By Wayne Baggs
The Tedeschi Trucks Band and Gov’t Mule delivered a truly unforgettable evening at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage on September 3, 2025. Gov’t Mule kicked things off in stirring fashion, launching into a mix of stirring covers—The Staple Singers’ “Hammer and Nails” and Ann Peebles’ “I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home”—before diving into soaring originals like “Rocking Horse,” “Banks of the Deep End,” and the Allman Brothers classic “Soulshine.” Their set was heartfelt, gritty, and a rich testament to three decades of blues-rock mastery in the “Back in the Saddle” tour.
After a short break, the Tedeschi Trucks Band took the stage with energy and emotion, weaving in soulful originals from albums like Made Up Mind, Let Me Get By, and Revelator, alongside striking covers—from Derek and the Dominos’ “Keep on Growing” to Prince’s “1999,” and a stirring take on “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Mike Reid.
The magic truly happened when the two bands converged behind the lights. Warren Haynes joined forces with Derek Trucks for electrifying renditions of the Allman Brothers’ “Stand Back” and Joe Cocker’s arrangement of The Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends.” The chemistry was palpable, the crowd roaring in response to this harmonized tribute to their powerful shared lineage.
All in all, the night was a masterclass in blues-rock collaboration—built on deep roots, stellar musicianship, and a Toronto crowd riding high on wave after wave of soulful, guitar-driven catharsis. A truly fantastic concert that will be fondly remembered.
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