By By Jason Woods, News Staff
‘ The Derek Trucks Band (DTB) rocked the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis Friday, enticing fans of all ages with a gamut of rock-infused blues songs.’
Through Trucks’ guitar virtuoso, the soulful voice of lead singer Mike Mattison and a standout performance by the band’s other members, those in attendance couldn’t help but boogy.’
As the guiding force behind his eponymous band, it’s easy to imagine Trucks, the legendary guitar player, standing out in front, overshadowing his bandmates with long, almost disruptive guitar solos for the sake of soloing.
But this isn’t the case with Trucks; he’s surrounded himself with musicians at the top of their class, melding often a cohesive R&B, soul or rock sound ‘- though at times threatening to overpower one another with individually exceptional skills.’
Trucks remains center stage, behind Mattison ‘- rarely demanding the attention, but relying instead on his guitar to draw attention.
Trucks was catapulted into the limelight at the age of 11, when the guitar prodigy began touring with the Allman Brothers. At age 15, he formed his own band ‘- now boasting Mattison on vocals, Yonico Scott on drums, Kofi Burbridge on keyboards and Todd Smallie on bass guitar.’
Fifteen years later, the band ‘ finds itself on tour for its sixth album, Already Free, bringing them to the Cape, also the home of Trucks’ wife Susan Tedeschi.
While the musical prowess of the group goes undisputed given their recorded output, The Derek Trucks band must be experienced live. Trucks carries influences from the Allman Brothers Band ‘- with whom he has been playing for 20 years ‘- over to his own group.’
DTB is the epitome of the American jam band ‘- perhaps not spoken in the same sentences as Phish or the Grateful Dead, but still a force to reckoned with.
DTB is a mixed blend of many types of music ‘- clearly rooted in the R&B of Buddy Guy, though offering expressions through classic and modern jazz, funk, soul and straight up rock. The interesting blend presents a compelling experience that seems to provide whatever the audience needs.
Mattison offers one of the groups most compelling aspects. The soul, passion and power behind his voice ‘ calls out to the audience, resonating on a deeper level.
The tent is set up just as a circus tent ‘- slightly depressed in the middle as the seats slant down toward a small, intimate, rotating stage.’
There was no bad seat in the house ‘- only fifteen rows in all directions ‘- especially given the rotating nature of the stage. This truly intimate setting is a perfect way to experience DTB, even if the acoustics of the venue at times weren’t ample to foster a perfect presentation.
Upcoming acts to be hosted at the Cape Cod Melody tent include Grammy-Winner Bonnie Raitt, comedian Carlos Mencia and Tony Bennett, among others.’
