Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks answered Brittany Howard’s call for some help and stepped on stage to stoke the fire that was the coda of Alabama Shakes’ version of “Time.” 

Together at the front of the Riverbend Music Center stage in Cincinnati, the three guitarists engaged one another in the art of axe throwing and created a highlight of the Shakes’ set during the final performance of the group’s short run of co-headline concerts.

Taking the stage just before the scheduled 7:30 start time, Tedeschi Trucks exploded out of the gate with “Don’t Let Me Slide” and the urgent shuffle of “Let the Good Times Roll.” Tedeschi sang both tracks and played their leads after Trucks ceded those duties with a nod. 

With 12 pieces, TTB can be loud and raucous, such as when Mike Mattison joined Tedeschi and Trucks at the front of the stage to voice Frank Zappa’s “Willie the Pimp.” However, the band is just as capable of dialing back on such numbers as “Who Am I.”

TTB’s arrangement of CSNY’s “Ohio” reflected the uncertain climate in the United States under ICE with astonishing, chilling, clarity. Complementing the lyrics was TTB’s musical approach that included a down-low bass solo, Trucks’ trademark slide tangling with muted trombone and dissonant saxophone darting between a double-drummer showcase as “Volunteered Slavery” snaked out of the Tedeschi-Mattison duet on the Rolling Stones’ “Loving Cup.” And when Tedeschi, Mattison, Mark Rivers and Alecia Chakour traded passionate vocals on TTB’s debut of “I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to Be Free,” the group put its concerns for the present and future on full display. 

Culling songs their three LPs, the recently reformed Alabama Shakes offered original songs of hope that harkened to a bygone era of soul radio playlists. 

“Through music, we became family,” Howard said of her bandmates, guitarist Heath Fogg and bassist Zac Cockrell. Augmented by a three-voice  choir, two keyboardists and drums, the core trio ran through a set of songs—“Rise to the Sun,” “I Feel Hope Coming” and “This Feeling” among them—that looked for the good in the world and reflected the band’s happiness at ending their six-year hiatus.

As singer, co-lead guitarist, songwriter and onstage emcee, Howard is in charge and as the show neared its climax, she shed her axe and stalked the front of the stage for “Always Alright,” which she preceded with the following:  “If you have pets, may they live to 35 years of age.” 

Here’s hoping there’s more of these co-bills to come in 2027.