There are concerts that entertain, and then there are concerts that restore your faith in the sheer power of live music. The Tedeschi Trucks Band show at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, MA in September 2025 was the latter—a breathtaking reminder that when eleven world-class musicians take the stage with no agenda other than to serve the song, something transcendent can happen. I went in expecting a great night of music. I left with the kind of musical high that stays with you long after the house lights come up.
This was Tedeschi Trucks at their finest: a seamless blend of roots, soul, blues, and jam-band improvisation, with every player contributing to a sound that’s bigger than any one of them. With a setlist that celebrated their own catalog, honored their influences, and showcased their fearless spirit of collaboration, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, and company gave the crowd a night to remember.
The Setlist: A Perfectly Crafted Journey
Here’s how the night unfolded:
Setlist:
-
The Letter (The Box Tops cover)
-
Do I Look Worried
-
Who Am I
-
I Walk on Guilded Splinters (Dr. John cover)
-
Ain’t That Something
-
Future Soul
-
I Want More
-
Beck’s Bolero (Jeff Beck cover)
-
Just Won’t Burn (Susan Tedeschi song)
-
Made Up Mind
-
I Can’t Make You Love Me (Mike Reid cover)
-
It Ain’t Fair (Ben E. King cover)
-
Dreams (The Allman Brothers Band cover) with Warren Haynes
-
Stand Back (The Allman Brothers Band cover) with Warren Haynes
-
With a Little Help From My Friends (Joe Cocker arrangement of The Beatles classic)
It’s a set that tells you everything you need to know about this band: reverent to the past, confident in the present, and adventurous enough to never play it safe.
A Soulful Opening
The night kicked off with “The Letter,” the Box Tops’ classic immortalized by Alex Chilton but reborn here with a rich, horn-driven arrangement. Right from the start, the band locked into a deep pocket—those dual drummers (Tyler Greenwell and Isaac Eady) laying down a groove that was both taut and loose. Susan Tedeschi’s voice soared with a smoky confidence that set the tone for the entire evening. Her ability to channel raw emotion without oversinging is a gift, and it was on full display here.
From there, the band eased into “Do I Look Worried,” one of their own modern classics. Derek Trucks wasted no time reminding everyone why he’s considered one of the greatest slide guitarists alive. His tone—liquid, vocal, almost otherworldly—cut through the humid night air with laser precision. Every note felt earned, never flashy for its own sake.
Deep Grooves and Swampy Magic
The midsection of the show showcased the band’s willingness to stretch out and explore. “Who Am I” shimmered with gospel-tinged harmonies, while “I Walk on Guilded Splinters” brought a dose of New Orleans voodoo to Massachusetts. This Dr. John cover was a slow-burning highlight, with the band building an eerie, hypnotic groove that ebbed and flowed like a swamp tide. Keyboardist Gabe Dixon layered in spooky organ textures while the horn section punctuated each verse with brassy exclamation points.
“Ain’t That Something” and “Future Soul” kept the energy flowing, the former a soulful stomp and the latter a funky, forward-looking jam that lived up to its title. Tedeschi’s guitar playing—too often overshadowed by her voice—was sharp and tasteful here, trading licks with Trucks in a thrilling call-and-response that drew roars from the crowd.
Moments of Reflection
One of the night’s most stunning stretches came with “I Want More,” a song that builds from quiet introspection to a cathartic climax. Trucks’s solo here was a masterclass in dynamics: soft, almost whispered slide phrases giving way to soaring, open-hearted wails. You could feel the entire crowd holding its collective breath.
Then came a beautiful surprise: “Beck’s Bolero,” a tribute to the late guitar hero Jeff Beck. Trucks led the instrumental with reverence and fire, weaving melody and improvisation in a way that paid homage without ever feeling like imitation. It was both a nod to the past and a statement of the band’s own adventurous spirit.
Susan Tedeschi took center stage for “Just Won’t Burn,” the title track of her 1998 breakout album. Hearing her revisit this song with the full weight of decades of experience was spine-tingling. Her voice—equal parts grit and grace—has only grown richer with time, and the audience responded with a standing ovation.
Covering the Greats, Owning Every Note
Tedeschi Trucks have always had a gift for covers, not as nostalgia trips but as living, breathing reinterpretations. Their take on “I Can’t Make You Love Me” was heartbreak distilled into song, with Susan’s restrained, aching vocal supported by Trucks’s weeping slide lines. It was one of those pin-drop moments where you could hear the emotion in every breath.
The energy shifted back to high gear with “It Ain’t Fair,” a Ben E. King deep cut that let the horns shine. The band turned it into a soul revue, the kind of song that makes you wish you were in a smoky club in 1967.
Then came the heavy hitters: “Dreams” and “Stand Back,” both Allman Brothers classics. With Warren Haynes joining the band for these songs, the stage became a living shrine to Southern rock history. Trucks and Haynes traded solos with a telepathic ease, their guitars weaving together like old friends finishing each other’s sentences. It was impossible not to think of the late Gregg Allman and the legacy that continues through these players.
A Communal Finale
The encore, “With a Little Help From My Friends,” was pure joy. Taking Joe Cocker’s soulful arrangement of the Beatles classic, the band turned it into a celebration of community—between musicians, between band and audience, between past and present. The crowd sang every word, arms around each other, voices raised to the rafters. It was the perfect capstone to a night built on connection.
The Band’s Secret Weapon: Chemistry
What makes a Tedeschi Trucks Band show so special isn’t just virtuosity, though there’s no shortage of that. It’s the way these musicians listen to each other. The interplay between Trucks and Tedeschi is the obvious focal point—his searching guitar lines, her powerhouse vocals—but every member has a role to play. From the drummers’ rhythmic foundation to the horns’ jubilant blasts to the subtle textures of bass and keys, this is a band that operates as a true collective.
That chemistry allows them to take familiar songs and find something new every night. Solos aren’t mere showcases; they’re conversations. Covers aren’t museum pieces; they’re opportunities for discovery. And when the band locks into a groove, it feels less like a performance and more like a shared experience.
Final Thoughts
Walking out of the Xfinity Center, I felt the kind of musical gratitude that only a show like this can inspire. Tedeschi Trucks Band didn’t just play songs—they created a journey, weaving together soul, blues, rock, gospel, and jazz into something uniquely their own. They honored their heroes, spotlighted their own songwriting, and gave a capacity crowd everything they had.
In an era when so much music is built for short attention spans, Tedeschi Trucks remind us of the enduring power of musicianship, collaboration, and emotional honesty. Whether they were channeling Dr. John’s swampy mysticism, Jeff Beck’s guitar wizardry, or the spirit of the Allman Brothers, the band played not just with skill, but with soul.
If you were lucky enough to be there, you know. And if you weren’t, keep an eye on their tour schedule. Because nights like this—nights when music feels like communion—don’t come along every day.