The Tedeschi Trucks Band concert is a thing of joy, and magic, and some dancing, and lots of friends. On August 18, 2022, they brought the traveling rock and soul show to the Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre on the grounds of San Diego State University. Know as the OAT or Open Air Theatre, this venue is smack in the middle of the campus with the library as a backdrop. That’s the building you see above the stage in many of the wide photos. This was a show that I have been looking forward to ever since it was first announced. The Tedeschi Trucks Band have been busy with four, yes, you read that right, four new albums / movies, and I was looking forward to hearing some of these new tunes live. The release dates of the four films / albums are:
I. Crescent (May 31/June 3)
II. Ascension (June 28/July 1)
III. The Fall (July 26/July 29)
IV. Farewell (August 23/August 26)
You can watch the 3 released films here:
Crescent film
Ascension film
The Fall film
First up was the Gabe Dixon Band, and if that name is not familiar to you, it should be. Gabe was doing double duty as he is also the keyboard player and vocalist for the Tedeschi Trucks Band. His three piece band started the night with a great set including a cover of one of my favorite tunes, “Tangled Up in Blue” (Bob Dylan cover) which had me singing along with a smile on my face. This was a great start to the night, and if you are able to catch this tour, go early and Catch Gabe and his band, it’s well worth it. In the meantime, go ahead and check out his new EP, Let Me Be Your Melody, which is available now.
Band:
Next up was Los Lobos, a band that I first started to listen to back in the 1980’s, but never saw live until many years later and this was the first time that I got to photograph them. I have always enjoyed their music and while you can call it rock, it really is much more than that. There are influences of son jarocho, norteño, Tejano, folk, country, doo-wop, soul, R&B, punk, rock ‘n roll and even a little jam band and southern rock thrown in the mix. To say these guys are talented is an understatement. The set they played as the sun went down was brilliant, and as an extra treat, Derek Trucks joined the band for the Altman Band cover of “Don’t Keep Me Wonderin'” (with Tyler Greenwell sitting in behind the drums) and the Grateful Dead cover of “Bertha” (a song they have been covering for many years).
Band:
Louie Perez – Drums, Guitars, Percussion, Vocals
Cesar Rosas – Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin
Conrad Lozano – Bass, Guitarron, Vocals
Steve Berlin – Saxophone, Percussion, Flute, Midsax, Harmonica, Melodica
SETLIST
1.) Will The Wolf Survive?
2.) I Walk Alone
3.) Love Special Delivery (Thee Midnight’s cover)
4.) Cumbia Cumbia
5.) Dream in Blue
6.) Wicked Rain
7.) Don’t Worry Baby
8.) Sail On, Sailer ( Beach Boys cover)
9.) Georgia Slop (Jimmy McCracklin cover)
10.) Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’ (Allan Brother Band cover ) With Derek Trucks and Tyler Greenwell
11.) Bertha (Grateful Dead cover) with Derek Trucks
After a quick break and stage reset, it was time for the Tedeschi Trucks Band. The is not the easiest band to photograph mainly because there are twelve members arraigned around the stage and while they have beautiful lighting, it is used to covey mood as opposed to just lighting up people. The colors are more blended and subtle than the usual direct spotlights at many shows. The best way to describe the band is that they are better than just the sum of their parts. These twelve talented musicians work together to create a fantastic live show that has fans traveling from city to city to catch them. Great news for me, was that after the first three songs in the pit, I was allowed to cover the rest of the show from the audience, which allowed some great full band photos and some shots showing the sold out crowd. After getting some great crowd shots, I packed up my gear and spent the rest of the show just enjoying the music. This is a band that once you experience them live, you will eagerly await the next time they come to your town. The setlist contained some of the new tunes that part of their new 4 album / 4 films studio series I Am The Moon. The final installment will be out on August 26, 2022, and I cannot wait. One of the highlights was the new tune called “Soul Sweet Song”, which was written by Gabe Dixon and Mike Mattison about Kofi Burbridge who passed away in early 2019.
Derek Trucks – Guitar
Elizabeth Lea – Trombone
Tyler Greenwell – Drums, Percussion
Mike Mattison – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Mark Rivers – Vocals
Ephraim Owens – Trumpet
Kebbi Williams – Saxophone
Alecia Chakour – Vocals
Brandon Boone – Bass
Gabe Dixon – Vocals, Keyboards
Isaac Eady – Drums, Percussion
SETLIST
1.) Anyhow
2.) Playing With My
3.) I Am The Moon
4.) Do I Look Worried
5.) Gravity
6.) Emmaline
7.) Part Of Me
8.) La Di Da
9.) Pasaquan
10.) Guilded Splinters
11.) Midnight
12.) Midnight
13.) Made Up Mind
14.) That We Did
15.) I Want More
Encore
16.) Soul Sweet Song
17. Let’s Go Get Stoned
Alan Hess is a photographer based in San Diego, where he lives with his wife and two rescued boxers.
Alan is currently the house photographer for a large concert and event venue in Southern California where he photographs everything from major musical acts to ice hockey. When he isn’t out taking photographs, he spends his time writing books and is an accomplished photography educator and trainer.
Alan’s images have been published in a variety of places including news papers, magazines, websites, promotional materials, album artwork, and press releases. His clients include The Associated Press, Fox Television, FX Network, USA Network, Hasbro, Framus Guitars, Gibson, The Dead, Picture Group, Photoshop User Magazine, Steel Pulse, Ziggy Marley, and many more.
He is the author of sixteen photography and technology books covering everything from night and low light photography to multiple shot techniques. His books are sold around the world and have been translated in other languages including: Chinese, French, Polish, Japanese, Thai, and Italian.
