Tedeschi Trucks Band Welcome Todd Smallie in Raleigh, Announce Newport Folk Festival Performance
Tedeschi Trucks Band, photo by Bill Kelly
Tedeschi Trucks Band pulled into Raleigh, N.C. last night for the last performance in the first leg of their Future Soul 2026 headline tour. Since they released their long-awaited sixth studio album during their exhilarating 10-show residency at New York’s Beacon Theatre, the band has enjoyed a thrilling two weeks in the Southeast, including sit-ins from Lukas Nelson, Jason Isbell and Zac Brown and the return of their signature Sun, Sand and Soul concert getaway. To wrap up their first live outing on a high note, the band bolstered their finale with a surprise guest spot from Todd Smallie.
Tedeschi Trucks Band set off their show at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek with “Do I Look Worried,” the roaring staple from 2013’s Made Up Mind, then broke away into “Crazy Cryin’,” the opening track from Future Soul, quickly emerging as the album’s most reliable live cut. The new record got some more play with “Who Am I” and “Hero” before the 12-piece ensemble bridged “High & Mighty” into their fourth treatment to date of Frank Zappa’s “Willie the Pimp.”
Wednesday’s biggest surprise came as the band welcomed their longtime collaborator Smallie, who played bass in the Derek Trucks Band from its founding in 1994; since Trucks’ outfit merged into TTB in 2010, Smallie has served as the bassist for fellow North Floridians and Wednesday’s openers JJ Grey & Mofro. Looking back on 2009’s Already Free, the Derek Trucks Band’s last studio album, Smallie supported a take on “Get What You Deserve,” followed by a medley of Sly & The Family Stone’s “You Can Make It If You Try” and “Everyday People.”
With Crosby, Stills & Nash’s stirring protest anthem “Ohio,” the band raced towards the set-closing sequence of “I Want More” and Jeff Beck’s “Beck’s Bolero.” To wrap up their first headline leg of the year, the ensemble returned to the stage for a packed encore of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” The Rolling Stones’ “Loving Cup,” Taj Mahal’s “Leavin’ Trunk” and Rahsaan Roland Kirk’s “Volunteered Slavery.”
On Sunday, May 3, Tedeschi Trucks Band will return to headline the final day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. After that high-profile booking, they’ll take a month off before a series of other festival bookings in June. Today, the band expanded its live calendar by confirming an appearance at this year’s Newport Folk Festival on July 26. Find the band’s full itinerary at tedeschitrucksband.com.
“I feel like this is the most unique record we’ve done,” Derek Trucks said of Future Soul. “It’s my favorite collection of songs that we’ve ever put on a record. From song to song, there’s just not a weak spot. With Future Soul, we wanted to shake things up. We hope that our fans and everyone who listens to this album enjoys the ride!” Read more about the new album here.
