Written by Jim Bille
A perfect cool spring evening was the setting at The Woodlands Pavilion Saturday night as the Tedeschi Trucks band made their return to the Houston area. This was the fourth stop on their massive 2025 U.S. tour that will finish up this fall in St. Augustine, Florida.
I still maintain that TTB is the best touring band on the road and once again the band confirmed my opinion by presenting yet another stellar performance which spanned close to two hours.
The evening’s show started of with an electrifying interpretation of the Box Tops hit “The Letter” featuring soulful singing from Susan Tedeschi along with the three piece horn section that includes Kebbi Williams, Ephraim Owens and Elizabeth Lea with backup vocals courtesy of Alecia Chakour, Mark Rivers and Mike Mattison.
The show consisted of about sixteen songs that covered everything from classic R&B numbers like “I Feel So Bad” featuring some excellent vocals by long time Derrick Trucks collaborator Mike Mattison , to Rock and Roll and pure blues.
TTB will often feature songs from Eric Clapton’s Derek and The Dominos catalog and Saturday night’s number was a blistering version of “Keep On Growing” that was highlighted throughout with soaring vocals by Tedeschi and scorching guitar work from Trucks.
Songs from the band’s award winning 2013 release, Made Up Mind, were offered up throughout the evening as well. “It’s So Heavy’, “Do I Look Worried”, “Part of Me” and the title track “Made Up Mind” with it’s chug along guitar hook supplied by Trucks were featured prominently.
The song “Let Me Get By” showcased keyboardist Gabe Dixon on organ ripping through the song with some creative and intense Hammond B-3 work augmented once again by dazzling slide guitar work by Trucks.
“Soul Sweet Song”, a bittersweet ballad that remembers TTB long time keyboardist and flautist, Kofi Burbridge who sadly passed away in 2019, was thoughtfully performed with dramatic effect thanks to Tedeschi’s impassioned vocals.
The dual drumming duties held down by Tyler Greenwell and Isaac Eddy were highlighted throughout the show along with Brandon Boone holding the bottom down on bass.
Speaking of drumming duties, the duo really had a workout when Trucks went off on an incredible version of Santana’s “Soul Sacrifice”. Trucks’ sizzling version of this number was one of his many amazing guitar solo crushers that filled the evening air.
Susan Tedeschi’s soulful and searing vocals were powerful and intense. Her incredible vocal range coupled with her sharp guitar work was as pristine and stunning as ever.
Derek Trucks is hands down the major guitar force on the current music scene. Trucks’ playing is breathtaking as he effortlessly heads off into extended solos pulling the rest of the band along into his musical explorations.
A very special guest was also on the bill this evening. Long time blues legend and monster guitarist Buddy Guy opened the show with a classic set. Guy, who is a young 88 years old still commands the stage and still holds the crowd’s attention with his trademark blistering guitar work for which he is so famous.
Piercing notes and lightning fast guitar playing have always been his blues style and each shown brightly as Guy hit the mark on every number.
Ever charismatic, Guy was in great form this night as he performed a number of his signature songs while he played to the crowd with banter and some off color stories, which the fans loved.
Opening up with one of his many notable hit’s “Damn Right I’ve Got the Blues”, Guy proceeded to demonstrate his musical technique that has influenced so many guitarists for so many years including Hendrix and Clapton.
Guy paid tribute to one of his contemporaries and close friend, BB King, mentioning that he thought King was the best guitar player ever. Guy transformed Kings’ “How Blue Can You Get” one of the best songs of the set. Along with his tone perfect guitar work, Guy’s vocals were as bluesy as it gets on this number.
“Skin Deep” another classic song featured and written by Buddy Guy, calls for all people to unite our divided nation. Good advice never seems to get old and I’m thinking that Buddy Guy knows this message is possibly more relevant now than ever before.
Buddy Guy is the living blues legend we can all still see and appreciate. He is currently on his Damn Right Encore tour which is an extension of his farewell tour from last year so you better make plans now.
Saturday night’s double dose of remarkable blues and R&B from these two mega acts at the Woodlands was definitely a show that can be counted as one of the best of the season. Hope you made it.