Tim Richards - Newsletter editor & live blues photographer
Susan Tedeschi
08/19/2003 - Frederick Meijer Gardens
OK, all you Susan Teceschi fans, the line forms to the right to start bashing me. But before you start, let it be understood that I like her, I really do. I just wasn't impressed with her show at The Gardens. Susan has what I refer to as the "Gomer Pyle Syntrome". Who would have thought that when you heard "Goleeee, Sergeant Carter" come out of Jim Nabors' mouth that he could turn around and sing with a wonderful voice. Same goes for Susan; when she talks it sounds like a high-pitched giggly school girl, but when she sings, this magnificent voice comes from the bottom of her soul to keep you captivated throughout her show.
Everyone I talked to after the show said the same thing -- what a great voice. I agree, but maybe I'm the only one who noticed the lackluster approach Susan had to her show. Shuffling around the stage, playing with her amp, playing with her guitar, turning her back on the audience, and during the instrumental, Hampmotized slouching on her amp.
To me, it's awfully hard to get excited about a show when the star gives you the impression that she'd much rather be in the tour bus with husband Derek Trucks and son Charlie. B.B. King sitting down, I can understand; Lord knows the man deserves it; but Susan, you're still wet behind the ears when it comes to touring.
I saw Susan at the Tampa Bay Blues Festival in 2000, and was impressed with all aspects of her performance. Not so at The Gardens. While her vocals are astounding, her guitar playng is mediocre at best. She has surrounded herself with top-notch musicians, Jason Crosby (piano/violin), William Green (Hammond B-3), Jeff Sipe (drums), and Ron Perry (bass); and Tedeschi gave each band member plenty of room to showcase their talents, and that was a good thing. After being overwhelmed in Florida, I guess you could say I was underwhelmed here. Overall, I'd give the show a solid B.
Opening for Tedeschi was Jackie Green. Not much of a blues act; I think Press reporter John Sinkevics hit it on the head when he called Green's music "rootsy Americana rock 'n' roll". At 21, he displayed talents on acoustic and electric guitar, piano, harmonica, and song writing. It didn't take long for him and his band, consisting of Hence Philips (bass) and Ben Lefever (drums), to make a lot of fans in Grand Rapids. Would I make a point of seeing these two acts again? Probably, but I'm not going to break my neck anytime soon.
