If you heard the thunderous roar emanating from the Warner Theatre this weekend, you know it was Tedeschi Trucks Band's annual return to the Warner Theatre. The highly anticipated yearly event kicked off on Thursday, February 16th, 2023, and carried on for three incendiary nights in downtown Washington, DC. This monstrous, twelve-piece, wall-of-sound band returned to DC to kick off yet another six-night residency.
Tedeschi Trucks Band has been delighting fans at the Warner Theatre since 2011, and this year was no different. The question on everyone’s mind this weekend was how they would integrate the twenty-four songs from their 2022 masterpiece album, I Am The Moon, into this residency.
They kicked off Thursday night's performance with a thunderous version of "Anyhow." Then, after lighting the fuse on an explosive night of music, Tedeschi introduced four songs off of I Am The Moon into their Warner Theatre Catalog - "I Am The Moon" and "Pasaquan" from I Am The Moon I: Crescent, "Rainy Day" off of I Am The Moon II: Ascension, and "Take Me As I Am" off of I Am The Moon III: The Fall. The band would end Thursday night's performance with a high-octane version of "Let Me Get By." Fans left Thursday night overjoyed that their band was back in town and firing on all cylinders - just as fans have come to expect.
On Friday, the band gave little respite to fans who may have been up until the wee hours of Thursday, seeing Susan Tedeschi, Kebbi Williams, and Ephriam Owens join Midnight North at The Hamilton two blocks away. TTB would continue to integrate new songs from I Am The Moon, including "La Di Da" from I Am The Moon II: Ascension, "Yes We Will" and "Ain't That Something" from I Am The Moon III: The Fall. While Thursday's performance was impressive, Friday night's performance would end with a beyond powerful thirty-five minutes, starting with "Midnight In Harlem" followed by "Made Up Mind" and finally ending with an encore of soulful "Stand Back > Mr. Clean > Stand Back."
By the time TTB took the stage on Saturday, February 18th, the audience had settled into this marathon journey the band was taking us on. Before the show started, audience members debated which of the previous night's performances was better - Thursday or Friday, and what songs might lay ahead. The catalog from which TTB draws from is so comprehensive that it always keeps their fans guessing and dreaming. Moreso, TTB rarely plays a repeat during a residency, so fans were ticking off which one of their favorites had already been played and which ones they thought would be in tonight's performance.
The audience erupted in cheers as the opening notes of "The Letter" by The Box Tops was played by Gabe Dixon. As with previous performances, it took mere seconds for the band to go from zero to sixty and erupt from singular notes to the dynamic and rich wall of sound they are known for. A song may start with a trickle, a few keys by Gabe Dixon, followed by the drumming of Tyler Greenwell and Isaac Eady, then followed by the thunderous voice of Susan Tedeschi. Then brass elements layer into the song with the best brass section in live music consisting of Kebbi Williams, Ephriam Ownes, and Elizabeth Lea. Then the best slide guitar player in the world, Derek Trucks, punctuates the song with guitar riffs that pierced the theatre. How can a TTB song get any more powerful, you ask? As the band takes flight, the already roaring sound is filled in with the vocals of Mike Mattison, Mark Rivers, and Alecia Chakour. Rolling Stone best described the band as an "outfit [that] puts out a big band sound that still rings intimate, shaking listeners to their emotional core."
On Saturday, the band would show their members are world-class and exceptionally multi-talented. Mike Mattison would come to the front of the stage with his guitar in hand and sing "Fall In" and later in the evening, keyboardist Gabe Dixon would play the drums while drummer Isaac Eady would play the guitar. TTB does not follow a formula where a band member sticks to a single role - the experience and the songs are shared. Within each song, band members pass song leads to one another with invisible passes and seamless handoffs. One never knows where the musical journey will take us. The band delivered thunderous music as they segued musical contributions from one another like a Leslie Speaker or Hammond Organ - welcome to the Church of Tedeschi Trucks. After an hour of unleashing the raw power they are known for, they would end the first set with an explosive "I Want More" and "Soul Sacrifice."
When the second set started the crowd was delighted to see Derek Trucks walk on stage not with one of his Gibson SG guitars but instead with his cherished acoustic 1932 Gibson L-00 guitar and sat beside Susan Tedeschi to perform "I Can See You Smiling" from I Am The Moon IV: Farewell. This was only the third live performance of this song and a special acoustic treat for the crowd. This opening song was followed by two more I Am The Moon songs - a short but up-tempo and gumbo-rich "So Long Savior" followed by "Here My Dear." This last song was the first song released from I Am The Moon I: Crescent, and as Susan Tedeschi beautifully delivered this song as a rotating projection of the moon's phases appeared behind the band.
Later in the evening, the crowd would sway from side to side as they sang the harmony with Susan Tedeschi on John Prine's classic "Angel From Montgomery." The band would then launch into "That Did It" by Bobby "Blue" Bland before deciding to give the audience precisely what they wanted and needed - the final powder keg of the weekend with an over-the-top version of "Bound for Glory" as the band overcame some technical issues to leave the audience still cheering for more. Finally, for the encore, the band would deliver "Show Me" by Joe Tex and would, for the final time tonight, pass around the song lead from one band member to another, all the while as the light show erupted into colors and columns of light-filled and bounced off the art deco features of the Warner Theatre.
After three high-powered performances, this twelve-piece powerhouse band has left their fans exhausted, elated, and exhilarated. Fans were able to see and hear firsthand how songs off of I Am The Moon would integrate into a residency - performing eleven of twenty-four songs from this album. For three unforgettable nights, Tedeschi Trucks Band weaved between their existing catalog and introduced their newest songs. They would perform some of our favorite staples and introduce us to new favorites - and the band is only halfway through their residency.
Time will tell which of the remaining thirteen songs will be introduced during the second half of their Warner Theatre Residency and what existing songs have yet to be performed. This pursuit and mystery of songs is the joy and the delightful burden for any TTB fan.
Speaking of these remaining performances, tickets are still available for the second half of their residency on March 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. We, like you, are looking forward to seeing what songs will be performed in the remaining shows and how the band intends to end its residency. For those that have tickets, we look forward to seeing you again soon. For those that have yet to purchase tickets, if you've read this far, maybe you're willing to come a little further and join fans in two weeks.
Please see below for audio recordings of all three nights of TTB's Warner Theatre performances and links to upcoming concerts.
Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery
Enjoy photos by our photographer Jason Herman.
Setlist
Setlist
Setlist
Click here to see the setlist for performance on Thurdsay, February16, 2023
Click here to see the setlist for performance on Friday, February 17, 2023
Click here to see the setlist for performance on Saturday, February 18, 2023
Audio Recordings
Audio Recordings
Audio Recordings
Enjoy the audio recording by our contributor Alex Leary
Thursday: February 16, 2022
Friday: February 17, 2022
Saturday: February 18, 2022
Remaining Performances
Remaining
Performances
Remaining
Performances
Tedeschi Trucks Band certainly started off the Warner Theatre Residency with the same explosive energy that we have all come to expect with some new songs from I Am The Moon exquisitely placed throughout the first three performances. There is still an opportunity to see how this band concludes their residency with tickets still available for the remaining performances.
Opener: Jack Broadbent
Thursday, March 2, 2023
Doors: 7:00 PM
Show: 8:00 PM
Warner Theatre
Please check the link below for ticket prices.
Two Full Sets by Tedeschi Trucks Band
Friday, March 3, 2023
Doors: 7:00 PM
Show: 8:00 PM
Please check the link below for ticket prices.
Two Full Sets by Tedeschi Trucks Band
Saturday, March 4, 2023
Doors: 7:00 PM
Show: 8:00 PM
Please check the link below for ticket prices.
Wheels Of Soul
Wheels Of Soul
Wheels Of
Soul
Can't wait until February 2024 to see Tedeschi Trucks at the Warner Theatre? TTB is coming to Wolf Trap for TWO nights this summer during their Wheels of Soul Tour!
Opener: Vincent Neil Emerson
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Doors: 6:00 PM
Show: 7:30 PM
Filene Center at Wolf Trap
Please check the link below for ticket prices.
Opener: Vincent Neil Emerson
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Doors: 6:00 PM
Show: 7:30 PM
Please check the link below for ticket prices.
Listen
Listen
Listen
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Additional Resources
Additional Resources
Additional
Resources
To learn more about Tedeschi Trucks Band
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