Last night in Clearwater, the Tedeschi Trucks Band delivered a show that was equal parts craft and conviction, showcasing why the ensemble is quite possibly one of the best live jam touring acts out. In the clear October air at the BayCare Sound—one of the most acclaimed outdoor venues in the country—seats were near capacity, as friends and families brought blankets for the lawn, and die-hard fans filled the pricey lower sections.
Promptly at 7:30 p.m., the 12-piece band took the stage with the poise of veterans who know exactly what they’re there to do. The set began in melodic fashion, with “Crazy Cryin’” and “Fall In,” easing the crowd into the night before picking up steam with “Let Me Get By” and “I Feel So Bad.” It was a well-paced performance that favored tight arrangements and layered musicianship, over improvisational excess. When the band did choose to stretch out, it felt intentional, almost pre-planned; a rehearsed spontaneity, from a group that has refined the balance between the Apollonian and Dionysian elements of music and soul.
Susan Tedeschi’s vocals remain a standout: smoky, assertive, and rooted in a way that doesn’t require embellishment. Her tone has always sat at the crossroads of rock and blues, and live, it carries an astounding clarity that cuts through the band’s density. Meanwhile, Derek Trucks swerves between his, and his collaborators lane, sometimes leading and sometime supporting. His guitar tone is expressive, with an innate and subtle showmanship, full of truly talented bends and phrasing, that make even familiar licks sound new. Together, the two leaders of the band perform in phenomenal tandem—two distinct musicians with shared instincts, rather than matching styles.
Existentially, what’s most compelling about Tedeschi Trucks Band is the background that shapes their unique brand and sound. Trucks grew up in Jacksonville, raised on the Allman Brothers’ circuit and steeped in Southern improvisation. Tedeschi came up in Boston, trained in the church and rooted in the blues. This being said, their solo and collaborative careers reflect an intersection of traditions that is distinct and diverse. You can hear the South in their rhythm section, the Northeast in their polish, and the broader lineage of gospel and Black American music that informs nearly everything they play.
That blend gives the band’s “soul” a particular texture. It’s not borrowed, and it’s not purely nostalgic—it’s interpretive. Moreover, their choice in bandmates further symbolizes their epistemic perspective, with a dual-drummer setup in Isaac Eady and Tyler Greenwell, Kebbi Williams’ restless saxophone, and Alecia Chakour’s backup vocals, all of which contribute to their obvious praxis in service to something collective.
Towards the end of the set, “Midnight in Harlem” landed like a collective exhale, before the rollercoaster’s final drop. Trucks’ opening solo had that familiar, slow-burn tone that feels conversational, and Tedeschi’s delivery gave the song its weight. And finally, in climax, “Pasaquon” gave Tedeschi and Trucks the space to stretch out, joined by Warren Haynes for the closer “Space Captain,” where everyone on stage met in a confident, blues-driven crescendo.
By the end of the 90-minute set, there was no grand finale or showy exit. Just a wave, a bow, and the sound of an audience satisfied. The Tedeschi Trucks Band doesn’t need tricks or shock value. Their performance at BayCare Sound was a reminder that real artists revel in the chance to exact their musical will over the universe, through originality, work, and consistency. And in honoring what they do so well, with care, precision, and grit, they remind you that humanity, in the end, is most about where you come from and how you choose to carry it forward.
Opening act Duane Betts set a comfortable tone to start the evening. His set was loose and unhurried, leaning on blues phrasing and rock familiarity. It wasn’t designed to steal focus, just to warm up the crowd, a task he handled with grace and a kind of quiet confidence that matched the night’s overall rhythm.
Tedeschi Trucks Band setlist (BayCare Sound, Clearwater—Oct. 12, 2025)
Got My Mo-Jo Working (But It Just Won’t Work on You) (Ann Cole with the Suburbans cover)
Crazy Cryin’
Who Am I
Fall In
Isaac/Kebbi Jam
Let Me Get By
Just Won’t Burn (Susan Tedeschi song)
Part of Me
I Feel So Bad (Chuck Willis cover)
1 Future Soul
Keep On Growing (Derek and the Dominos cover)
Midnight in Harlem
I Want More
Beck’s Bolero (Jeff Beck cover)
Pasaquan (with Warren Haynes)
Space Captain (Matthew Moore cover) (with Warren Haynes)
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This article appears in Oct. 9-15, 2025.