Tuesday June 22, 2021. The destination for the evening is the Fairgrounds in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The pandemic is waning for those of us who are fortunate to have a Covid vaccine and have survived over a year of mostly lock down with masks and other sacrifices. Most who know me know I am an Allman Brothers lifelong supporter and have met most of all of the family. The Tedeschi Trucks Band was not able to play the show in 2020 and I have been going to a Tedeschi Trucks Band show every year as I have come to say that this is my favorite current touring band. I am still holding tickets from last year and will go next year…Why? First because I am not afraid to say I know music and this band is the real deal. They are incredible on stage. I saw Derek play when he was 15 locally and followed him through his Allman Brothers Band tours as well as his Derek Trucks Band years in all kinds of venues. I saw Susan play in smaller venues before she married Derek and loved her shows as well. She played with a friend of mine Ron Holloway on sax so many years ago. Somewhere in my blog is a photo of Me and Ron after he played in Susan’s band onstage well over 20 years ago. I have many stories from this journey but let’s explore what I just saw this week on stage.
I saw this show pop up at some point and snagged two tickets in a VIP two person pod. The venue put the smaller pods towards the sides and I did not need 4 or 6 tickets but I was still front row thankfully. After arrival at the venue I got as close as I could with my daughter who was in from New York City on a summer visit. We parked our director chairs I usually use at the Outer Banks on the beach. It was an amazing weather day. It rained earlier but cleared out and the sun was shining as we arrived with a mild breeze. It was a perfect evening for live music. The crowd filled the field full of orange cones to space all the potential virus carrying humans out across the very large area. Not a mask was in sight but I was ok as we had already been through the vaccine regimen.
The show. Well I watched through the aisle next to the stage in front of me as 7:30 PM arrived and the band members got ready to take the stage. I started to smile a bit as this was the first big live music event I had attended in over a year. The scaled down band walked on stage and the crowd started making noise. I looked back over my shoulder and I could see people forever across a field as the sun was starting to set.
So the whole band was not at this show but some of the players were there supporting due to the virus situation. The rhythm section was there with bass and drums. They rocked. I missed the dual drummers and all the horns but at least we had keyboards and some rhythm section. I know it is a pandemic and it is all scaled down. I give kudos to Susan and Derek for playing live streams to support the band and the crew. I sent my funds in online to help as I could. I will never miss this band when they come to town. They are something real special.
So I was telling you I saw Susan so long ago. She was playing this green Fender Telecaster. It has some great autographs on it and I really like just watching her play it. I shared my binoculars with a guy I met at the show and told him to check out the 1998 BB King autograph on the guitar and there are others you can see here. Note the Kris signature on there and the others. I remember this guitar from seeing it way over 20 years ago. Great stuff.
So I have to share a moment from this show. The sun was coming down on the horizon. The band had took the stage. I was listening to the Derek and the Dominos cover of “Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad.” Suddenly I had this emotional moment where I just sort of lost it. It happened again when I heard Susan’s voice on “Anyhow.” It was kind of a moment where I realized that live music was back. I survived a pandemic while others did not. Two days after this concert another 35 year old friend passed from covid after a long fight. I literally had been thinking of her every day since November. I was glad I had my sunglasses on as I was streaming tears from both eyes. I was feeling fortunate to be watching one of my favorite bands from so close and standing next to my only daughter after living through the pandemic to this point. Yes music is my passion and I am so happy I have seen so much from so close for so many years. The music was great. I cannot wait until I see another Tedeschi Trucks Band show. Real people. Real talent. I wear their guitar stings on my neck chain on many days. So yeah I am a fan of these guys. ‘Nuff said.
Setlist: Don’t Let Me Slide, Do I Look Worried Little by Little (Junior Wells cover), Life Is Crazy (Mike Mattison cover), Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad? (Derek and the Dominos cover), Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever (Four Tops cover), Done Somebody Wrong, Anyhow, Set 2 Signs, High Times, Part of Me Looking For Answers, Just As Strange, Midnight In Harlem, Leaving Trunk (Sleepy John Estes cover), Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right (Bob Dylan cover), That Did It (Bobby “Blue” Bland cover), I Want More, Encore: The Feeling Music Brings (Susan Tedeschi song)
This album from this video and concert is being pressed right now…it should be great and I am on the wait list for the special colored vinyl edition.
Until next time I’ll see you, down the road.