eTown is a nationally syndicated radio show, heard weekly on NPR and other stations across the US.  It features top musical artists and is taped in front of a live audience.  This week’s featured artist was the Tedeschi Trucks Band, an 11 member group, led by Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks.  The Tedeschi Trucks Band is in the midst of a tour, supporting their new album, Revelator.  Normally at eTown events, the band performs a few songs, participates in a brief interview, and then plays a few more songs.  Tonight, another artist would also be performing, Joseph Arthur, and at the end the he joined the Tedeschi Trucks Band for a final tune.

This event was being recorded at the historic  Boulder Theater, a 900 seat venue.  I had seen Umphrey’s McGee here on the Fourth of July, and the vibe couldn’t have been more different.  Tonight, there were folding chairs, where at the Umphrey’s show it was only standing.  Tonight, the crowd was a little older than with Umphrey’s and definitely better behaved.  It seems that for eTown events, you’re even allowed to bring in a bottle of wine to enjoy during the show.  The theater is a great place to see live music.  It’s small and intimate, and has that art-deco feel, with cool murals painted on the walls and ceiling.

The show started with the Tedeschi Trucks Band performing their song, Don’t Let Me Slide, which was followed by Midnight in Harlem.  Both Susan and Derek are excellent guitar players, with entirely different styles.  Also, Susan's voice is so rich and bluesy, it's perfect for the songs on their new album. After a couple songs, Susan and Derek, who are married to each other, by the way, sat down for an interview with the host of eTown, Nick Forster.  They spoke about their introduction to music at young ages, what it’s like being married with kids in the music business, their new album and their new group, and some of the charitable causes they support.  After the interview, they played another song, this time, Learn How to Love.  The next artist, Joseph Arthur, took the stage.  He’s a Singer/Songwriter, and he played a couple songs, did a short interview, played another tune, and then left the stage.  The Tedeschi Trucks Band returned for a few more songs: Shelter, Bound for Glory and Love Has Something Else to Say. They then invited Joseph Arthur back to the stage and they all finished up with Sing a Simple Song/Take You Higher, a medley of Sly & the Family Stone tunes. 

It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening of great music.  I recommend you check out eTown, at www.etown.org.  All of the shows are edited into hour - long podcasts available at their website, or through iTunes.