“Derek has a sense of musicality that I’ve never experienced with anyone else because he takes a solo and works it and builds it and rips your damn heart out. Every time, he does it differently. You never know what he’s going to do next. He’s a raving little genius.” -Butch Trucks
Milt flew into Jacksonville on the way home from a ski trip in the Swiss Alps. We were there to pick him up and deliver ourselves to two nights of Mule > Allman’s on the banks of the Suwanee River in Live Oak, FL. The shows were stellar and the setting was equally impressive.
The family vibe was in full swing at Wanee Fest. On Friday night Derek’s wife, Susan Tedeschi sat in for a song. Devon Allman (Gregg’s son) joined the Brothers on stage for a few songs Saturday night. As did Vaylor Trucks, Butch’s son and Derek’s cousin. Kofi Burbridge who plays keys and flute in Derek Trucks Band is the brother of ABB’s bass player, Oteil Burbridge. Add to that Luther and Cody Dickinson in N. Mississippi Allstars, Ian and Ivan Neville in Dumpstaphunk, plus all “the family” in attendance and you’ve got quite the reunion.
Derek did not play with ABB on Saturday. He caught a jet to England, where he joined rehearsals for Eric Clapton’s European Tour. Jack Person sat in on guitar. Personally I missed Derek’s presence, but the song selection was out of this world. Check it: Hot ‘Lanta, Ain’t Wastin Time, Done Somebody Wrong, Smokestack Lightning, Midnight Rider, Highway 61, Revival, The Sky Is Crying, One Way Out, Statesboro Blues, The Weight, Dreams, Elizabeth Reed. Encore: Southbound
On top of Mule and ABB, we saw Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Oteil and the Peacemakers, Dumstaphunk, Railroad Earth and The Wailers perform. Plus we could hear Derek Trucks Band play late night from our tent.