Concert Review and Photos: Tedeschi Trucks Band rock the house at The Vets in Providence

Who said rock and roll is dead?

Certainly no one at last night’s Tedeschi Trucks Band show at The Vets in Providence. Fans at the historic theater were rocking out to the sounds of the Grammy Award-winning band, which combines the forces of Boston native Susan Tedeschi and husband Derek Trucks.

Founded in 2010, the love child of Truck’s and Tedeschi’s prior projects, the band was in fine form, as strong as ever before a sold-out crowd, with young enthusiasts and more seasoned fans on their feet for most of the two-hour set.  

Go ahead and tag them as the best rock/soul/blues/jam band currently touring in America, carrying on the tradition established by bands like The Allman Brothers, where a younger version of Trucks once played lead guitar. Among the greatest living guitarists, his chops continue to impress.

Tedeschi’s no slouch on the six-string herself, having honed her talent in the dive bars around Boston in the late 80s and 1990s. Tedeschi’s vocal range is equally impressive, she can belt it out on tunes like “Anyhow” and bring it down on ballads like the John Prine classic “Angel from Montgomery.”

Show highlights include the opener, “Playing with my Emotions,” Tedeschi’s bluesy “Little by Little,” and the masterful tribute to Derek and the Dominos two-fer, “Bell Bottom Blues/Why Does Love Have to be So Sad,” which segued into the show high point, with Trucks leading the band on the Allman Brothers epic “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.” Throw in some blues-based originals and a little “Beck’s Bolero,” and you’ve got one of the more memorable local concerts in recent history.

Tedeschi took the stage for the encore alongside keyboardist Gabe Dixon for a touching version of Leon Russell’s “A Song for You,” and were then joined by the band for an inspiring “Get What You Deserve,” a rollicking Derek Trucks original.

Truck’s guitar and Tedeschi’s voice (and guitar) are a match made in rock and roll heaven. It’s those little glances that they exchange during the show that make the experience extra special. Their musical connection extends to the 10-piece backing band, who present as a tightly oiled machine, yet are loose enough to swing when required. They’re authentic and original, what rock and roll was meant to be.

The tour continues this weekend with two shows at Boston’s Wang Theatre. Click here for more on the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Check out some photos of the show from WUN Lifestyle Editor Ken Abrams.