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Words by Bradly Bifulco :: Images by Jeremy Jones
The Drive-By Truckers :: 11.26.05 :: The Tabernacle :: Atlanta, GA
Drive-By Truckers :: 11.26 :: GA |
The Thanksgiving holiday brought me to the sweet and dirty South — namely, Atlanta — to be with family and friends. As luck would have it, the holiday also brought a generous serving of the Drive-By Truckers at The Tabernacle. Whether in the studio or performing on stage, the Drive-By Truckers' music is created and performed with 100-percent genuine, true-to-themselves intentions — no faking. Whether or not you like their style and sound is a completely separate issue from whether or not they succeed as a band. They've proved it time and time again. From San Francisco to Bonnaroo and back to Atlanta, these guys do it with every ounce of their real selves, souls, histories, opinions, pride, insecurities, and experiences right up there on stage with them - no hiding, no costuming, and no re-interpreting.
Patterson Hood :: 11.26 :: GA |
As we walked up to the front door of the Tabernacle (a former church in downtown Atlanta, which was converted to the House of Blues during the 1996 Olympics and then sat dormant until it became the Tabernacle), people were lining up to get inside as the openers finished warming things up. It was only a matter of minutes until this crowd's seemingly favorite band took the stage. The crowd was immensely friendly and warm despite the chill in the air — a big thanks to the Atlanta (and beyond) crowd for being so hospitable. I don't know if I've ever stood at a show with a friendlier bunch of folks. Soon after we entered the building, the lights dimmed, the crowd surged, and the DBTs took the stage to a severely appreciative and very full room. The set started with a swagger, as Patterson Hood (guitar, vocals) welcomed fans with wild-eyes, passionate words and powerful chords that had the truck-tire-spinning-on-a-gravel-driveway effect (you know the one). As we went a few songs deeper into the set, it was clear that this was a special performance for both the band and the crowd. They had played the venue last year at this time and had apparently showcased a bunch of newer material. This time, they were quickly deep into older, more nostalgic selections. In between songs, Hood took the time to share a bit of the band's history, mentioning that they've known each other for nearly 20 years and that the majority of them have been in the band in some form for roughly 15 years. He dedicated "Runaway Train" to John Calhoun, "a drummer who's been lost in Mississippi since 1987." It was at this point in the show when I noticed an extra player on stage. As it turns out, John Neff (slide guitar) was sharing the stage all night. Referred to by some as a pedal-steel celebrity, Neff is a longtime friend of the band. He's also played with many of the region's most-loved acts: The Star Room Boys, Widespread Panic, Lona, the Chasers, Jerry Joseph, Superchunk, and many more. Also of note, during this track Jason Isbell (guitars, vocals, and now keyboards) moved toward the back of the stage to assume his position behind a keyboard. The addition of a keyboard/piano sound to the Truckers' gritty sonic landscape was certainly a tasteful one. Isbell sounded lively on the keys, and people were excited about his new instrument; apparently this was only the second night he had ever taken it on stage.
Drive-By Truckers :: 11.26 :: GA |
"Runaway Train" segued poetically into "Tornadoes" off their latest release, The Dirty South. The crowd was singing along with a spirit that propelled the sound of their collective voices up over the mix coming from the stage. Called "The Stroker Ace" by the rest of the band, Mike Cooley (guitars/vocals) took the reins for the next track. He greeted the crowd with several "Yeehaws" as the lights shined particularly bright on him. He delivered a vocal intro using his almost-spoken lyrical narrative, and the song began to burst at its seams with pure rock and roll fervor. After the Cooley-led bombast, Jason Isbell grabbed a mini four-string guitar and picked and strummed in a higher register for one of Hood's sharp-tongued ballads. It's once again worth mentioning the nostalgic and celebratory vibe that permeated the band, the room, and the crowd. In between songs, Hood would make mention of a close friend of the band whose love they've appreciated for so long or the bittersweet remembrance of someone no longer nearby.
Jason Isbell :: 11.26 :: GA |
A song entitled "Outfit," one of my traveling companion and fellow Trucker-lover's favorites of the night, once again found Isbell behind the keyboard as the band forcefully and patiently moved through his composition. After that, he came back around to the front of the stage, picked up a beautiful red Gretsch hollow-body guitar, and the band tore through "Living Bubba" to close the set. The song got super-big, with fists pumping all over the place, as the fans at the Tabernacle realized there was only so much of the Truckers' show left. Isbell must have figured, "I've shredded several guitars with my hands throughout the evening, let's try something else and play this here one with my tongue," because that's exactly what he did. The band finished big, and the crowd sighed in near satisfaction, though I think everyone knew we were getting an extra helping as an encore. Minutes later, Hood and The Stroker Ace walked out on stage to thunderous applause. Hood took a moment to call out some of the lesser-seen folks in their organization who have been so loyal and hardworking over the years, once again underscoring the nostalgic and celebratory recognition of the band and its history. They proceeded to pick up their guitars, stand face to face, and stomp around each other as they strummed a loose, medium-tempo walk. Hood sang sharply pointed lyrics as his and Cooley's guitars growled at one another. The song ended, they hugged, and Hood swung himself toward the microphone and bellowed, "Bring out the band!!!" The remaining members came back out and ripped up a spectacular version of "Let There Be Rock." The crowd was singing along as Hood recounted having "Never seen Lynyrd Skynyrd, but I sure saw Molly Hatchet..." In a truly respectful and caring gesture, Hood dedicated the final song, entitled "Louisiana," to the Gulf Coast folks. After they performed the last notes of the song, Hood once again stepped up to the mic to address the crowd. He thanked everyone for coming out and thanked Georgia in particular, saying he's been living there for a while and feels like he will for the rest of his life. For the fine folks who call that region home, it must have been a wonderful thing to hear. I'm sure entertainers must say such things a lot in an effort to please a crowd, but I'm damn sure Patterson Hood meant it with every ounce of himself. I imagine he means just about every word he speaks... After all, there's not much difference between the man he is and the man he wants to be.
In true family-holiday fashion, Hood thanked the crowd again — not for showing up or for being so nice. This final remark of appreciation was to everyone "for keeping rock and roll alive!" We are certainly happy to oblige, Mr. Hood.
JamBase | Atlanta
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