Toronto’s Budweiser Stage with its stunning backdrop of Toronto’s skyline, provided the perfect setting on a beautiful summer night for a magical evening of music. Thursday night the Tedeschi Trucks Band graced the stage with a performance that was nothing short of mesmerizing.
The Deuces Wild tour has been rolling since the end of May so the band was in top form. From the moment they took the stage, the first notes of the band’s signature blend of blues, rock, and soul filled the venue’s air. it was clear that the fans were in for a rocking good time.
Susan Tedeschi is a blues powerhouse on guitar and her soulful voice carried a tone that resonated throughout the amphitheatre. Her husband and co-bandleader, Derek Trucks’ graceful solos and sublime fluidity validated his place on a short list of phenomenal slide guitarists. The interplay between Tedeschi’s vocals and Trucks’ guitar work showcased the chemistry that has become the foundation of their performances.
Digging into the American blues roots songbook with songs like Got My Mojo Working, I Feel So Bad and Key To The Highway had the audience engaged and energized. Soulful originals Anyhow, Bound For Glory and Let Me Get By also had the crowd swaying, with the horns section and back up singers elevating the emotion and passion of the songs.
The evening’s standout moments included a hot cover of my favourite Allman Brothers song Don’t Keep Me Wondering. The beautifully stirring serenade Midnight In Harlem. A multi-genre mash up of Idle Wind into the eastern flavoured Maki Madni then transitioning to a drums sequence and flowing back to Idle Wind demonstrated why they are revered for their groove-laden jams and technical prowess. Made Up Mind closed out the set with a forceful intensity that excited the crowd and had them cheering for more.
When the band came back on stage they were joined by Margo Price and some of her bandmates for two encores, providing a little twang on the George Jones cover Color Of The Blues and the Leon Russell song Stranger In A Strange Land.
I have been following Derek Trucks’ career since the beginning and I never miss him when he’s in Toronto. It’s wonderful to see him performing the music he loves with the people he loves. A beautiful story that continues to grow.
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Be sure to check out Live Nation Ontario to see all of the other great acts that they will be bringing to Toronto this year.
