For Love of Kim: Derek Trucks v1.0
I have a friend whom I dearly love - Kim George, author of Coaching Into Greatness and Director of the AQ Institute. A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of hanging out in Kim’s home for a week, and being her guest at a concert by acknowledged "young guitar god", Derek Trucks.
Kim wanted to introduce me to Derek’s work because he is, quite honestly, probably the greatest guitarist now living. Or at least one of the mega-greats. You look at what he does with his fingers and listen to the virtuosity, and your mouth simply falls to the ground. It’s the kind of good that spins your heart, stomach and head all in different directions and leaves you wanting much, much more. Emotions you didn’t know you had bloom suddenly and make you ache, but in a good way. You don’t want the set to end. But I digress…
Some might know Derek as an Eric Clapton protege, or from his work with the Allman Brothers. But on May 17th in Torrington, Connecticut at the palatial Warner Theater, it was solely the Derek Trucks Band, resplendent in its own celebratory glory.
We got there from deep in the wilderness of Massachussets through the backwoods express route into what seemed like nowhere. Thanks, Google Maps. After miles of beautiful trees, lakes, herds of man-sized mosquitoes, cud-munching Guernseys and a medieval fortress dam or two (one wondered if we hadn’t taken a turn into the Twilight Zone) we arrived in Torrington and had the time of our lives.
Kim has been a fan for ages, and I was a virgin conquest, brought to be sacrificed upon the altar of good music. My heart thumped, thighs quivered and as many before me, I became thoroughly infected with the DTB virus. We all had the DTB’s pretty bad, to be honest. But if you haven’t seen and heard Mr. Trucks and his quirky, amazing fellow musicians, you are missing one heck of a treat. They not only roll out good rock, soul, jazz, r&b and blues, but the personalities of each musician are as engaging as their repertoire. Holy hit parade Batman, but the dude can rock SOLID! If you’re into fancy fretwork, Derek Trucks is your man.
I snuck in my Casio Exilim and managed a few short and shaky vidcaps between security-guard strafings, the light flashing from an adjacent teenager playing games on his cellphone, and bobbing and weaving of the extra-large-headed fellow right in front of my lens. There was by way of compensation, a nice fellow sitting next to me named John, who interestingly is moving to nearby Walnut Creek within the month. (Dude! Meet you at the Fillmore!) He and Kim exchanged emails and furtive plans to move items of fandom across state lines…which I am assured is all quite legal…. 
Not my best, but here for Kim and the rest of the excessively *rabid* Derek Trucks fans, (and they’re all rabid) is this five minute-sumpin’ Video. Be mindful of your speakers, download at will, and Enjoy…



















June 1st, 2007 08:07
Maryam,
This is certainly a slice of “Everyday Bliss”! I will be enjoying this blissfully everyday for the next long while!
That’s what the best music does - brings people together in unique and magical ways.
Thank you for being you-
Kim
June 4th, 2007 01:04
Right back atcha, Kim, and glad you enjoyed it!
And…I’m so bummed, I was just informed TODAY that I have to be in a wedding on the 16th and can’t make the gig. Ack! Tickets up for grabs, Craigslist ahoy…. :-p