We caught Burbridge/Trucks/Tedeschi last night

So Low Bass · #1 07-14-2010, 08:32 AM

We caught the Trucks Tedeschi Band at Artpark in Lewiston last night. It was a great experience. My 16 yr. old son and I were against the stage for nearly 7 hours for the sound check and show, but… Oteil Burbridge, who I never saw before, was the bass player. From the second he came out for the sound check, I found him clownish, forced, distracting, and detached from the rest of the band. His truly excellent “chops” seemed to be a very, very, VERY poor fit for style of the rest of the band. Contrast that with the workmanlike Derek’s aura, and I experienced a total mismatch. I’m coming from Todd Smalie, Willie Weeks, and the “old” Allman bass players I grew up worshiping.

I went away thinking that it was really nice of Tedeschi and Trucks to play with him.

zombywoof5050 · #2 07-14-2010, 11:34 AM

I recently got a recording of the ABB Live at United Palace Theatre 3-13-10 http://www.hittinthenote.com/cart/p-...nyc-31310.aspx , and I was very impressed with Oteil's playing on it. He is pretty 'busy' on it, but since it's a kindof 'jamband' context I didn't think it was a mismatch at all. I would've suspected that Derek Trucks' music would be similar to the ABB in that regard, maybe I'm mistaken. But everyone's different.

What kind of bass is Oteil playing with DT? I heard that he plays a Fender Precision with the ABB.

So Low Bass · #3 07-14-2010, 12:21 PM

He played three four string fenders. And yes, he certainly plays, but based on this onetime hearing, I wonder about his musicianship. The Allmans, Tedeschi, Trucks all LIVE in the pocket. If he was aiming to set the pocket with the two solid drummers, it was in a different pair of pants than the rest of the band. It was as if he were too "busy" to play with them.

Perhaps he had a bad night.

jnuts1 · #4 07-14-2010, 12:32 PM

i have seen him countless times & i don't think i have ever witnessed this. when you say clownish what do you mean by that? he is awlays smiling with his head high everytime i have ever seen him. i don't consider that clownish.

if you are wondering his musicianship you should check out some Aquarium Rescue Unit or Otiel & the peacemakers. he is top notch so i am guessing a bad night.

So Low Bass · #5 07-14-2010, 01:05 PM

I will. As I said, all I have to go on is what I heard last night. As for clownish, I mean the distracting dancing, turning his back on the audience, giving un-need (and unacknowledged) thumbs of other's solos... all in the context of seven other musicians that were dignified and "just" playing. Distracting. Does he ALWAYS demand attention??????

jnuts1 · #6 07-14-2010, 01:18 PM

i have mostly caught him with ABB probably 20 or so times & he is always dancing & smiling with his head up like he is in heaven. but i don't think i have ever seen him give thumbs up to other solo's or anything. i don't think i have seen him turn his back either. i really want to see a video of this.

as for the other musicains just standing there, those guys ALWAYS just stand there & never do anything or even act like they are enjoying themselves. so maybe the contrast between the two is what you are noticing?

Dave Klausner · #7 07-14-2010, 01:23 PM

I've seen Oteil play in a a variety of situations, and he has always played stuff that seems appropriate to me. He's got monster chops, but seems to be willing to serve the music. Maybe he had an off night? I haven't seen him live with Derek and Susan, but here's a video with those three (and others) doing a tune on Herbie Hancock's new record. Sounds pretty in the pocket to me (although Vinnie Colaiuta is laying down a groove so fat it would be hard not to be in the pocket)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkzLatem0VY

jaywa · #8 07-14-2010, 01:27 PM

Could have been a bad night... Oteil is a quirky guy on stage, that's just how he rolls. He's also been known to sing along with the lines he's playing, a la George Benson. He's also a freakin bass genius and a lot of times with people at that level you have to take the weird with the good. Maybe he's not the best "fit" for that outfit in terms of stage appearance but I find it hard to believe he couldn't hang musically.

RickC · #9 07-14-2010, 01:33 PM

I've seen Oteil with the Allman's several times; after Berry, he's my favorite bassist in that role. He does bring a lot of energy and activity to the part, but that seems to fit the general vibe of the band these days. And his groove in the Allmans is always strong.

That said, I haven't heard him with Derek and Susan, except for a clip with Herbie Hancock that's been posted on the board before:

http://www.derektrucks.com/news/vide...susan-tedeschi

Pretty soulful here imo. But if he's doing more of the high energy stuff on that gig and with this type of material, I can see how it might not work.

/rick

jnuts1 · #10 07-14-2010, 01:35 PM

i so want to dispose of Trucks so i can have Susan all to myself! that clip is amazing

ghiadub · #11 07-14-2010, 02:44 PM

If you really want to hear him go batshite check out the frogwings live recording - croaking at toads or any of the ARU stuff posted here (91 shows!!):
http://www.archive.org/search.php?qu...tion&sort=date

PatO · #12 07-14-2010, 02:49 PM

let me start by saying that I love Oteil's playing and I love Derek's playing even more. I haven't seen this band yet, but I've seen a few vids online - and I love it.

As per Oteil being busy, he is- but he's locked into the pocket while doing so. As for dancing around the stage giving thumbs up to others solos, I bounce around stage. I turn around and stare my drummer in the face instead of facing the crowd (sometimes), I whoop and cheer when the guitarist or trumpet player is really ripping it up. Its all about being engaged in the music.

Oteil is like Buddha in some ways (at least to me). He has his road, we have ours. Whether they cross in some ways or not isn't the issue. The destination is always the same.

So Low Bass · #13 07-14-2010, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnuts1

i have mostly caught him with ABB probably 20 or so times & he is always dancing & smiling with his head up like he is in heaven. but i don't think i have ever seen him give thumbs up to other solo's or anything. i don't think i have seen him turn his back either. i really want to see a video of this.

as for the other musicains just standing there, those guys ALWAYS just stand there & never do anything or even act like they are enjoying themselves. so maybe the contrast between the two is what you are noticing?

I was three feet from the four foot high stage at both the sound check and the entire show. He was turning his back and dancing with his amp on several occasions (there were no musicians back there), constantly jawing with his brother on the keyboards, making faces at both Susan and Derek and GIVING THUMBS UP, to which neither reacted. The guy could-not-stand-still and his playing was all over the fingerboard all of the time. Curious though, I never saw him make, or attempt to make eye contact with either drummer during the show (or they with him). Strange dynamics.

Your point about the rest of the band standing relatively still is well taken, which perhaps made an already sore thumb more sore. I appreciate your point of view and envy your experience hearing him. I'll keep an open mind and check out some of his other work.

ps The concert was free and we got to hear Matt Schofield too! GREAT sound but NO bass!!

faivy · #14 07-14-2010, 02:58 PM

I love meat & potatoes bass players and am not a fan of (although I appreciate the skill involved in" the Victor Wooten type playing. Oteil has those chops and in every context I have heard him in he has always played appropriate to the situation. I have downloaded audience recordings of Derek and Susan's band and Oteil sounds great. It sounds to me like you were put off by his on stage demeanor. Listen to the shows without seeing him and you may get a different picture. What you describe as clownish, I might perceive as exhuberant.

jnuts1 · #15 07-14-2010, 03:01 PM

yeah i forgot about FrogWings! that stuff smokes

he does make some faces! but to me he is just enjoying everything around him.

Cameron Mc · #16 07-14-2010, 03:09 PM

i couldn't resist not replying, as I just saw this show on Sunday, in Roanoke, VA.

Oteil is a fantastic bassist and performer. I've never really heard him overplay, and he wouldn't have gotten the gig with that band if they didn't like how he was playing the music.

Perhaps the thumbs up and thumbs down were for the monitor tech, and he was telling which person he wanted up or down in his monitor. Just a thought, but it does happen, you dont have time to point and gesture etc etc. i wasn't there, so i can't say.

Oteil does wiggle and shout, and smile and prance around, but man, i'm doing the same thing in the audience when i listen to what he's playing. stank face and all!

his brother is on keys, and i know they havent shared a stage together in quite a while (years) so i'm sure he's enjoying himself just experiencing it all.

just my .02 but yeah, Oteil is one of the most conscious minded musicians i've ever had the pleasure of knowing. I'm reminded of an interview i read/saw about him joining the ABB and how he took his regular bass or something, and just couldnt get the vibe right, and then the soundguy or someone said that he needed an old P bass, and that he needed to play with a pick. He took that suggestion, and the band gel'd right up.

but yeah, Oteil is amazing. i hope you keep an open mind, and ear, and come to enjoy him as much as the rest of the posters!

So Low Bass · #17 07-14-2010, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faivy

What you describe as clownish, I might perceive as exhuberant.

Fair enough. They're headed to Ottawa... I think tomorrow????

PatO · #18 07-14-2010, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cameron Mc

Oteil is a fantastic bassist and performer. I've never really heard him overplay, and he wouldn't have gotten the gig with that band if they didn't like how he was playing the music.

+1

Quote:

Perhaps the thumbs up and thumbs down were for the monitor tech, and he was telling which person he wanted up or down in his monitor.

ha, yeah I should have put that together as I've done that very gesture many times

Didn't Kofi provide some keys in the Peacemakers with Oteil for a while? I know I've seen them on stage together within the last 10 years..... just can't remember what group it was.

jerry · #19 07-14-2010, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnuts1

yeah i forgot about FrogWings! that stuff smokes

he does make some faces! but to me he is just enjoying everything around him.

+1 on Frogwings! A great album to play for guitar players too, Jimmy Herring and Trucks smoke on that album.
Oteil always danced around a little, even in his first years with Allman Bros, he is also very much into his faith these days, he might also be showing that joy onstage.

JimK · #20 07-15-2010, 04:44 AM

Oteil has always been the happiest of guys...even playing '80s cover music in a Va. Beach bar band. Onstage back then? I would put him in the non-conformist category. The above band was the house band at a very "yuppie" beach club. Everyone dressed & looked the part...a few nights Oteil would show up barefoot.

Back then Amadeus was in the theatres...and I know exactly how Salieri felt!