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Live Review |
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The Drive by Truckers at the Bierkeller |
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http://drivebytruckers.com/ |
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Review & Photography by
Leilani Winslade |
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leilanivw@yahoo.co.uk |
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There is nothing more befitting to the Drive-by
Truckers than their name. Something about their music conjures
images of beer-bellied, big bearded American truckers stopped at the
roadside bar drinking whiskey and shooting the breeze. Though the
beer bellies seem to be missing from the band, the big bushy beards
were in full force. The band consists of Mike Cooley and Patterson
Hood on guitar, Shonna Tucker on bass, John Neff on guitar and
pedal steel, Brad Morgan on drums and Jay Gonzalez on the keyboard. |
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The Drive-by Truckers or DBT’s as they are known
to fans, stay true to their southern American rock roots, but sound
just modern enough to gain a European following. Their shows are
known for being alcohol infused, three guitar playing, rift inducing
jam sessions. Tuesday night was no different, with the Jack Daniels
being passed between members and fans passing a cheeky smoke to the
pretty drunk looking Cooley. |
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The DBT’s took the stage pretty promptly and
stayed there for 2 sweat soaking hours. Armed with some beers and
that infamous bottle of Jack Daniels, the band played a host of
songs from throughout their career starting with a slightly ropey
Marry me from the Decoration Day album, but luckily carried on to a
much improved sounding Checkout Time in Vegas and Goode’s Field
Road, off of the new album Brighter Than Creation’s Dark. Musical
highlights of the night were Dead, Drunk and Naked, Women without
Whiskey, Hell No I Ain’t Happy and Gravity’s Gone. In the encore
the bands Let There Be Rock got the crowd going. Vocal duties seem
to be shared between Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley and Shonna Tucker. |
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Having never heard of the
Drive-by Truckers before this gig, I had to do a little research
before the show. On initial look at their website
http://drivebytruckers.com/ and their Myspace page,
http://www.myspace.com/drivebytruckers ,
I wondered again what I had gotten myself into, another show that’s
not my cup of tea that Bristol Rocks has sent me out to cover! For
the record I am not a country fan. I’m fairly anti-country music
person to be honest; it’s the only thing other than Bjork that
really makes me cringe. Most of it sounds too samey and
depressing. They always seem to be complaining about losing their
wives, their jobs and their dogs. Yes, a pretty big generalisation,
but work with me here.
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in America with Midwestern/Southern grandparents. Out of principal,
I avoid all things country like the plague. I realise I run the
risk of sounding like an old fan in this review or worse yet… a
country fan. But after seeing them live, I highly recommend
checking them out. They were much more rock and roll with lengthy
guitar solos and that amazing pedal steel, than their rather country
sounding studio album make them out to be. |
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