The Unofficial Tedeschi Trucks Podcast

New Jersey’s own, musician Dan Toppo grew up loving music, but thought he’d end up in mathematics or finance… until his dad just kept on taking him to see the Allman Brothers at the Beacon Theatre. And when Dan was around 14 he starting playing slide guitar, and other than learning some other instruments along the way, he hasn’t looked back. We talk Duane, we talk Derek, we talk slide guitar, and...

For this solo episode, I thought I'd highlight the artistry of Tedeschi Trucks Band's backup / harmony singers, Mike Mattison, Mark Rivers, and Alecia Chakour. Calling them backup or harmony singers to me almost seems like downplaying their talents, as their contributions to the band are essential and make the music that much more dynamic. For the first time in this podcast as well, I include audi...

Online guitar instructor and founder of Guitargate.com, Michael Palmisano was born and raised in Maryland, and has been playing guitar since he can remember. These days his YouTube channel has over 178,000 subscribers, and he tells me all about his days as musician and his journey as an entrepreneur. And of course we talk extensively about how much we love, and WHY we love Derek Trucks’ guitar pla...

Musician Quinn Sullivan was born and raised in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and it was clear from an early age music was his thing. Enthralled by the Beatles, he first started playing a toy guitar he got for Christmas before he was even in kindergarten. Soon he got super into Buddy Guy’s music, and as a crazy-advanced player himself, even got to play with Buddy on stage. When he was like 8! Singer,...

A solo episode, I talk about some highlights and memories from ALL the Tedeschi Trucks Band shows I've been to. Pretty much all West Coast shows including the Hollywood Bowl, the Orpheum Theater in LA, and more. I also accidentally call the Wheels of Soul Tour the Wheels of Summer Tour. That kinda sounds like it could be something too. instagram.com/tedeschitruckspodcast, instagram.com/adamchoit,...

Musician Conor Kelly is originally from New Jersey but spent most of his childhood living in Colorado. These days Conor is based in Nashville, and he recalls the early musical influences of his mom, dad, and his Uncle Sean, who introduced him to The Allman Brothers’ Eat a Peach album. We talk lefty guitar, his band WAKER, and the grind of the music life. Conor has had some amazing experiences, inc...

Musician Kelli Baker is originally from Phoenix, Arizona and now resides in NY, and she tells me all about her musical journey as a singer, songwriter, an artist. And as a person. As she evolved, her music tastes and interests have expanded. Bonnie Raitt’s music has always been present in her life, but so many other artists have inspired her too.  A fairly new fan of TTB and Susan Tedeschi, it’s e...

For this shorter solo episode, I highlight some early Tedeschi Trucks Band moments, all from 2011 or earlier. A few of these can really be classified as pre-TTB "Susan and Derek moments", technically speaking. Among the highlights: The Midnight in Harlem at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Festival in 2010. And Susan and Derek performing together on Valentine's Day, way back in 2000. All the videos discu...

Hardcore Tedeschi Trucks Band fan Ellen Rimkus is from the Chicago area and grew up listening to her dad’s “big stereo,” as he was a big influence on her musically. Ellen just loves rock and blues and live music in general, and it’s because he was dragging her to blues bars too and sneaking her inside… when she was at teenager. Eventually Ellen and her husband decided they love live music so much...

Tedeschi Trucks Band fan, Bob Beatty was born in Florida now resides in Tennessee. He recalls getting pretty hardcore into blues music at an early age, around 10. Not too long after he starting playing some guitar himself, playing with various bands over the years. Although his music taste is eclectic, the Allman Brothers Band and Derek Trucks have had a profound impact on Bob. We cover a lot, fro...

Tedeschi Trucks Band fan, Angel Emerald was born and raised in NYC, and music has always been a big part of her life -- especially since her teen years when she started going to lots of concerts. It was Warren Haynes and his music though that sort of led Angel to Susan and Derek. And Angel is also the creator of the Tedeschi Trucks Band Fans group on Facebook, and other music-centric groups, and s...

Tedeschi Trucks Band fan and Charleston, South Carolina’s own, family man Larry James tells me all discovering Zeppelin, The Doors, jam bands, and playing a little guitar himself. This live concert lover also talks about seeing young Derek Trucks in the South, the impact TTB playing at 2010 Crossroads had on him, and just how talented and personable the band is. Early on some crickets and cat meow...

Another solo episode, I talk all about Derek Trucks' main guitar, the Gibson SG. Referencing videos and articles, I broadly cover the iconic instrument's history, famous players, and of course some of Derek's specs on it. The Gibson SG certainly has it's place in music history, and so does Derek Trucks, who believes used and road-worn SG's always seem to sound the best. https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Tedeschi Trucks Band fan, Ted Auch is originally from Connecticut, and after spending many years in Vermont, these days Ted and his family live in the Cleveland, Ohio area. We talk all about how music has always been a big part of his life, be it the Grateful Dead, Phish, Coltrane, or Zeppelin. But in 2018 in Akron, Ohio is when and where Ted first saw TTB live and that night basically his life ch...

Whether it's playing rhythm, melody, soloing, acoustic, or electric, Susan Tedeschi is one badass guitar player. And so much so I thought it be worthy to dedicate an episode to talk about her guitar playing history. Citing a few articles and interviews Susan's given, I especially focus on her blues influences and blues roots as a young musician. TTB Podcast Instagram:http://instagram.com/tedeschit...

On September 1, 2016 I was lucky enough to be there in person for the The Life and Legacy of B.B. King, a tribute concert, at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California. It was a memorable experience, and performers included Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Keb' Mo', Slash, Jimmie Vaughan, Joe Bonamassa, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and more. All with Conan O'Brien's Ba...

Multi-instrumentalist -- Keyboard player, piano player, organ player, and more, Carey Frank has made his way from the Sunshine State to the Golden State, and music has always been Carey’s life and family, having taken his first piano lesson at 3 years old. Gigging since his high school days, he’s had some great moments in his career. And we cover a bunch of them, including what it was like to get...

Israeli-born guitarist, composer, and music producer, Ori Naftaly founded the Ori Naftaly Band, and eventually moved to Memphis, where he established Southern Avenue, a blues and soul band. We talk his musical journey... from his dad and mentors in Israel, to touring in the U.S. and living the road life, to being nominated for a Grammy. And of course, we talk about the thrill it was to open for an...

Young 16 year old Conner Autry lives not too far from the birthplace of the Allman Brothers Band in Macon, Georgia, and Conner’s dad has always loved them, and introduced him to the band’s music. Conner currently runs the "DuaneSkyDogAllman" Instagram page and the "DerekTrucksStuff" page as well. And a few years ago Conner starting teaching himself and playing slide guitar by studying Derek Trucks...

Superfan of Tedeschi Trucks Band, Diane Curry grew up in the Richmond, Virginia area, and music has always been a big part of her life. A lot of her musical influences have come from her siblings, and Diane used to play alto saxophone in school as well. And she’s been a Susan Tedeschi fan since the late 1990’s and a TTB fan since the beginning, having seen them live over 50 times now. instagram.co...

Author, journalist, and musician, Alan Paul is a two-time NY Times best-selling author. His 2019’s Texas Flood: The Inside Story of Stevie Ray Vaughan and 2014’s One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band both debuted in the Times’ NonFiction Hardcover Best Seller’s List. And today he tells me all about Derek Trucks’ days in the Allman Brothers Band. We cover Derek’s beginning wit...

Longtime TTB fan Matthew Gervais grew up in Massachusetts and has spent his entire life there, but he’s also been to the Beacon countless times for Allman Brothers shows and Tedeschi Trucks Band shows. We talk his musical journey as a fan -- especially the impact seeing Susan and Derek at Bonnaroo in 2008 had on him. A fan since the beginning of TTB, Matthew oozes authentic passion for the band an...

Writer, Marley Jay  has been following the The Allman Brothers Band, The Derek Trucks Band, and TTB for almost two decades now. He even got to spend a few days covering Derek Trucks Band as a journalist, which of course was an amazing experience. This fellow Long Islander also had a very special relationship with late brother, Tyler -- and so did Derek and other musicians. There's a lot of really...

A short and sweet solo episode inspired by conversation that comes up repeatedly in the Tedeschi Trucks Band Facebook group and in the Swamp Family fan forum, I talk about a bunch of songs we'd like to hear the band cover. Van Morrison, The Stones, and Eric Clapton make multiple appearances on the list. instagram.com/tedeschitruckspodcast, instagram.com/adamchoit, tedeschitrucksband.com     Learn...

San Diego area based musician Piatt Pund tells me all about his life and music. He’s been playing classical violin since age four, and is also accomplished in the styles of bluegrass and jazz, and we get into all of it, including a discussion about OUR favorite guitar player, Derek Trucks -- and of course there's plenty of TTB talk too. Piatt even performs a couple of beautiful covers, of Midnight...