Another beautiful summer night on the shores of Canandaigua Lake enjoying some live music at CMAC. Such was the fate for the thousands of fans who filled the shell and lawn for the Tedeschi Trucks Band show Tuesday night. What could be better?
The stage would also be filled to the max. Reggae great Ziggy Marley and his ten-piece band would command the stage for an hour-long opening set before the Tedeschi Trucks Band would take over, besting Marley with their unit of twelve. At nights end however a band of eighteen would be serenading the audience. Six from Marley’s band would join the headliners for a raucous encore of a mashup of Sly and the Family Stone’s “Sing a Simple Song” and “I Want to Take You Higher.”
Like a series finale, all the story lines from the evening came to a head at once, resolving in highly entertaining fashion. Mini-jams broke out all over: a keyboard duel, a 2-man bass-off, a drums and percussion battle, a triple guitar threat, horns aplenty, and a handful of vocalists directing it all to a t. The entire audience was on their feet, amazed at how they managed to wrap up the evening so perfectly.
Watching it unravel song by song, it was a lot to binge in just one evening. Marley flexed his heritage in the opening set, getting properly political with the dark dub of “See Dem Fake Leaders” and “Justice,” which effortlessly worked in splashes of his father’s “Get Up Stand Up.” Those contrasted nicely with the sunnier “We Are the People” and “Circle of Peace.” His two female backup singers added some edge with rapping over “The Lucky One” and the soulful closer “Look Who’s Dancin'” while also exhibiting some entrancingly good dance moves.
The intrigue was set, it was time for the main act. The Tedeschi Trucks Band worked a solid groove on Joe Cocker’s “Woman to Woman,” using it as a quasi walk-out tune for Susan Tedeschi. When she finally took the stage, she immediately commanded it, her incredible voice carrying over all else. She would continue to be the person of interest in the following “Anyhow,” ripping a rocking solo reminiscent of Traffic’s “Dear Mr. Fantasy.”
Each ensuing song would bring different members of the endlessly talented ensemble into the spotlight. Piece by piece the story of the band would come together, all working toward that grand finale. The three segments of the band, be it Tedeschi, Truck, or Band, got equal time and each had their highlights. Tedeschi’s voice shined brightest on “Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright,” just crackling and soaring. Trucks’ guitar found no better time to growl, stretch and moan then the set-closing “I Want More / Beck’s Bolero” combo. The drummers took over on Dr. John’s “I Walk On Guilded Splinters,” blasting low rumbles leaving the rest of the band hanging on and hanging in. Keyboardist Gabe Dixon took a turn on the vocals and highlighted his playing on the New Orleans soaked “Gravity.” Saxophonist Kebbi Williams got his turn on the retro soul groover “Part of Me,” and also got to tangle for a spell with Trucks, Dixon, and bassist Brandon Boone on a gorgeous “Midnight in Harlem.”
Whatever they made it out on a Tuesday night for, be it Tedeschi, Trucks, or any and all of the band, there’s not a chance anyone went home unsatisfied. And now the difficult wait for the next season to get released so we can binge on their talents all over again.
Photo gallery by Jamie Mohr
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