Tedeschi Trucks Band and Gov’t Mule Trade Guest Spots on Northeast Run

Tedeschi Trucks Band with Warren Haynes, photo by Andrew Blackstein

Though summer has come to an end, late-season tours for Tedeschi Trucks Band and Gov’t Mule are just heating up. Last week, as both esteemed Southern blues-rock revival outfits accelerated into their fall runs, they crossed paths in Toronto to embark on a long-awaited sprint of five shared bills. After a thrilling series opener, the caravan crossed the border back to the Northeast over the weekend, where engagements in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and Mansfield, Mass. brought more onstage team-ups from frequent collaborators.

On Friday, Sept. 5, Gov’t Mule and Tedeschi Trucks Band rolled into Saratoga Springs for an evening at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the upstate jam haven. Mule set off the show with another electrifying set from their Back in the Saddle tour, which has reinvigorated the Warren Haynes-helmed quintet after months away from the stage with an assist from Terence Higgins, who is currently holding down Matt Abts’ seat behind the kit. The long-running Southern-jam innovators lit up their slot with an exhilarating intro of “Railroad Boy,” followed by a stacked set that matched core originals with frequent covers, including Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City,” Al Green’s “I’m a Ram” and the reliable set-closer of the Haynes-penned Allman Brothers Band favorite “Soulshine.”

Tedeschi Trucks Band stepped into the spotlight at SPAC with a segued pairing of “Don’t Let Me Slide” and “Crazy Cryin,” commencing a rapid-fire rotation of originals like “I Got You,” “I Am the Moon,” “Circles ‘Round the Sun” and “Pasaquan,” broken up by their regular treatment of Chuck Willis’ “I Feel So Bad.” A notably heavy, bluesy mix came to a head with a cover of Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers’ “How Blue Can You Get?,” which marked a meaningful pivot into more exploratory and radiant renditions of “Midnight in Harlem” and “Bound for Glory.” The highlight of TTB’s staging came at the set’s very end, when the band dipped into Little Feat’s classic “Spanish Moon” for the third time to date with support from Haynes and Gov’t Mule’s Danny Louis.

As the 1974 Feats Don’t Fail Me Now standout has been a frequent flyer in Gov’t Mule’s live repertoire since 1994, Haynes and Louis proved expert accompanists, with the former trading heroic guitar solos with Derek Trucks, as they’ve often launched since their shared tenure as members of the Allman Brothers Band. That background served the axemen well for the finale of “Key to the Highway,” the 1940 Charles Segar-penned, Big Bill Broonzy-honed blues standard best known for its second life in performances from Eric Clapton and the Allmans, including a recorded version on Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. The last track gave the band and their companions a chance to really stretch out, pouring into a rollicking, fiery finale that warmed them up for a follow-up on Saturday.

Tedeschi Trucks Band and Gov’t Mule’s stop at Mansfield, Mass.’s Xfinity Center was the most exciting of their shared series so far. In keeping with prior nights, Mule kicked off the show with a set heavy on treasured originals like “Bad Little Doggie,” “Rockin’ Horse” and “Game Face,” which bridged effortlessly into an extended cover of The Allman Brothers Band’s ripping Eat a Peach instrumental “Mountain Jam.” The four-piece powerhouse bolstered their sound at the set’s midpoint by welcoming supporting voices from TTB vocalists Alecia Chakour and Mark Rivers on “Stoop So Low,” then proceeded with their core lineup before tapping TTB’s celebrated saxophonist Kebbi Williams for the three-decade setlist staple “Blind Man in the Dark.” After tearing through a closing sequence of Mule and Soulshine, Haynes prepared to return the favor during his peers’ headline set.

Tedeschi, Trucks and their tried and true 10-piece backing band set into Saturday’s main event with a throwback cover of The Box Tops’ 1967 hit “The Letter.” After working through “Do I Look Worried” and “Who Am I,” the group pulled up another cover with their treatment of Dr. John’s “I Walk on Guilded Splinters.” Further borrowed songs came with renditions of Jeff Beck’s “Beck’s Bolero,” Mike Reid’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” Ben E. King’s blues classic “I Can’t Make You Love Me” and Tedeschi’s solo original “Just Won’t Burn,” before a mix of Allman Brothers Band favorites rang in the set’s last act. Naturally, the ensemble hosted Haynes for “Dreams” and “Stand Back,” then fittingly concluded the show by welcoming Louis as well for The Beatles’ beloved “With a Little Help From My Friends,” delivered in the style of Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs & Englishmen.

Tedeschi Trucks Band and Gov’t Mule will return to the stage tomorrow, Sept. 9, with a booking at Chicago’s Huntington Bank Pavilion. The bands will deliver one further shared bill at Clarkston, Mich.’s Pine Knob Music Theatre on Wednesday, Sept. 10, before parting and heading off into their respective Live in 25! and Back in the Saddle tours. Find tickets and more information at tedeschitrucksband.com and mule.net.