Derek Trucks Band (Page 3 of 5)

and you know what happens when you disobey a lady, George.

I don't think we want to go there, Phil....

Cathy has got the cd for me in any case, Eva.

We saw Derek Trucks on saturday at the Manchester academy 3. It's a small intimate venue which was packed out.
Scott McKeon played a half hour set. Just him on acoustic and Robbie McIntosh on dobro. He started with I Can't Take No More off his cd which sounded really good done that way. Then they played Scarecrow which is one of Robbie's songs. He also played Key To The Highway and Death Letter Blues plus a couple more. It was great, Scott has a fantastic voice and the sound quality was really clear. I haven't seen him do an acoustic set before and I liked it a lot.
The stage was really rather small for the six members of the DTB including two keyboards but they managed well. Whenever the singer wasn't singing he stepped to the back to give Derek more room.
I really liked Derek's playing, the stuff off the new cd and the jazzier interludes. I have to say though I have never seen a guitar player show so little emotion in his face, there wasn't any at all. I'm sure he was really into what he was playing but it looked like it didn't move him at all. I guess that's just the way he is. He only spoke to introduce the band and the only time he smiled was towards the keyboard player a few times.
The bass player on the other hand smiled none stop, at least someone looked like they were enjoying themselves.
I don't think I would rush to see him live again but I will still enjoy the cds.

Tripsy

Some players do that. It doesn't mean they're any less into it, it's just their style. It's like Clapton, for the most part, he's always been rather reserved on stage. But there's no denying he's feeling what he's playing. All you have to do is close your eyes. If you can feel it without visual, chances are they're feeling it too.

As this Derek Trucks thread is still running it would seem to be the appropriate place to leave some thoughts of someone having seen DT for the first time. Someone had earlier mentioned in this thread he didn't smile too much and I bragged that as the club Knust was a small venue I would probably be able to reach out and tweak his face into position. Well that brag was misplaced as I would have had to beat several hundred other people out of the way! Knust was 'sold out' and then some. But whilst the heat in the place was stifling the atmosphere was one of rapt anticipation.

I had had the chance to meet the man before the show as he and the band were eating dinner in the same restaurant. Trust me, they are as low key off stage as they are on but this quiet concentration delivers inspired performances.

The music of the DTB is certainly striking a chord with people across the musical spectrum. Yes there is blues in there, soul for sure, country, folk and jazz fusion. Its a heady cocktail and you wonder how, with so little audience interaction, it can all hang together. But the jazz greats do it, allowing the music to speak for itself and so it does.

I wasn't too familiar with the bands material , being a newbie,so I won't go into set lists. I just let it wash over me. Songs ended and began with precision and the set was almost a continuous thread of rhythms and melodies performed by a very tight and super professional band of musicians.

When I see an Gibson SG I always tend to think of Tony Iommi hammering out iconic Black Sabbath riffs so it was a delight to see one played so differently. Derek Trucks playing is a beautiful thing to behold. I've used up so many superlatives on other reviews it is impossible to find new ones to describe it. Whether he is playing slide or not his playing is so fluid, clear and inventive. On the extended jamming song, The Sound of Musics "My favourite things", his and the whole bands playing was from another world.

In summation, last night Derek Trucks redefined for me what it is possible to do with a guitar. I thought I already knew, but I really didn't. Go check it out if you can. But be quick. He is selling out everywhere on this trip it seems.

Any way to "tape" this one?  Would be much appreciated.

On another note - are you Tripsy's Simon?  If you are, who was that band you told me about that is a lot like Stevie Ray?

Sandy

Here I go again..but..maybe it's the long jams, maybe the jazz influence, I don't know,but he doesn't "move" me. I tried, I promise. Every time he played on the cruise I went and opened myself to the experience. To no avail. That doesn't mean I don't think he's a very skilled player nor does it mean I think his music is bad. The new CD is nice..but..nice isn't enough for me at my age..I need a "wow". It could be the tone. There were moments that were almost painful to my ears. Too high pitched. Susan, on the other hand DID impress me....go figure.

There is no wrong or right, just personal preferences. I still think Sonny Landreth is the most amazing slide player out there at this time. I'll give a nod to Bonnie Raitt and Ry Cooder too. I will try again at HAB, but with Joe playing before him my "tone-a-meter" may not be able to adjust.   Cathy

It could of been the DanElectro tone she is refering to. I gotta agree with Cathy on the doesn't move me comment. I again appreciate the musicianship and the new songs make his shows much more tolerable. He is sort of like watching paint dry. I know I do that a lot. Any way he paints with beautiful colors but watching him do it is a real yawn at times. His personality is what you see on stage. Very laid back.

I like his band but prefer when he plays with Warren.