I cant believe Revelator has already been out for well over a year now. Where has the time gone? Music is often a very solid and surefire way for me to keep track of how much time has passed between one point and another. I can usually remember quite accurately when an album was released, or a single first played. Ah, I guess that doesn't sound so surefire. But it works...sometimes.
I remember very clearly, listening to the TTB's first album effort and it's insane impact upon me. I wanted to board up my windows and doors, and hole up in my apartment to just sit and listen. To absorb. Then I realized, it was a great album to have in the car, so I kept a copy in my bag for rides. Now, many plays through the album later, I still enjoy hearing cuts from it once in a while, and I'll even throw it on here and there. It's comforting to know I have it around, like an old stuffed animal from your early years.
I went to Friday Nights TTB show at the Beacon. I hadn't been that pumped up for a show, probably since my last show. I abstained from reading the last nights setlist for the most part, even though I did catch a peak at a couple songs they played. Leon Russell was the opening act, and he came out later on in the show as well to do a "Space Captain" with them. I was insanely jealous, being that "Space Captain" is quite possibly my all time favorite song, and Leon Russell was the original pianist on the Mad Dogs and Englishmen track. But I was ok with it in the end because The Wood Brothers opened up TTB on Friday, and along with Anders Osborne, they are probably my most listened to new artist in the past three years (as that's when Matt really introduced their full body of work to me). Singer/Guitarist Oliver Wood even co-wrote "Ball and Chain" with Tedeschi and Trucks, so I would expect to at least here that fabulous tune. I was not disappointed, as it was every bit as good as I expected.
"Bound for Glory" is another one of my favorites off this album, though I must confess my "favorites" have constantly changed since the album's been released. I think at some point I've considered every single song to by my favorite, no joke (Aside from "Simple Things.") Co-written by vocalist Mike Mattheson, Susan Tedeschi, and Derek Trucks, "Bound for Glory" is bluesy, clever, and subtly brilliant (when it wants to be). And all that's before the chorus when the song completely opens up and blows the ceiling off your world.
I love Bonnie Raitt. Always have. I have vivid memories of my mother playing her albums through my childhood. She was one of the first examples of what "sexy" was to me. Sheryl Crow came along and tried her hand in that world, but she didn't hold a candle to Bonnie's talent or style. Bonnie was the kind of woman that made cool a female trait. Watching her play guitar, and slide guitar especially, oh man it don't get better than that. But now we've got Susan, and so far she's giving Bonnie a run for her money. Matt and I have discussed it, and while Susan's voice is more powerful, we still prefer Bonnie's smoky rasp.
But lets not confuse the issue, Susan Tedeschi is not trying to be a Bonnie Raitt ripoff. Sure, she's got elements of Bonnie's style, but she's also got some of the wildness of Janis Joplin, and a mastery of the blues that I think even Bonnie would agree is tremendous. Her solo work at Friday's show was incredible. The best I've seen yet. I know there is so much more to come from her, and that's an exciting prospect.
I haven't even mentioned Derek Trucks yet, and he's probably the best guitarist in the game today. But that goes to show you that this group isn't about the individuals. I know I've made a case that Susan Tedeschi (being the frontwoman of the group) is in the spotlight, but it's not that simple. The strength and quality of this group is in the group itself. They are a family from what I have read and seen. They work together, they listen to music together, they write together, and they create this tremendous sound, together. The whole is greater than it's parts, and it's so inspiring to see that such good musicians can and will do that. To see Derek Trucks take a back seat in some of the songs is a testament to his humbleness and class. To watch Mike Matheson do three songs of backup before he's featured at all, well that's the kind of attitude that opens the door for a great show. Kofi Burbridge got a lot of playtime on the keys and even the flute, as did the entire horn section. Kofi's brother Otiel, got his usual bass/drum interlude and they even brought up guests (like the aforementioned Oliver Wood, and saxophone virtuoso Bill Evans). They really spread it around in this group, and that's the main reason why they're so versatile in their sound. I don't know if people realize how fortunate we are to have music like this being made today. I know I do.
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