One August day we headed out with the family to "Hot August Blues" in Hunt Valley Maryland to see one of our favorite bands, the "Tedeschi-Trucks Band," featuring the fantabulos Susan Tedeschi and her husband Derek Trucks. Finally they have come together and formed a band with like minded souls! We wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to see them play together while they are out touring and promoting their new album 'Revelator.' Gone are the days when my daughter and I would be pressed against the stage in front of Susan when she came to Baltimore. Word has gotten out! Darn.
We were in the back of the crowd under a white tent on this Hot August Blues day. That is quite okay, because when you have a two year old with you, there has got to be room to move. Actually Aowyn would like to be on the move more than anyone would like! Grandpa got a workout. Sometimes it was just round and round the long blue row of port-o-pots! Then there was when she ran from my pregnant daughter into the crowd. Just like Forest Gump she is..."runnnang!"
I remember one of the first concerts that I attended with my hubby. It was after I told Ben that my daughter and myself had tickets to go see Susan and Derek, and I asked if would he like to go to the show as well. I was happy that Ben was enthusiastic about the show, as I was excited that Derek would also be sitting in with Susan on that evening. I love me some slide guitar! And since I had seen Derek play with the Allman Brothers band in Virginia, I can assure you, as a world class guitar player, Derek Trucks slide work is wicked good! Plus for the Rams Head concert we were right against the stage! Yeah baby.
I think watching and listening to Derek up close that night had an influence on Ben's own slide work. Oh Yes! I so love when Ben uses the slide on acoustic and especially electric guitar. It sings! Bands played the festival all day on two stages pumping out the jams. The crowd enjoyed the music, crafts and food vendors.
Band just before "Tedeschi Trucks Band" was "Robert Randolph and The Family Band."
A really enjoyable group with soulful sounding rock and great musicianship. Are they happy or what? I love that joyful expression!
Roberts pedal steel slide work was really exciting, and seemed effortless.
It was Sunday and the band invited people up on the stage for some 'go to meetin' dancing. People took them up on their offer!
Nightfall at Oregon Ridge and the "Tedeschi Trucks Band" begins to rock with soulful abandon. We are feeling it! The glow fills the waiting crowd.
The main event filled the stage with talented powerful musicians! We got those vibes where you cannot help but move, and our little Aowyn does her two year old moves to the beat too!
Susan and Derek
The Dueling Drummers.
Susan can saaaaannnng! She speaks with a sweet delicate voice but when she sings a powerful force comes from her heart, filled with the truth of her soul. There are many great videos on this vevo site of the bands music. I could fill this page with them all! Instead here is a video of one of their songs they performed to give you an idea of what it sounded like to be in the presence of this awesome band!
You can also learn about all the other members of the band in their behind the scenes making of "Revelator" videos filmed at Susan and Dereks home studio. What a wonderful group of people. If you are a music lover you should also check out the Crossroads 2010 video for yourself! The band has some really great jams with Warren Haynes.
If you are not yet familiar with Derek Trucks...Dereks uncle was the drummer in the Allman Brothers Band, Butch Trucks. Derek grew up a part of the Allman Family of musicians and was influenced as a young child by the bands music. He was a prodigy at 9 and was opening for the Allman Brothers by 12 and of course playing with the best musicians in the world. You can read the Wikipedia about Derek here or just watch this video of Derek at age 12! This is the age when many young boys come to Ben to start guitar lessons. So I say,
"Hey young grasshopper.... here is some inspiration!"
Combine that with the talent of her husband Derek and the members of the 'Tedeschi Trucks Band' band and you have the recipe for a perfect evening under the stars! Great weather and great music filled the air that night. Our family and the crowd went home very happy. Especially my daughter, as this day was our birthday present to her!
