The News-Press ❚ FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2018

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Derek Trucks, left, and Susan Tedeschi co-lead the Tedeschi Trucks Band. SPECIAL TO THE CLARION LEDGER Tedeschi Trucks Band guitarist talks solos, upcoming show Charles Runnells If you go call for it,” Trucks says in a phone energy and explore places musically Fort Myers News-Press call from his home in Jacksonville. that maybe you couldn’t otherwise.” USA TODAY NETWORK - FLORIDA Who: The Tedeschi Trucks Band “You want to make sure it never be- The Tedeschi Trucks Band per- When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 12 comes gratuitous, you know? forms Thursday, April 12, at Barbara Not every song needs a 5-minute, “There’s some artists I see, and it B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. And, face-melting guitar solo — even if Where: Barbara B Mann Performing feels like it’s just being forced all the yes, there will be solos. the guitarist happens to be Derek Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south time. People want the guitar-hero “There’s an ebb and fow to a set,” Trucks of The Tedeschi Trucks Fort moment, and it never feels musical Trucks says. “Sometimes there are a Band. Tickets: $52-$132 (excluding appli- to me.” few songs that are just beautiful And no one agrees with that more cable taxes and fees, prices subject Then again, when the solo comes tunes that are played well. Then you than the man, himself. to change) at just the right moment in just the have a tune that opens up (with a Trucks might be famous for his right song, it can be transcendent guitar solo) and it just feels like a re- stunning solos during the band’s Info: 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com and mind-blowing. lease. sprawling, improv-flled concerts “I always look forward to it, when “Hopefully, when you get to those (and also with his other gig as slide it’s well-timed and well-placed,” he moments, you make ‘em count.” guitarist for The Allman Brothers thing to be said about restraint, too. says. “If it’s right and it’s done taste- Band). But he says there’s some- “For me, the song kind of has to fully, you can tap into some serious See BAND, Page 19W

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Trucks chatted more with The News-Press about his 12-member band, the joys of playing live and the band’s upcoming next album. Here’s what he had to say: News-Press: I interviewed you in 2013 when The Tedeschi Trucks Band played the Sunshine Blues Festival in downtown Fort Myers. How has the band changed since then? Trucks: It’s an evolving thing, and the more we play, the better it seems to get. It feels like a diferent band than it was fve years ago. We’re in the process of making another record now. We’ve been in the studio for the last few weeks, The Tedeschi Trucks Band will perform April 12 at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS and you can really feel it. Every time you go in, it’s really obvious how much movement and how much We have plenty of tunes to dig ther. We kinda fgure out what’s feel- change has been in the group. into already. So when we’re writing ing inspired. And we keep track of I just think it’s an evolving thing. tunes, you just want to kinda put what we played last time we were in It’s a living, breathing band. And your best foot forward. Certain a city, and we try not to repeat too hopefully it’s on the up —– creative- tunes are just gonna end up in rota- much. ly and otherwise (laughs). tion on the road. Some tunes are just fun to play. Some tunes are fun to Do you want to say anything There are 12 members in The Te- stretch out and kind of compose — more about the new album and deschi Trucks Band. What do you and decompose. what it’s shaping up to be? look for in a band member? Obvi- It’s fun to blow some of them up I think we’re 14 or 15 songs in. ously, you want someone who can and reimagine them. But all of that None of them are across the fnish keep up with you, since there’s a happens when you fully realize them line, and there’s still a lot of work to lot of jamming and improv going in the studio. Then the songs can do be done on them. But it’s feeling on. The founders of The Tedeschi whatever they want to do. pretty good! I think we’ll end up with You know, the core of the band are Trucks Band are husband-and-wife maybe 17 or 18 tunes and then trim it people that we’ve played with over team Susan Tedeschi and Derek At the moment, what are your down to the record. the years and you always keep in the Trucks. SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS favorite songs to play live? But it’s a pretty refective record. back of your mind: “If I put another We’ve been playing one or two of Everybody’s had a hell of a few years band together, that’s somebody I’d the new tunes that are going to be on since the last record (including the like to play with.” spend as much time together as we the record. One of them is called 2017 deaths of Allman Brothers In some roles, you’re looking for do with our kids and families. And so “Shame,” and that one’s been a lot of members Greg Allman and Butch people who are going to push you, you want to be in it together. fun to play live. There’s a lot of room Trucks, Derek Trucks’ uncle). And so make you hear and play diferently on that one. there’s a lot to write about, a lot to than you would naturally. With Tim When you’re writing songs, do Night to night, it changes quite a dig in about. I’m not exactly sure Lefebvre, our bass player, he’s a su- you think about what they’re go- bit. There’s a lot of tunes I look for- what kind of record it’s going to turn per-restless musician. He’s always ing to sound like on stage? Or does ward to hittin’. Some of the tunes we out to be yet, but it feels honest and looking for diferent sounds and dif- that come later? wrote early on — “Bound For Glory” it feels good. ferent approaches. And (keyboardist You know, I don’t worry about and “Midnight in Harlem” — are al- We’re recording to 2-inch tape and futist) Kof Burbridge is that that so much. I feel like a good song ways fun to play. And every once in a and the sounds are feeling good. I way, too. is gonna translate. while we break out — it’s fun to play feel like we’re moving forward on all And other roles, you’re just look- Some songs, once you start play- “Statesboro Blues” occasionally, the fronts. ing for people who sing or play in a ing, you can immediately hear the Allman Brothers tune. We don’t do it way that makes you feel something. way it’s gonna go and you can tell often, but it’s fun to remember people. Cool! I can’t wait to hear it. But a lot of it comes down to people there’s a lot of room for exploration. Yeah, me too! who you want to live on a tour bus But when we’re making a record, I You don’t play the songs the Connect with this reporter: with for a couple hundred days a try not to think about those things same way every night, right? Charles Runnells (Facebook), year (laughs)! too much. You think about, “Is this You’re always changing things up. @charlesrunnells (Twitter), @crun- So a lot of it is personal, too. We song gonna hold up or is it not?” No, and we don’t repeat sets, ei- nells1 (Instagram)

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