**Official Drive-By Truckers Thread**

[AlexK79]

Nice article on Jason, from Rolling Stone of all places.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/ne...ign=newsletter

[AlexK79]

Also, 'Aftermath, USA' from A Blessing and a Curse is a ridiculously underrated tune.

[mposey34]

I like Aftermath USA quite a bit myself. A Blessing and a Curse is kind of a strange album for me. There are quite a few really good songs, like Gravity's Gone, Aftermath, Daylight, Space City, Little Bonnie, and When the Well Runs Dry, but as a whole, it feels like a collection of songs, rather than an album. I know things were getting rough with the band then, and perhaps that's why, but I rarely find myself picking this one as an album to throw on and listen to straight through.

[AlexK79]

Originally Posted by mposey34

I like Aftermath USA quite a bit myself. A Blessing and a Curse is kind of a strange album for me. There are quite a few really good songs, like Gravity's Gone, Aftermath, Daylight, Space City, Little Bonnie, and When the Well Runs Dry, but as a whole, it feels like a collection of songs, rather than an album. I know things were getting rough with the band then, and perhaps that's why, but I rarely find myself picking this one as an album to throw on and listen to straight through.

I agree, it is definitely the DBT album I reach for least often. It just doesn't feel as cohesive as their others. I think they were conciously going for a little different feel to their sound with some shorter, more aggressive songs - tapping more into the Replacements and Rolling Stones than Skynyrd and Neil Young.

When you list out the songs like that, there's a bunch of great ones, (A World of Hurt is a favorite of mine as well) but the album as a whole just falls a little short.

[jayman414]

Picked up my Isbell tickets for his show in Chicago. Anyone else going? Could be a nice little weekend of music with JJ Grey in town the night before.

[Absolute34]

Jason keeps putting out superior material, while DBT is doing its best to tread water without him.

[jayman414]

http://www.stereogum.com/1422101/dri...-to-best/list/

Cool little article if you have some time

[AlexK79]

Jason I am so mad I am going to have to miss Isbell AGAIN. My band has a show on 10/26. Booo-urns.

That is a really cool article and list. The guy who wrote it definitely knows his DBT too. But Go-Go Boots ranked ahead of The Dirty South? That's kooky-talk.

[jayman414]

Originally Posted by AlexK79

Jason I am so mad I am going to have to miss Isbell AGAIN. My band has a show on 10/26. Booo-urns.

That is a really cool article and list. The guy who wrote it definitely knows his DBT too. But Go-Go Boots ranked ahead of The Dirty South? That's kooky-talk.

My thoughts exactly. I really like Go-Go Boots but would never put it ahead of The Dirty South. I know BTCD has lots of good stuff on it, but it was ranked higher than I would have expected as well.

[AlexK79]

Chicago date added on Halloween night!! Pre-sale is on now, tix are $30. Grabbed my pair!

[Absolute34]

Originally Posted by AlexK79

Chicago date added on Halloween night!! Pre-sale is on now, tix are $30. Grabbed my pair!

How does the band sell up there? I have never seen them outside of the Deep South.

[AlexK79]

Originally Posted by Absolute34

How does the band sell up there? I have never seen them outside of the Deep South.

They have a pretty solid following. They have played the Vic the last several times through, which is about a 1500 seater, and sometimes they'll do a 2-night stand there like in 2011 and both shows were sold out or close to it. They also headlined the Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival at the Congress Theater last year.

Obviously the deep south is always going to be their stronghold, but it seems they've built enough of a fanbase over the years that they can play just about anywhere in the country and draw a crowd.

[AlexK79]

Alabama Ass Whuppin' reissue available 9/10!

[jayman414]

In case anyone missed it Isbell was on Letterman again the other night with a couple of guest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=i5q4QOnU7kM

If the Civil Wars really are done for whatever reason, I would love to see John Paul White go on tour with Jason Isbell.

Would really like to see this documentary.

[AlexK79]

Originally Posted by jayman414

In case anyone missed it Isbell was on Letterman again the other night with a couple of guest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=i5q4QOnU7kM

If the Civil Wars really are done for whatever reason, I would love to see John Paul White go on tour with Jason Isbell.

Would really like to see this documentary.

Patterson Hood's dad David was on bass.

[AlexK79]

One week till the Halloween Rock Show in Chicago! I'm really pumped, it's been way too long since I've seen a full on DBT show. No opening act, a full night with DBT so I'm hoping we're in for some cool cover tune surprises and rarities, maybe a track or two from the new record.

Disappointed that I have to miss Isbell on Saturday night as my band has a show that night, but DBT next week will more than make up for it.

[jayman414]

Alex have a great time at the DBT show. I am not sure I am going to make it or not. I did however make it to the Isbell show last night. Second time I have seen him in a calendar year and he is getting better and better. Where him and 400 Unit are at now that he is done drinking is miles above where they were when I first saw them years ago at a tiny bar in Rock Island, IL.

The crowd went nuts for all the stuff off of Southeastern with a big ovation after Cover Me Up, Traveling Alone, and Elephant. They busted out Never Gonna Change and you can tell it is definitely a 400 Unit song now and not a DBT song. It was different but still really good. They ending things by rocking the house after a few slower songs but one of my favorite shows of the year. I constantly think that Jason is on the verge of being a much bigger star.

Flying Over Water
Go It Alone
Tour of Duty
Decoration Day
Goddamn Lonely Love
Heart on a String
Different Days
Live Oak
Alabama Pines
Cover Me Up
Relatively Easy
Stockholm
Traveling Alone
Codeine
Elephant
Never Gonna Change
Outfit
Super 8
Can't You Hear Me Knocking

[AlexK79]

That looks like a killer set Jason! So disappointed I've had to miss Isbell every time he's hit town recently, which has been pretty frequent! I love that he did 'Can't You Hear Me Knocking' - my favorite Stones song. Would love to hear his version.

[jayman414]

The more I think about how Jason's albums stack up I really don't think there is an argument for Southeastern not being his best. I know that my seem sacrilegious but Sirens has just never seemed like a complete album to me, more like a collection of songs thrown together.

Southeastern
Sirens of the Ditch/Here We Rest
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit

[mja271]

Yea for sure, it's definitely his best album to me. No question.

[AlexK79]

Originally Posted by mja271

Yea for sure, it's definitely his best album to me. No question.

Agreed. He's had knockout moments on all his prior solo records but this one is by far the most fully realized album. I hope there are more like this one to come from him.

DBT Rock Show at the Vic tomorrow night!!! Hoping to hear a couple new songs and some badass covers for Halloween. There's no opener, just an 'Evening with' DBT so hopefully we'll get a nice long set.

[AlexK79]

Just got an email for Isbell at the Pabst in Milwaukee on Feb 6th. May try to hit that show since I keep missing his shows in Chicago!

[AlexK79]

Since I'm bored at work, my dream setlist for tonight:

Puttin' People on the Moon
Ronnie & Neil
Birthday Boy
'72 (This Highway's Mean)
Sinkhole
A Ghost to Most
The Living Bubba
Play It All Night Long (Warren Zevon cover)
*New Song*
Where the Devil Don't Stay
Go-Go Boots
Three Dimes Down
The Righteous Path
I'm Eighteen (Alice Cooper cover)
*New Song*
Carl Perkins' Cadillac
Dead, Drunk & Naked
Get Downtown
Hell No, I Ain't Happy
Women Without Whiskey
Let There Be Rock
Zip City

Encore:
Bulldozers & Dirt
The Deeper In
Perfect Timing
My Sweet Annette
Fourth Night of My Drinking
Guitar Man Upstairs
Road Cases
Shut Up and Get on the Plane
Buttholeville

[AlexK79]

Last night's set in Chicago was definitely one for the ages!! I ended up in about the 3rd row. With an 8:00 showtime and us arriving around 7:40, we figured we'd either be stuck on the back of the floor or up in the balcony, but we strolled right down near the stage about midway between Patterson's and Jay's mics, unreal. Band came onstage at about 8:15 dressed up like the Rolling Stones and opened the set with Honky Tonk Woman. Patterson in particular was a sight, draped in an American flag with the lipstick, top hat, and sparkly outfit. (After a few songs he changed back into his traditional garb. Cooley kept the Keith Richards look all night.) They played for almost 3 hours and the setlist was, in a word, unreal. Not sure I would have written it too much differently. Jay Gonzalez is doing an amazing job playing both guitar and keys - often both in the same song.

Setlist:

Honky Tonk Woman
Where the Devil Don't Stay
Heathens
Carl Perkins' Cadillac
The Living Bubba (dedicated to Kelly Hogan)
Get Downtown
Dead, Drunk, and Naked
Guitar Man Upstairs
Miss You (Rolling Stones cover - Sugar Blue on harmonica)
Little Red Rooster (Sugar Blue on harmonica and vocals)
Women Without Whiskey
Sinkhole
Uncle Frank
Puttin' People on the Moon
Gravity's Gone
Why Henry Drinks
Marry Me
Hell No, I Ain't Happy

Encore:
Wild Horses (Rolling Stones cover)
Birthday Boy
Buttholeville (Sugar Blue on harmonica)
Zip City
Let There Be Rock
Shut Up and Get On The Plane
Angels and Fuselage

Click the "Show Spoiler" Button to reveal hidden text.

[AlexK79]

Short write up and some nice videos from Chicago last week:

http://www.thebarnpresents.com/drive...113-16582.html

[AlexK79]

Nice update on the new record from Rolling Stone:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/ne...ign=newsletter

For those that don't want to click through:

*They recorded it in 2 weeks
*Patterson and Cooley split the songwriting duties.
*The sound is 'mostly upbeat yet diverse'
*It will be released in March

[AlexK79]

Title of the new album is 'English Oceans' and it's due out March 4th according to a nice article in Rolling Stone. The songs are split 50/50 between Patterson and Cooley which I think is going to be awesome. Full article: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/ne...ceans-20131203

Track list:

Shit Shots Count
When He's Gone
Primer Coat
Pauline Hawkins
Made Up English Oceans
The Part of Him
Hearing Jimmy Loud
Til He's Dead or Rising
Hanging On
Natural Light
When Walter Went Crazy
First Air of Autumn
Grand Canyon

[AlexK79]

Pre-order for 'English Oceans' is up on the DBT site!

Pre-orders get a download of 5 bonus tracks on release day. 25 each CDs and LPs will randomly get signed copies.

I cannot wait for this record!

[Absolute34]

Yeah the 50/50 Cooley and Patterson has me stoked.

[AlexK79]

Originally Posted by Absolute34

Yeah the 50/50 Cooley and Patterson has me stoked.

Yeah that's going to be awesome. Really the first time since Southern Rock Opera that all the songwriting is between those two, and the first time EVER that it's been nearly a 50/50 split.

One thing I think is very cool is that for the first time ever, there is a song written by Patterson, but sung by Cooley. So while the writing credits are 7 Hood/6 Cooley, the vocals will be 7 Cooley/6 Hood.