Derek Trucks Band

The Derek Trucks Band may a bit of a misnomer. Yes the band’s namesake is in the band, but the slide guitar virtuoso may be the most unassuming rock star out there. Where you might be expecting blistering solos and straight ahead Southern rock, you’re not going to find that with his band. Sure the guitar protégé shows off his chops, but he’s backed by a band of equally talented musicians who provide the right compliment to his playing.

Songlines is the band's latest effort and first studio album in nearly four years - one that will surprise people that only know him from that other band he plays with. The album’s twelve tracks are a mix of originals and covers that touch on everything from reggae to soul to world and blues. But unless you’re schooled in old school world and blues, you’d probably never know this wasn’t all their own stuff – Toots and the Maytals “Sailin’ On” might be the only give away. On raga infused "Sahib Teri Bandi"/"Maki Madni," Trucks deftly substitutes sitar with guitar, working his band into a frenzy that would make Ravi Shankar jealous. When Trucks and Co. aren’t laying down some inspired grooves on the instrumental tracks – which comprise about half the record - its new vocalist Mike Mattison who’s the star of the show. Mattison’s soulful croon on "Revolution" makes it into the kind of song that could save classic rock radio and be a crossover hit. Songlines is the kind of album that will solidify the DTB as something other than a side project, and one that should attract a broader audience to the band.

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