I can’t believe it’s been 25 years since I first heard singer, guitarist, songwriter, and band leader Susan Tedeschi. Not to the day, of course. I’m pretty sure it was the summer of 1998. I went to a concert, as I did a lot back then. I don’t remember who it was. Maybe Buddy Guy or B.B. King, some blues act. Susan was the opener, and she was fantastic. I’ve been a die-hard ever since.
It must have been the next day, I was working at Borders Books and Music at the time, I went to work and looked her up, found a copy of Just Won’t Burn, and bought it. It’s been in my rotation since then. I’ve listened to it a ton in the last 25 years.
I remember a few years later, I played the CD in the store I was managing, and one of my employees fell in love with it. After we closed, she would blast it on the store’s sound system, especially “It Hurt So Bad”. I was happy with that. It’s the kind of album that should be played loud.
I believe Susan Tedeschi is one of the few artists where I own her complete discography. She released six albums under her own name, then joined her husband, Derek Trucks, to form the Tedeschi Trucks Band. TTB has released 11 albums in the last dozen years. Susan has only gotten better since 1998.
The thing I like most about her is that she plays blues without being beholden to the tradition, if that makes sense. She can and does play traditional blues, but it’s not all she plays. She’s managed to put her own stamp on the genre. It’s rare to find someone who pushes the blues forward, but Susan has done that.
If you’re not familiar with her, I recommend becoming familiar. She’s been touring virtually non-stop for at least the last 25 years. I can’t believe it’s been 25 years. You can find videos all over YouTube or you could go see the Tedeschi Trucks Band live. That’s really the best way to experience her. You won’t be sorry.
