Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, photo by Stevo Rood
On Monday, Aug. 25, Gary Clark Jr. arrived at Cincinnati’s Andrew J. Brady Music Center for a solo headline performance within his stacked series supporting The Black Keys’ No Rain, No Flowers Tour. The cutting-edge, genre-bending bluesman made the most of his opportunity for a solo spotlight with a 14-track set spanning his two-decade discography, then made a headline of the evening with a surprise sit-in from Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks.
By fortunate coincidence, Tedeschi and Trucks were enjoying a break from the Tedeschi Trucks Band’s sprawling Live in 25! Tour on Monday before a show at Cincinnati’s Riverbend Music Center on Tuesday night. The duo continued a history of meetings with their fellow blues guitar torchbearer by walking out with Clark for his encore, beginning with a cover of electric blues giant Albert Collins’ “If Trouble Was Money,” which has been a staple of Clark’s live repertoire since 2012. Clark holstered his guitar for the cover, allowing his guests to trade fiery solos as he sang, then brought his instrument out again for a towering treatment of his 2010 original “Don’t Owe You a Thang.” Following their contributions, Tedeschi and Trucks cleared the way for Clark to conclude his performance with the enduring fan favorite “Bright Lights.”
As peers in a small circle of the most celebrated guitarists active today, Clark, Tedeschi and Trucks have crossed paths several times over the years. One memorable instance came in 2014, when a co-headline bill at Los Angeles’ Greek Theater led to Trucks lending his Talents to Clark’s “Don’t Owe You A Thang” and the latter joining TTB for a treatment of Bobby Bland’s “I Pity The Fool.” The artists joined forces again in 2021, when all three took part in a tribute concert at Indianola, Miss.’s BB King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, including a ten-guitarist finale of “the Thrill is Gone” led by Tedeschi.
Clark will return to the stage with a show at Columbia, Md.’s Merriweather Post Pavilion tomorrow, Aug. 28. The Tedeschi Trucks Band will play again tomorrow at Syracuse, N.Y.’s Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview. Find tickets and more information at garyclarkjr.com and tedeschitrucksband.com.
Watch a fan-recorded video of Monday’s sit-in below.
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