Keepin' on Truckin'

For Derek Trucks, being a musician is not just a part-time job.

It's a way of life.

Between juggling two different bands in non-stop performances across the country, experimenting in every genre imaginable and finding time to produce quality studio recordings, the musician does not miss a beat.

The Derek Trucks Band, coming to the Center for the Arts this Wed. at 8 p.m., is known for its ability to seamlessly blend rock and roll, blues, jazz, and eastern influences, yet always managing to keep a uniform style.

"I always hoped it would be the goal with this band," he said, "that everyone would bring what they loved to the table and explore as many genres as possible."

Trucks lives for live performances, balancing time with Derek Trucks Band and the Allman Brothers. As a result, he tours more than nine months of the year.

Because of the frequent performances, the five-member Derek Trucks Band switches their routine often by pulling up different songs from their vast inventory.

"As much as we play, it would be easy to burn things out," Trucks said with a soft twang. "We play so many songs, it sometimes changes from night to night. It's to keep the band interested as well."

When asked whether the non-stop touring puts a strain on the band, Trucks replied that the constant schedule creates a sort of "forward momentum."

"We stay pretty busy between all the different bands," he said. "As long as we're gigging and playing, it seems to work out."

At a very young age, Trucks discovered his talent in his hometown of Jacksonville, Fla. and picked up the guitar as if it were innate. By the time he was 12, he was playing in local blues bands.

"It's been an interesting life," he said.

Now, Trucks says that young, aspiring musicians will often come up to the band after the show to speak with artists who have been in their shoes. Judging from the mixed age of fans that attend the shows, their sound reaches fans across the board.

"We're pretty fortunate to have a wide variety of people coming out," he said, referring especially to recent years. "Between this and the Allman Brothers, (our music) is fortunately getting across to a lot of people."

The band has visited Buffalo and the surrounding region many times before, and Trucks said that he is always pleased with the response.

"The Northeast has been really good to the band, and recently the South opened up. It feels like there are little pockets here and there that treat the band well throughout the country."

With all this touring under their belt, it is also remarkable that they still have time to put down some quality tracks in the studio. The band will be releasing its newest album, "Songlines," Feb. 21. For the first time, they've employed the help of producer Jay Joyce and the vocal talent of Mike Mattison on lead vocals.

"It's almost all vocals," Trucks said of the new album. "We've been much more focused on the songs this time, so that it's much more of an album and not so much of a live performance."

With members of the band sometimes changing over the past decade, Trucks said that he believes he hit the right chord with the recent addition of Mattison.

"We're always trying to find the right chemistry," Trucks said. "I really feel like all the pieces are there. The rhythm section has had it together the whole time, instrument-wise it's always felt strong, and now (with Mike) the vocals feel really even."

As for the band's recent noise concoctions, Trucks said that they are experimental as ever without completely losing their individual flare.

"Our sound jumps all over the place, but I think the band is honing it down," Trucks said of his recent accomplishments. "We're across the map right now, but it still feels like the same group."

The Derek Trucks Band comes this Wed., Jan. 25 at 8 p.m. to the CFA. Tickets are $27 for the general public and $23 for students, available through ticketmaster.com.