of the Madness album. They rarely perform that tune and I had never heard it live before. Derek plays a note in this song that is different from anything else he plays - and this note destroyed me. Nice start! Mike Mattison came out for Preacher Man Blues and Ain't That Loving You, then stepped aside for the Coltrane instrumental Mr. PC. This was the first show I'd seen with the newly added light show, although I'd read about it in a few GB posts. Unlike in those previous shows, instead of showing on a screen to the side of the stage the Georgia Theater dropped their movie screen so the video equipment projected the show above the band - much like the Brotherhood of Light does the ABB. I met the guy running the show, a really nice kid named Mason, and I wish I'd liked it more. The images were nice, but I missed the connection to the song. Where the BOL's show ties the images or liquid projection to the rhythm of the music, this was missing in Mason's display. Mike returned for the vocals on Like Anyone Else, followed by Home Is the Heart. I really enjoy his range and it was very much on display in these two songs. He croons Like Anyone Else in high falsetto like Javier used to do, then growls the vocal to Home is the Heart like Solomon Burke does on the album. The band next did the jazz standard Everything is Everything and then the sweet, sweet blues tune, Feel So Bad. Mike picked up the cowbell for the intro to Pedro in D Minor, but left the stage during the rest of the song. Pedro has quickly become a showcase for the band and features some wonderful call and response between Kofi's flute and Derek's slide. Susan made an appearance off to the side of the stage while Yonrico introduced the band and the appreciative crowd began chanting SU-SAN, SU-SAN, SU-SAN! Rico introduced her as Susan Tedeschi, but after a glance from Susan he corrected himself and re-introduced her as Susan Trucks. Susan really knocks me out. Her voice seems to leave her body behind as it finds something bigger than seems possible - she is a force of nature when she wails those vocals. I heard a review copy of her new CD, due in stores on November 19, and it just killed me - be sure to go buy it! On her album the Derek Trucks Band backs her up on Gonna Move, and she and Mike were wonderful singing it in Athens. Then they rocked into Joyful Noise. For a really special treat, Derek gave up his first solo in the song and directed Susan to sing instead. She gave me chills as she broke into extemporaneous lyrics as the whole crowd focused on her amazing voice. She sang about the joy of the music and how this band does it every night! For their encore, the band returned to the stage with a beautiful Afro Blue. The Georgia Theater audience, into the music all night, recognized Kofi's flute intro and began calling for Afro Blue - it was a wonderful touch to an already outstanding night. It is so compelling to be part of a crowd that knows the music, pays attention, and yells at all the right places - I felt like I was in the middle of a bunch of true fans. I think the dTb felt it too. They played one minute short of two hours - the longest show I've seen them do in quite awhile. This was a very special show - be looking for the B&P! Derek Trucks Band October 25, 2002 Georgia Theater - Athens, GA 1. 7/4 Jam 2. Pleasant Garden 3. Preacher Man Blues 4. Ain't That Loving You 5. Mr. PC 6. Like Anyone Else 7. Home Is the Heart 8. Everything Is Everything 9. Feel So Bad 10. Pedro in D Minor 11. Gonna Move * 12. Joyful Noise * encore 13. Afro Blue * with Susan Trucks