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Tedeschi Trucks performs at The Warner Theatre

Concert Reviews

Tedeschi Trucks Returns for Two More at the Warner

Last Friday night, the Tedeschi Trucks Band continued their DC residency with their third show of the four night run at the Warner Theater, Washington DC.

Derek Trucks, of Tedeschi Trucks Band at the Warner Theater, Washington DC

For the second year now, splitting the four shows into two back-to-back weekends provided for a highly charged and enjoyable soulful release to the mid-winter blues. Again, this show also continued the run of sold out shows in DC.

With two other shows on the tour tucked between the pair of DC weekends (Hershey PA, 17 Feb, and Brooklyn Academy of Music 20 Feb), the band has been playing through the pain of recently losing long time friend and multi-instrumentalist Kofi Burbridge. Kofi recently returned to the hospital with complications earlier this year, and the band learned of his passing only just prior to taking the stage last week for the Friday DC show. He was dearly missed and beautifully represented by a beautiful flower bouquet aptly placed in front of the piano. However the band's stage presence was strong throughout the evening, demonstrating that the therapy of music is not only a way to cope but a way to honor the talent and memories of their close friend and family member. Their newest album, Signs was also released on Friday and was their first in nearly three years.

Susan Tedeschi of Tedeschi Trucks Band at the Warner Theater, Washington DC

It was a powerful show, and nothing less was expected or anticipated. The band always brings it strong, and then some, for all of their DC shows. Gabe Dixon is on this tour with the band, filling in for Kofi. The band also recently spit with Tim Lefebvre, and was replaced by Brandon Boone for the winter tour.

The band filled the night with fan favorites throughout the evening from the opener "Don't Let Me Slide" to the double encore. Of course the TTB Horn Section was as always very solid and tight, with a tremendous brass jam to bring "Show Me" and the first set to a rousing close. Their two long sets also included other notables, "Keys to the Highway", "Statesboro Blues", and an extraordinary great horn and Derek jam on "I Want More". That was a perfect segue into my personal favorite combo, Susan leading on "Angel From Montgomery" into "Sugaree". Returning to several songs from their new album through the evening, they highlighted "Hard Case", "I'm Gonna Be There", and then for the second encore finished the night with the album's title song, "Signs, High Times".

Tedeschi Trucks Band, Warner Theater, Washington DC

Afterward, the band joined a second capacity crowed at the nearby Hamilton DC venue for the traditional afterparty. Last week, DC was entertained by local favorite Ron Holloway Band, and this week Jaimoe and Friends took the late center stage. The most enjoyable evening continued with the band being joined for several songs by Ephraim Owens on the horn, and Kebbi Williams on the sax. The entire TTB band enjoyed the afterparty, relaxing to some late dinner and have become well known at the Hamilton.

Look forward to band's return to the area this summer, at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia, 17 July when the Summer Wheels of Soul Tour continues ....and various other summer festivals within reach. See event and ticket information for the Wolf Trap show below.

Setlist

Click here to see the setlist for Tedeschi Trucks' performance at The Warner Theather on February 22, 2019

Audio Recordings

Enjoy the audio recording by our contributor Alex Leary

Performance Date: Feb 22, 2019

Photo Gallery

Enjoy photos by our photographer Mark Raker of Mark Raker Photography.

Photo Gallery

Enjoy photos of the Hamilton Afterparty by our photographer Mark Raker of Mark Raker Photography.

Upcoming Appearance

Upcoming

Appearance

Wednesday, 17 July 2019

Doors: 5:30PM

Show: 7:00PM

Filene Center, Wolf Trap

https://www.wolftrap.org/

Trap Road, Vienna, VA 22182

(Google Maps Link)

$40.00 - $85.00

Buy Tickets Now

Related Articles

Related Articles

Oh, It’s So Heavy: Tedeschi Trucks Band Plays On in Honor of Kofi Burbridge in DC

Album Review

Review: Bencoolen Release Debut Album ‘Daydream’

Bencoolen are proof that good things come from hard work. What started off as a passion project has quickly evolved into a way of life, thanks to five wildly talented and charismatic men. Formed in 2014 by college pals Paul Gregg (vocals, guitar) and Teddy Scott (guitar), Bencoolen are a self-made, self-managed band complete with a debut album and a massive tour.

Only solidifying the members in mid-2016 — welcoming Jack Bentsen (alto sax), Will Lockery (drums), and Ben Suarez (bass) — Bencoolen move fast. With a handful of EPs and now one full length LP under their belt, it’s no surprise that they’re already hitting the road on their largest tour to date.

Daydream due on March 8, is rock ‘n roll at its finest, complete with a jazzy sax and fervent guitar shreds. Bencoolen play this album with a near tangible energy, errant notes and chords seemingly leaping through time and space to completely envelope and enrapture any and all listeners. Their combination of blues and funk feels unique to them, but Bencoolen feel vocally reminiscent of Arctic Monkeys and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The ten track album radiates confidence and ease, as though each member was born to live and breathe their instrument. While "Tonight," "Roll On," and "Daydream” headline the album, each track shows off the strongest elements of each band member. There is a vast diversity of sound and emotion distributed throughout, allowing the album to ebb and flow in a satisfying rhythm.

There are a few songs, such as “Don’t Wanna Wait” and “Habits” that feature softer instrumentals and slower tempos, however, that softness fades quickly as the drums pick up and Gregg’s vocals soar atop a soulful jam, immediately transforming the tracks into one where you can’t help but dance or bop along. In the end, Bencoolen are rockers through and through, shredding and synchronizing their instruments in a funk-forward harmony.

Daydream is an album that’s meant to be heard live, with the volume cranked up as loud as possible. Thankfully, Bencoolen are touring all around the DMV these next few months, including a stop at Pearl Street Warehouse on Friday, March 1 for their album release show, so there’s no excuse to miss out.

Bencoolen’s Daydream is a fantastic debut, and we’re excited to hear what they’ll do next.

Bencoolen

Daydream

Released: March 8, 2019

Track Listing:

1. Tonight

2. Don't Wanna Wait

3. Remember

4. Habits

5. Roll On

6. Forgive Me

7. Lucky

8. When You Look Back

9. Show Me Your Hands

10. Daydream

Play/Purchase Album

Play/Purchase

Album

Click to purchase Daydream

Play on Spotify

Additional Resources

Additional

Resources

You can learn more about Bencoolen by visiting the following web resources:

Greyson Chance performing at DC9 Nightclub

Concert Reviews, On Our Radar

On Our Radar: Greyson Chance

Greyson Chance is on his way to becoming the next Ariana Grande. That may sound like a bold claim, but hear me out.

Having left college to pursue his music career in 2018, Chance kicked off his first tour in two years this past Friday, February 22. If there were any nerves or hesitation around this comeback, Chance displayed none of it.

Confidently striding onto the DC9 Nightclub stage with a gin and tonic in hand, the artist grinned at the sold-out crowd. In perhaps the greatest indicator of his boldness, he chose to embark on his comeback tour without an opening act.

But Chance needed no help warming up his crowd; the sheer power of his voice was enough to grasp the attention of every individual sardined into the venue.

As the chorus of “shut up,” Chance’s latest single hit, the crowd began enthusiastically singing along. Snaking through the crowd as his set progressed, I caught numerous whispers from audience members in awe.

“His voice is SO beautiful, WOW,” exclaimed one attendee.

Beautiful it is, but Chance’s voice is so much more. His ability to effortlessly glide from a deep baritone to an astonishingly high falsetto rivals that of musicians holding massive weight in today’s cultural zeitgeist. With vocals as powerful as Sam Smith's and buttery as Troye Sivan's, it’s hard to believe that Chance isn’t at the top of Billboard charts.

However, voice alone does not make for a pop star. You need to be a storyteller and a relatable one at that. Wandering over to the piano, he began sharing the story of his first love.

“Last year, I fell in love. I thought we were going to get married...maybe have some kids together, you know all that shit,”

An incredibly silent audience clung onto his words as Chance continued,

“But...I guess he didn’t want the same thing. He told me he wasn’t in love with me anymore...this is a song about that.”

Greyson Chance sitting at his piano in the midst of his performance

As the opening notes of “Low” struck and Chance’s stunning falsetto filled the room, seemingly every heart in the audience broke for the artist. There was no mistaking the gut-wrenching pain behind Chance’s words.

I've been hurt but I've never been hurt this much before

I feel lonely, lonely, lonely traveling down this road

They say through time I'll find some healing but the clock goes slow

I didn't know that I could get this low

// lyrics from the single "Low"

Chance has endless talent, but above all, he's mastered the ability of grasping an emotion and emoting it out to his audience. Witnessing tears fill the eyes of various audience members, I exited the venue with the firm belief that Greyson Chance is our next pop star.

Greyson Chance is currently on tour throughout North America, with dates lined up through the beginning of April.

Photo Gallery

Enjoy photos by our photographer Ana Medvedeva.

Concert Reviews

Galactic and AZTEC SUN Set Fire to the 9:30 Club

Guest Contributor: Nick "Phrazz" Fitanides

Nick has been a staple of the Washington DC music scene for decades both as a writer and photographer. We invited Nick to cover this performance because of his deep love and connection to funk music.

New Orleans' finest progressive funk band, Galactic, created a 7-alarm blaze on February 16 at DC's legendary 9:30 Club, supported by local DC favorites, AZTEC SUN. Galactic is on tour to support their 1st studio album in 3 years, Already Ready Already, produced by Ben Ellman and Robert Mercurio, released on Feb. 8th on Galactic's own label, Tchoup-Zilla Records. This album's material is composed of horn-heavy progressive funk and rock, with modern rhythms, immersed in traditional NOLA roots. Frequent denizens of the 9:30 Club, Galactic has been touring for over 20 years, releasing an average of an album a year. Galactic has made headlines recently for purchasing the legendary Tipitinas, thereby saving the legacy of the best-loved club in New Orleans.

Stephane Detchou

DC's soulful groove beatmasters, AZTEC SUN, fired up the crowd early on, with fans filling the main floor by the time they opened the night, opening with "My Way Home'," with a fun crowd sing-along, followed by the Go-go themed "Red Line." They continued into the songs on their latest album, In The Name of Everyone, with the poignant "District," where lead singer Stephane Detchou told the audience "this song is a love letter to a city that's changing, but not changing for everyone." Throughout the set, guitarist Ray Lamb added tasteful leads to Stephane's impeccable rhythm guitar.

Ryan "Catch" Banning

AZTEC SUN continued into "Cold War In the City," with killer harmonies, horns, and rhythmic claps, accompanied by the crowd. Ryan "Catch" Banning ripped a sweet keyboard solo under bright spotlight, while he jumped with his fist in the air during the powerful "Revolution," which Stephane introduced as a "fighting song," with lyrics "soul is on fire / streets are burning … the people will rise again". They continued into "Cold War", "Set You Free", then a brand new song "I Am", with a short tease of Sly and the Family Stone's "Dance to the Music" toward the end of their set, with a resounding sax solo by Graham Robertson and horn support by Adam Kent (trombonist Joe Goltz is on tour elsewhere, but will be back).

Stephane Detchou, Ray Lamb, and Shane Weckesser

Because of the time needed to switch over dozens of PA channels, much of the crowd spilled out into the street outside the club to take a smoke break, making 9th and V streets feel a little like Bourbon Street, with many fans wearing New Orleans colors of green, purple and gold, some in costumes, and everyone enjoying the mood set in motion by AZTEC SUN. Once the crowd filed back in, the club was packed to capacity, deep into the balconies. Galactic's set started off dark and mysterious, with drummer Stanton Moore playing drums standing up under bright spotlight, pounding his rhythmic rockets to launch the funk ship. Galactic's new lighting design was noticeable, with a contrast of color geometries mixed in with down-spots for artist solos. Galactic is well-known for its tight, devastating horn section (Ben Ellman on sax & harmonica, with Corey Henry on trombone and horns). Their latest lead vocalist, Erica Fells, took command of the stage, adding her powerful, soulful vocals to her incredibly talented musical hosts throughout the evening.

Erica Falls was incredible with Galactic at the 9:30 Club

DC area natives, guitarist Jeff Raines and bassist Robert Mercurio, played energetically to their hometown family and friends. Raines' guitar sizzled in the newer, progressive-rock songs off their latest album, such as the instrumental, "Goose Grease", with heavy distortion and killer Hammond solos by Rich Vogel. Ben Ellman also played harmonica on a few songs, with Corey deftly delivering horns. After a few songs, Galactic stripped down to a 4-piece, switching to mostly rock, then Falls came back out to center stage, accompanied by powerful harp solos by Ellman and more slide work by Raines. At the end of the night, Galactic covered The Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" for a resounding encore that left the crowd smiling, dancing, and fully satisfied.

Jeff Raines of Galactic

These two 9:30 Club shows came near the end of Galactic's winter tour, ending on Sun 17th in Blacksburg VA at the Lyric Theatre. Spring tour starts promptly in early March with three shows at Tipitina's, followed by a western run in Colorado in mid March, then Victor Idaho, Missoula, Seattle, Portland, two dates in Nevada (Crystal Bay on March 24th and Brooklyn Bowl on March 26), then Tuscon, end of March in southern CA, and a summer date at Red Rocks on July 12th.

Galactic's Funky Horn Section was on FIRE at the 9:30 Club

AZTEC SUN will be playing the Brooklyn Bowl NYC on March 18th, and has also announced MerleFest on April 28th, as well as summer dates at Lakefest on June 15th and Hudson River Park in NYC on July 7th.