Few venues in America feel as perfectly matched to a band as the Beacon Theatre does to the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Nestled on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, the Beacon has become something of a second home for the 12-piece ensemble led by Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks. Over the years the group has turned their multi-night Beacon residencies into something fans eagerly anticipate—part concert series, part musical celebration, and part reunion of one of the most passionate fanbases in modern rock.
On this particular night, the band delivered exactly the kind of performance that has made their Beacon runs legendary. Mixing blues, soul, gospel, and Southern rock, Tedeschi Trucks Band played a sweeping set that stretched across two sets and an encore, packed with surprises, debuts, and emotional highlights.
From the opening notes of “Anyhow” to the joyous encore of “Let the Good Times Roll,” the evening felt less like a typical concert and more like a masterclass in ensemble musicianship.
Opening Set: Soul, Debuts, and Deep Emotion
The band opened the evening with “Anyhow,” one of the standout songs from their Let Me Get By era. It was a fitting way to begin the show. Susan Tedeschi’s voice filled the ornate theater with warmth and conviction, while Derek Trucks’ slide guitar drifted through the arrangement like smoke curling in slow motion.
Right away, the band sounded locked in.
Tedeschi Trucks Band is known for their massive lineup, which includes dual drummers, a horn section, and multiple vocalists. On paper, that many musicians could easily create chaos. In practice, the group plays with remarkable restraint. Every note feels intentional, every instrument part of a larger tapestry.
The groove continued with “Playing With My Emotions,” a slow-burning blues number that showcased Tedeschi’s ability to balance vulnerability and power in her vocals. Trucks answered her lines with tasteful guitar phrases that never overpowered the song, a hallmark of his understated brilliance.
“I Got You” followed, bringing the tempo up slightly while highlighting the band’s gospel influences. The backing vocalists—often referred to by fans as the TTB choir—added lush harmonies that transformed the Beacon into something resembling a Southern church revival.
Then came one of the night’s first big surprises.
Live Debuts
The band introduced “Hero,” announced as a live debut. Fans responded with curiosity and excitement, leaning in as the band navigated a song that felt both fresh and instantly familiar. Built around a steady groove and rich horn arrangements, the track gave Tedeschi plenty of room to explore the melody while Trucks layered expressive slide guitar over the top.
Another live debut, “Under the Knife,” followed soon after.
This one had a darker tone, driven by a heavier rhythm section and a haunting horn arrangement. The song’s emotional intensity gave Trucks an opportunity to unleash one of his most expressive solos of the first set, drawing long, singing notes from his guitar that echoed through the Beacon’s acoustics.
If the band was nervous about debuting two songs in one night, it didn’t show.
Both tracks landed beautifully.
A Nod to the Allman Legacy
The set continued with “Part of Me” and “It’s So Heavy,” both of which kept the audience fully engaged. The latter leaned into the band’s more muscular side, with the rhythm section digging deep while the horns added bursts of brass punctuation.
Then came a moment that connected directly to Derek Trucks’ musical roots.
The band launched into “Stand Back,” the classic Allman Brothers Band track. For longtime fans, the connection runs deep—Trucks famously spent years as a member of the Allman Brothers, and his slide playing has long been compared to the late Duane Allman.
The performance was electrifying.
The groove built slowly before exploding into a full-band crescendo, with Trucks delivering a fiery solo that felt both reverent and fresh.
From there the band shifted into the gentle beauty of “Soul Sweet Song,” one of Tedeschi’s most heartfelt vocal performances of the night.
Then came another unexpected treat: “Love Has Something Else to Say,” which the band noted was being performed for the first time since 2015. The rarity of the moment wasn’t lost on the audience, many of whom erupted in cheers the moment the opening chords rang out.
By the end of the first set, the crowd knew they were witnessing something special.
But the second set would take things even further.
Set Two: Expanding the Musical Universe
The second set opened with a powerful and unexpected choice: “Ohio” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
This marked the Tedeschi Trucks Band debut of the protest classic, and it was a bold statement. The band approached the song with reverence while still giving it their signature soulful touch.
Tedeschi delivered the vocal with raw emotion, while the horns added dramatic accents that elevated the song’s intensity.
From there the band transitioned into one of their signature pieces: “Midnight in Harlem.”
Few songs in the modern blues-rock world carry the emotional weight of this track. When Trucks stepped forward for the solo, the room seemed to collectively hold its breath.
His slide guitar tone—clear, aching, and impossibly expressive—floated through the theater. It was the kind of moment that reminds you why Derek Trucks is often considered one of the greatest living guitarists.
Blues, Rock, and Jam-Fueled Exploration
The set continued with “La Di Da” and “Get What You Deserve,” the latter originally from the Derek Trucks Band catalog. That song leaned more toward gritty blues rock, allowing the rhythm section to stretch out while Trucks unleashed another powerful solo.
Next came a stunning one-two punch from the Derek and the Dominos catalog.
The band performed “Bell Bottom Blues,” which flowed directly into “Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad?”
The transition was seamless, building from soulful balladry into fiery blues-rock. Tedeschi’s voice soared on the emotional peaks while Trucks delivered blistering guitar runs that had fans shouting in appreciation.
The energy remained high as the band moved into “Circles ’Round the Sun,” which acted as a bridge into one of the group’s most celebrated instrumental showcases: “Pasaquan.”
This song has become a fan favorite largely because it allows the entire band to shine.
The horn section roared, the percussionists layered rhythms upon rhythms, and Trucks once again demonstrated why his slide playing is so revered.
After such a powerful instrumental journey, the band shifted gears with “Just Won’t Burn,” a song originally from Susan Tedeschi’s solo career. Hearing it performed by the full Tedeschi Trucks Band gave it new life, with gospel harmonies and expanded instrumentation lifting the song into something grander.
The second set closed with the swampy groove of “I Walk on Gilded Splinters,” the classic Dr. John composition. The performance had a hypnotic quality, with percussion, horns, and guitar all swirling together into a thick sonic stew.
It was the perfect lead-in to the encore.
Encore: Joy and Celebration
The band returned to the stage for a two-song encore that perfectly captured the celebratory spirit of the evening.
First came “Let the Good Times Roll,” the classic Louis Jordan tune. The performance was loose, joyful, and full of smiles from the band members, who clearly seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as the audience.
The horns danced through the arrangement while Tedeschi encouraged the crowd to sing along.
Then the band closed the night with “Made Up Mind.”
It was the perfect finale.
The groove was infectious, the chorus huge, and Trucks once again delivered a soaring solo that brought the audience to its feet.
By the time the final notes rang out, the Beacon Theatre crowd knew they had experienced something special.
Final Thoughts
Tedeschi Trucks Band has built a reputation as one of the most consistently excellent live acts in modern music. Their performances combine deep musical roots with fearless exploration, and no two shows are ever exactly the same.
At the Beacon Theatre, that spirit was on full display.
The band balanced new material, live debuts, rare revivals, and beloved classics with remarkable ease. Susan Tedeschi’s soulful voice anchored the performance while Derek Trucks’ guitar provided the emotional spark that lit up the room again and again.
More importantly, the show highlighted the power of a truly great ensemble. Every musician on stage contributed something essential to the sound.
In an era when many concerts rely on spectacle and production tricks, Tedeschi Trucks Band continues to prove that great songs and great musicianship are more than enough.
At the Beacon Theatre, they delivered both in abundance.
Setlist
Set 1
Anyhow
Playing With My Emotions
I Got You
Hero (Live debut)
Under the Knife (Live debut)
Part of Me
It’s So Heavy
Stand Back (The Allman Brothers Band cover)
Soul Sweet Song
Love Has Something Else to Say (first performance since 2015)
Set 2
Ohio (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young cover – TTB debut)
Midnight in Harlem
La Di Da
Get What You Deserve (The Derek Trucks Band cover)
Bell Bottom Blues (Derek and the Dominos cover)
Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad? (Derek and the Dominos cover)
Circles ’Round the Sun
Pasaquan
Just Won’t Burn (Susan Tedeschi song)
I Walk on Gilded Splinters (Dr. John cover)
Encore
Let the Good Times Roll (Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five cover)
Made Up Mind