Tedeschi Trucks Band & Buddy Guy Bring the Blues to the Beacon

On Monday night, May 19, Tedeschi Trucks Band rolled into the Beacon Theatre as part of their expansive Live in ’25 tour, which spans over 50 shows across North America. Each night is a celebration of soul, blues, and rock — and this one had an extra layer of history, with blues legend Buddy Guy opening the show.

At 88, Buddy Guy proved he’s still a force of nature, ripping through classics like “Damn Right I’ve Got the Blues,” “Hoochie Coochie Man,” and “Cheaper to Keep Her.” But it wasn’t just the music that moved the crowd, it was the stories.

Between songs, Buddy shared reflections from his incredible life: growing up in Louisiana without running water until he was 15, and the struggles he faced early in his career. He recalled his first trip to New York in the early ’60s, where cab drivers refused to pick him up because he was Black, until a white man flagged one down and told the driver, “This cab is for him.” That act of kindness stayed with him to this day.

Then it was time for the Tedeschi Trucks Band to take the stage. They opened with the soulful “Do I Look Worried” and followed it up with a heartfelt rendition of the Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Darlin’ Be Home Soon.” Their nearly two-hour set was full of deep cuts and emotional highlights, showing the full range of the band’s musical chemistry.

Mike Mattison took the mic for a haunting version of Bruce Springsteen’s “State Trooper,” while Susan Tedeschi delivered a powerful take on John Prine’s “Angel From Montgomery.” The band also paid tribute to Jerry Garcia with a beautifully jammed-out “Sugaree.”

They closed out the night with an encore of “Anyhow” and a rollicking version of The Coasters’ “Let’s Go Get Stoned,” sending the crowd out buzzing. A night with legends, stories, and soul, the kind of show only the Beacon and a band like this can deliver.

Setlist: Crazy Cryin’ – Do I Look Worried – Darlin’ Be Home Soon (The Lovin’ Spoonful cover) – I Feel So Bad (Chuck Willis cover) – Hear My Dear – Fall In – Moon – Idle Wind – State Trooper (Bruce Springsteen cover) – Playing With My Emotions – Part of Me – Angel From Montgomery (John Prine cover) – Sugaree (Jerry Garcia cover) – That Did It (Bobby “Blue” Bland cover) – I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free) (Billy Taylor cover)
Encore: Anyhow – Let’s Go Get Stoned (The Coasters cover)