Tedeschi Trucks Band Perform 4 Nights at Chicago Theatre

18 Jan, 2020 John Kosiewicz Blues, Concert Reviews, Rock

Tedeschi Trucks Band - Photo credit: John Kosiewicz

In 2020, Tedeschi Trucks Band returned to Chicago for their 5^th annual residency at the historic Chicago Theatre with four nights which included January 17, 18, 24 & 25. Front Row Music News had the honor to experience the magical second night of ‘An Evening With TTB’ featuring two full sets of music with no opening act. The Chicago audience was blessed with approximately 3 hour of blues, gospel, jazz, soul rock and don’t forget the jams!

Celebrating 10 years together, the band was formed in 2010, by Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi (married on December 5, 2001). Led by Trucks’ masterful fretwork and Tedeschi’s naturally stunning, emotive vocals and guitar talents, the band is a 12-piece ensemble of amazing artists in their own right, and during the performance, each artist was given the opportunity to shine.

Derek Trucks / Guitar
Susan Tedeschi / Guitar & Vocals
Tyler Greenwell / Drums & Percussion
J.J. Johnson / Drums & Percussion
Mike Mattison / Harmony Vocals
Mark Rivers / Harmony Vocals
Alecia Chakour / Harmony Vocals
Kebbi Williams / Saxophone
Elizabeth Lea / Trombone
Ephraim Owens / Trumpet
Brandon Boone / Bass Guitar
Gabe Dixon / Keyboards & Vocals

With the release of their fourth studio album, Signs, on February 15, 2019 via Fantasy Records and Concord, you’d expect the set list to overloaded with songs from the new album. However, TTB is not like most artists in that their set list changes from night to night and is a mixed sprinkling of great songs one after another from each of their four studio albums: Revelator (2011); Made Up Mind (2013); Let Me Get By (2016) and most recent, Signs (2019). In addition, you can expect plenty of surprises such as cover classics.

From the start of Set One, the audience was dancing and singing along. Highlights from set one included: “The Letter” – The Box Tops cover; “Life Is Crazy” – Mike Mattison cover; and “Don’t Let Me Slide”. For Set Two, Tedeschi Trucks Band went mostly acoustic with “Calling Out To You, “When Will I Begin,” “Done Somebody Wrong,” “I Am Yours” and “Meet Me At The Bottom.” Catching this mini acoustic set by TTB is rare and this audience was very lucky to catch it tonight. Set Two also included fan favorite, “Midnight in Harlem.” As the band played the prelude, people in my area were saying, “Do you hear it? It’s Midnight!” and as the moon rose behind the stage, they were correct, and the audience erupted with cheers!

As the band returned on stage for the encore, the band first encore song was a Funkadelic cover, “Good to Your Earhole,” that had the audience stomping and singing:

Put your hands together, come on and stomp your feet, Lord
Put your hands together, come on and get in beat
There’s a good time waiting for you, come on and let’s get free

The night concluded with a glorious 14-minute rendition of “Bound for Glory.” Check it out with the video at TTB’s Facebook page.

If you missed the opportunity to catch TTB during the first two shows in Chicago, you still have a chance with two more Chicago dates this weekend on January 24 and 25th. Also, they will return on the road with Wheels of Soul Tour this summer with two performers who epitomize the best of the modern soul movement: St. Paul and The Broken Bones (one of my favorite artists), as well as TTB’s own talented keyboardist Gabe Dixon and his trio. Don’t miss this great line-up in a city near you.

Keep up on the latest information and tour dates at the Tedeschi Trucks Band website TedeschiTrucksBand.com.

Check out our other Front Row Music News posts on Tedeschi Trucks Band

Tedeschi Trucks Band Setlist
Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL
January 18, 2020

SET 1
LAUGH ABOUT IT
HIGH & MIGHTY
DON’T KNOW WHAT
THE LETTER (The Box Tops cover)
LIFE IS CRAZY (Mike Mattison cover)
DON’T LET ME SLIDE
DON’T DRIFT AWAY
SKY IS CRYING (Elmore James cover)
IDLE WIND

SET 2 – ACOUSTIC
CALLING OUT
WHEN WILL I BEGIN
DONE SOMEBODY WRONG (Elmore James cover)
I AM YOURS (Derek and the Dominos cover)
MEET ME AT THE BOTTOM

SET 2 – ELECTRIC
LEAVIN TRUNK (Sleepy John Estes cover)
SHAME
MIDNIGHT
HOW BLUE (Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers cover)
MADE UP MIND

ENCORE:
GOOD TO YOUR EARHOLE
BOUND FOR GLORY