Tedeschi Trucks Band Plays Acoustic Mini-Set In Austin

The Tedeschi Trucks Band fit a rare acoustic mini-set into their Friday night concert at Bass Concert Hall in Austin. Friday’s acoustic mini-set included the TTB debuts of the Sippie Wallace-penned/Bonnie Raitt-popularized “Women Be Wise” and Howlin’ Wolf’s “Down In The Bottom” along with three other covers.

The 12-piece led by Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi began the evening with originals “Laugh About It” and “Don’t Know What It Means.” Susan then fronted the group on a cover of The Box Tops’ “The Letter” ahead of a run of “High & Mighty,” Willie Nelson’s “Somebody Pick Up My Pieces” and “Still Your Mind.” Next up was a take on Junior Wells’ blues classic “Little By Little,” which the band hadn’t played since January 21, 2017 as per Setlist.FM. The TTB capped the opening frame with originals “Hard Case” and “Idle Wind.”

A stripped-down version of the group took the stage for the second set with Trucks sporting an acoustic guitar for “Keep Your Lamp Trimmed & Burning” by Blind Willie Johnson. The TTB kept the acoustic start to the set going with Tedeschi belting out “Woman Be Wise” for the first time. Sippie Wallace released “Woman Be Wise” as the title track of her 1966 studio album. Bonnie Raitt concluded her self-titled 1971 debut album with a version of the song.

After “Woman Be Wise,” the TTB reached for Elmore James’ “Done Somebody Wrong,” a staple of The Allman Brothers Band’s live repertoire. Next up was “I Am Yours,” a song the Tedeschi Trucks Band first played during their complete performance of Derek & The Dominos’ Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs at LOCKN’ in August. Keyboardist Gabe Dixon and backing vocalist Mike Mattison shared lead vocals as they did at LOCKN’. The acoustic portion of the evening concluded with the TTB debut of Howlin’ Wolf’s “Down In The Bottom.”

The Tedeschi Trucks Band returned to their full electric setup for a run of five songs to end the second set. Up first was a cover of Derek & The Dominos’ “Keep On Growing” before the band dug in on their own “Midnight In Harlem,” “Part Of Me,” “Shame” and “Bound For Glory.” Friday’s encore got underway with a rendition of Dr. John’s “I Walk On Guilded Splinters” and concluded with a medley of Sly & The Family Stone’s “Sing A Simple Song” and “I Want To Take You Higher.”

Listen to an audience recording of Friday’s show taped by seedy below: