The Drive-By Truckers

[Fresh Tendrils]

Are any of you guys fans of the Drive-By Truckers? Pretty much straight up southern rock. I picked up their two disc album "Southern Rock Opera" and so far its awesome. According to AMG its "loosely based" on the history of Lynyrd Skynyrd.


A little bit off topic, but was Neil Young a pallbearer for Ronnie Van Zant? I'm reading the lyrics for the songs and there is a song called "Ronnie and Neil" which has a line that says "And Neil helped carry Ronnie in his casket to the ground."

[AugustWest71]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Are any of you guys fans of the Drive-By Truckers? Pretty much straight up southern rock. I picked up their two disc album "Southern Rock Opera" and so far its awesome. According to AMG its "loosely based" on the history of Lynyrd Skynyrd.


A little bit off topic, but was Neil Young a pallbearer for Ronnie Van Zant? I'm reading the lyrics for the songs and there is a song called "Ronnie and Neil" which has a line that says "And Neil helped carry Ronnie in his casket to the ground."

Hmmm, that would be interesting if he was, given their relationship. (Sweet Home Alabama was a song wrote by Lynyrd Skynyrd as a counter-attack against Neil Young's Southern Man which is about racist slave-owners in the south)

[jt45]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Are any of you guys fans of the Drive-By Truckers? Pretty much straight up southern rock. I picked up their two disc album "Southern Rock Opera" and so far its awesome. According to AMG its "loosely based" on the history of Lynyrd Skynyrd.


A little bit off topic, but was Neil Young a pallbearer for Ronnie Van Zant? I'm reading the lyrics for the songs and there is a song called "Ronnie and Neil" which has a line that says "And Neil helped carry Ronnie in his casket to the ground."

Probably more in relation to Neil wanting Ronnie in the ground.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Probably more in relation to Neil wanting Ronnie in the ground.

I don't think so. Here's the whole verse:

Now Ronnie and Neil became good friends
their feud was just in song
Skynyrd was a bunch of Neil Young fans and
Neil he loved that song
so He wrote "Powderfinger" for Skynyrd to record
But Ronnie ended up singing "Sweet Home Alabama" to the Lord

[BGarrett7]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

A little bit off topic, but was Neil Young a pallbearer for Ronnie Van Zant?

Urban legend -- much like their supposed feud.

As for DBT, I've had like five of their albums on my computer for a couple weeks that I've yet to get around to listening to. I had a co-worker who was a huge fan back in the day, who was always pimping them out to me, but I just never got around to listening to them. I've always had an interest, but just never took the time to actually listen to their stuff. As soon as I get done doing what I'm working on now, I'll definitely give Southern Rock Opera a listen.

[pk500]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Drive-By Truckers is the best working American hard rock band today. There -- I said it.

DBT has a three-guitar lead attack -- typical, wonderful Southern rock excess -- and three different vocalists. The band is arguably the smartest Southern rock band ever -- almost think the Wilco of Southern rock without as much of Wilco's sonic experimentation.

"Southern Rock Opera" and "The Dirty South" are two fantastic looks at what growing up in the rural South must be like. I'm a Yankee, but reviewers and fans from the South all have indicated that is a fact.

"Southern Rock Opera" is one of the best concept albums you'll ever hear. Yes, it's loosely based on the history of Skynyrd.

The band's latest album, "A Blessing and a Curse," isn't a concept record like "Southern Rock Opera" or "The Dirty South." And it strays a bit from the band's Southern rock sound to wander a bit more to a bluesy sound, with Stones-like riffs. Still a superb record, though.

AMG isn't the authority on music, but I think its reviews are pretty solid and smart. And you'll see that DBT's last six albums have received 4 1/2 out of five stars at AMG. Very justified, too.

If you like Southern rock or just really well-done rootsy rock with great storytelling, smart lyrics and some songs that just BEG to be played loud, check out DBT. If you want to hear and see what a powerful band they are in concert, with three guitars plugged into Marshall's turned up to 11, check out this 53-minute set for free on Google Video:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5862411411778511264&q=Drive-By+Truckers

"Never Gonna Change," from "The Dirty South," really rips on this video. It's one of my favorite DBT songs, along with "Ronnie and Neil" and "Life in the Factory" from "Southern Rock Opera."

Glad that some of you cats have caught DBT fever. The band kicks azz, plain and simple.

Take care,
PK

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Thanks for the overview PK. I'll have to check out that video sometime.

[BGarrett7]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Just got done listening to Southern Rock Opera, and I can safely say that I haven't been knocked on my *** like that by an artist I was knew to since I first listened to Ray LaMontagne's Trouble. From top to bottom, you can't find a more solid CD -- especially for it to be a double disc, which are usually very weighed down with filler, this one has none at all. Every track just really jumped out and grabbed me. The styles they bring together are just incredible. These guys really are something special.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

I love the outro on "The Southern Thing."

[pk500]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Just got done listening to Southern Rock Opera, and I can safely say that I haven't been knocked on my *** like that by an artist I was knew to since I first listened to Ray LaMontagne's Trouble. From top to bottom, you can't find a more solid CD -- especially for it to be a double disc, which are usually very weighed down with filler, this one has none at all. Every track just really jumped out and grabbed me. The styles they bring together are just incredible. These guys really are something special.

Far out! Another convert!

Glad you're digging it, B. Enjoy!

Take care,
PK

[Splitter77]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

I never heard of the Drive By Truckers, but I saw them open for American Minor a while ago. Definitely the type of music I like- southern rock. It sucks that most of these good southern rock sounding bands dont really get the exposure they need.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

I have to agree with BG on this one. Listening to this album for the first time reminds me of listening to The Derek Trucks Band's "Songlines" for the first time. I hadn't heard very much about Drive-By Truckers, much less heard about "Southern Rock Opera" before I picked up the album Thursday afternoon. The album is great and not hearing anything about beforehand, its bound to knock you off your feet because you're wondering why the hell nobody is talking about this unknown classic. I'd have to say its every bit as good as anything Skynyrd or any other southern rock band has ever done. Straight up hard southern rock with intelligent, thoughtful, and very southern lyrics. I love it. The album made me go back and listen to my Skynyrd albums I own and has me thinking Skynyrd was more intelligent than I previously thought.

PK, although its safe to assume you would recommend the rest of DBT's discography, which album would you recommend picking up next?

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Bump. The Truckers have a new album coming out on the 22nd. It is titled Brighter Than Creation's Dark.

[pk500]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Bump. The Truckers have a new album coming out on the 22nd. It is titled Brighter Than Creation's Dark.

This will be a VERY interesting album for the Truckers since it will be their first without Jason Isbell since "Decoration Day." Isbell left the band last year to go solo. His solo record, released last year, was one of my favorite albums of 2007, by the way!

Isbell was a great guitarist and had a sweet, smooth voice that was a cool contrast to the rasp and snarl of Patterson Hood. Isbell wrote some great songs, too.

But I'm still very confident this album will kick serious butt. DBT made great albums with and without Isbell, so there's no reason why the great tunes won't continue.

Tendrils, my God: I never answered your question about a DBT recommendation after "Southern Rock Opera." Sorry, man! I would go for "Decoration Day," which followed "Southern Rock Opera."

DBT's work before "Southern Rock Opera" is really good, but it's a hell of a lot more cheeky lyrically than the band's records since "SRO." The early stuff reminds me somewhat of Ween with a harder edge.

I prefer the four records from "SRO" onward, but they're all damn good.

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Here are two very good DBT live shows for listening or legal download at archive.org:

http://www.archive.org/details/dbt2006-09-27.mk4v.vms021b.r4.16bit

http://www.archive.org/details/dbt2006-11-03.flac16

There are a ton of DBT shows at archive.org.

Today has become a DBT day at my desk, thanks to this thread. Thanks, fellas! It's always a good day when it's a DBT day.

Take care,
PK