By the time the Tedeschi Trucks Band cranked up “Joyful Noise” Tuesday night at the first show of their Ryman residency, the audience knew that was a perfect description of the experience. Husband and wife Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks know how to fill a stage. With dual drummers Tyler Greenwell and Isaac Eady, horn section Elizabeth Lee and Ephraim Owens, Gabe Dixon on keyboards, and Bandon Boone on bass, TTB produces a sound that fills up the Mother Church without overpowering the vocals.
Tedeschi has been compared to Janis Joplin and Bonnie Raitt, but with her powerful vocal range, she sets a standard to which other lead singers should be compared. The Berklee-trained singer and musician who reportedly cut her teeth on gospel music is as controlled in the low and slow songs as when she is belting it out. She traded lead vocals with Mike Mattison, sometimes stepping back just to listen, as he sang “Life Is Crazy.”
Trucks, a guitar phenom since childhood, stays almost in the background, often turned toward band members as he plays. His guitar breaks capture the audience with no need for showmanship.
Fans who follow the band know to expect a different show, a different set list every night. They play a blend of original music—some from their pair’s earlier bands before the joined forces more than ten years ago—and covers, often deep tracks from a variety of musicians. Tuesday’s show included a performance of Willie Nelson’s “Somebody Pick up My Pieces,” Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” and other songs from the Rolling Stones, Derek and the Dominos, and more.
A high point of the night was their rendition of “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free,” with Tedeschi and Mattison passing off powerful leads to the backup singers Mark Rivers and Alecia Chakour.
Tedeschi gave a shout out to the Tennesseans in the band—Nashvillian Dixon on keyboards and drummer Eady of Tullahoma.
The band’s numerous awards and nominations in multiple genres are evidence of their versatility. The Southern rock influence of the Allman Brothers shifts to Memphis and New Orleans sound with the improvisation of a jam band. Even with the full sound, the vocal lyrics never get lost, a tribute to the band’s control and to the Ryman’s acoustics.
Tedeschi Trucks Band wrapped up the evening with not one but two encores—“Outside Woman Blues” followed by “Let’s Go Get Stoned”—a strong opening night for their week at the Ryman Auditorium.
Miko Marks, opening for TTB, received a warm and lively reception from the crowd, including a standing ovation. She admitted she had a hard time controlling her tears, moved at her first time playing the iconic venue. Emotions never got in the way of a solid performance. While Marks says she has been performing more than 20 years, she has just been named one of CMT’s “Next Women of Country for 2022.” Introducing a song from her recent EP Race Records, she pointed out that while in the 20s and 30s, a distinction was made between “race records” and “hillbilly music,” they were all the same. She says she is interested in unification.
“I’m country,” she said, “but I’m also a little bit soul and gospel,” leading into the Monroe Brothers’ “Black Smoke Rising.” In addition to her own original songs, including “Hold It Together,” written during Covid with Victor Campos, from her album Our Country. With simple acoustic and vocal backup, Marks’ powerful vocals and compelling harmonies offered a perfect warmup before Tedeschi Trucks Band took the stage.
TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND
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MIKO MARKS
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THE RYMAN