Alex Kluft- photos and review
Tedeschi Trucks Band returned to the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, CA for the first time since 2022 and with Rock legends Little Feat June 7th and 9th. Last time Los Lobos opened, however, Los Lobos guitarists/singers Cesar Rosas and David Hidalgo joined in for the second show.
Little Feat opened the show at 7 P.M. playing a one hour set. Of the classics 70’s era lineup keyboardist Bill Payne who is one of two surviving found members and only remaining in group, percussionist Sam Clayton, and bassist Kenny Gradney remain in the group as original vocalist Lowell George passed in 1979, original drummer Richie Hayward passed in 2010, and most recently guitarist Paul Barrere passed in 2019. When Hayward was no longer able to play from liver cancer, his drum tech Gabe Ford filled in and later joined the band and remained there for 11 years and in 2020 Chris Robinson Brotherhood’s Tony Leone joined. Scott Sharrard who was Gregg Allman’s musical director and guitarist joined in 2019 following Barrere’s passing. Little Feat played a set including “Oh Atlanta,” “Willin’,” and “Dixie Chicken.”
Tedeschi Trucks Band formed in 2010 by merging together Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks’ solo bands. Trucks’ band began in 1994 when he was just 15 and came to a hiatus in 2010 when TTB formed. Trucks was also a member of the Allman Brothers Band with his Uncle Butch a co-founder from 1999 until the group broke up in 2014. Trucks was also a member of Eric Clapton’s touring band. Trucks has been one of the world’s top slide guitarists over the last 2 decades and has been on Rolling Stone’s 100 greatest guitarists in 2003 and 2011. Trucks also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award along with the Allman Brothers in 2012. Trucks has also collaborated with numerous iconic artists including Herbie Hancock, Elvin Bishop, Junior Wells, and Buddy Guy. The Derek Trucks band had released eight albums. With the Allman Brothers, Trucks was on two live albums and their final studio album.
Susan Tedeschi is one of the greatest voices of Blues and Soul since Janis Joplin and Bonnie Raitt, and is also a great guitarist. Tedeschi has released seven of her own albums and has collaborated with Blues Legends such as Buddy Guy, Little Milton, and Johnny Winter. In the decade before TTB formed, Tedeschi opened for The Allman Brothers, The Rolling Stones, John Mellencamp, B.B. King, Taj Mahal, and Bob Dylan. In 2001 Trucks and Tedeschi married and have two kids together.
From 2011-2022 TTB have released five albums, three live albums, and an E.P. T TTB has won a Grammy and nine Blues Music Awards. TTB is a 12-piece band which includes original members Tyler Greenwell (Drums), Mike Mattison (Guitar/Vocals), Mark Rivers (Vocals), and Kebbi Williams (Saxophone). Ephraim Owens (Trumpet), Elizabeth Lea (Trombone), and Alecia Chakour (vocals) all joined in 2015. Bassist Brandon Boone replaced Tim Lefebvre (2013-18) and keyboardist Gabe Dixon joined in 2019 after Kofi Burbridge passed. The newest member is drummer Isaac Eddy who joined in 2021 replacing J.J. Johnson who was an original member.
On the first night TTB played a total of 20 songs plus a drum solo, 11 were originals and nine covers. “Playing With My Emotions” was the opening song and the covers included Led Zeppelin, John Prine, Jerry Garcia, and The Allman Brothers. The encore was “Isaac/ Kebbi Jam,” “Last Night in the Rain,” and “Space Captain.” This was a night of top musicians and great songs. As always the lighting was low but it made it feel like you were seeing the Allman Brothers at a venue like the Fillmore East 50 years ago.
For the second night Rosas joined in for Elmore James’ “The Sky is Crying,” and Hidalgo also of Los Lobos joined for Blind Faith’s “Had to Cry Today” along with Lefebvre. Lefebvre had also guested on the prior two songs before “Had to Cry Today,” which were “Bound for Glory,” and Aretha Franklin’s “It Ain’t Fair.” Little Feat joined in for the second and third song of the encore Sleepy John Estes’ “Leaving Trunk,” and Rahssan Roland Kirk’s “Volunteered Slavery.”
Little Feat
CALIFORNIA ROCK NEWS 
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