Foamfoot

Drive-By Truckers | Belly Up -Solana Beach, CA | June 20, 2008

In a city gone seemingly dry, we traveled by train to the art district of Solana Beach, California to see The Drive By Truckers return to San Diego. Taking advantage of the last bastion of unrestricted public alcohol abuse left in the city, fans rode the commuter train armed with six packs and ripped jeans juxtaposed with San Diego's working class stiffs on their way home from their 9 to 5’s. For fans of The Drive By Truckers, slugging down roadies in preparation for a show is about as fundamental as remembering to bring your ticket. With songs like Self Destructive Zones and Dead Drunk & Naked, it would be hard to argue that the Truckers' song writing hasn't in some way pandered to the well lubricated belly.

Based out of Athens, Georgia, the Truckers boast a 6 piece lineup consisting of Patterson Hood (vocals, guitar), Mike Cooley (vocals, guitar), Jon Neff (guitar), Shonna Tucker (bass), Brad Morgan (Drums) and newly added Spooner Oldham (keyboards). When they took the stage on Friday night in front of a peyote backdrop, their Les Pauls, long beards and bottle of Jack Daniels clearly displayed their Southern roots… and the near sell out crowd of 600 ate it up, raising 24 ounce cans of PBR in salute and offering up their rebel yell as musical accompaniment.

Patterson and Cooley led the band through a stirring night of raw music. Both have distinctly contrasting styles that bring together the life blood of the Truckers. Patterson's intensity and winey voice complement Cooley's laid back persona and southern drawl. Together they are the ultimate package. A one-two punch of alternating vocals, and two thirds of a three guitar lineup, that kept the spirit of the South alive all night.

Primarily playing tracks off their new album, Brighter Than Creation's Dark, the Truckers also found time for some old classics like Let There Be Rock, Where The Devil Don't Stay and Steve McQueen. True to fashion they also colored the night with pulls from their bottle of Jack Daniels that has proven to be a staple of their live performances, shots of Jägermeister sent up from the bar, and stories of growing up in the rural South (when Patterson was 18 he had to travel two hours just to see a show, and it was the band Kansas, and he fucking hates Kansas. But it was a rock and roll show and it was something to do).

So for all of you working class types, who commute home in your ties and button down shirts, get off the train and go see this band next time they are around because they are rock and roll. They are showing us that our 9 to 5s aren't necessary. They are showing us that Wall Street, clean cut hair and a pressed suit isn't the only option. They are saying if you have a dream you follow it. You go out there and find that fucking dog. Patterson and Cooley found it, and we got to enjoy the ride.

--Will Bavinger
Will Bavinger can be reached at Foamfoot6301@hotmail.com

Setlist* from Friday, June 20:

That Man I Shot / Self Destructive Zones / The Tough Sell / Where The Devil Don't Stay / Life in the Factory / Puttin' People on the Moon / The Company I Keep / Dead Drunk & Naked/ Three Dimes Down / I'm Eighteen / You & Your Crystal Meth / Righteous Path / I'm Sorry Huston / Guitar Man Upstairs / Marry Me / Checkout Time in Vegas / Let There Be Rock / Encore: Ghost to Most / 18 Wheels of Love / Lookout Mountain / Steve McQueen

*set list borrowed from ninebullets.org

So it was like this:

On April 16^th we arrived at Spreckles Theatre in downtown San Diego and wormed our way through the masses into the crowded auditorium.  The sell out crowd of over 1600 consisted of fans of all musical tastes.  I talked to an old couple bent on telling me stories of seeing Pink Floyd live in the 70’s, sat in front of a group of 20 something’s excited for next week’s Coachella festival and next to a young couple on a very expensive date; all of us together in attendance to see the Legend of Eddie Vedder.  And in the final night of his first solo tour ever, Vedder gave us a journey into the wild.   

For nearly two and a half hours, Vedder belted out baritone vocals that reminded the sell out crowd that he is the famous front man from that Seattle based band.  And his guitar playing at times even showed some range for a guy known for his vocals, playing acoustic and electric guitars, as well as the mandolin.  However, overall his song writing seemed to lack depth.  Yes he did play the obvious solo hits “Society”, “Rise” and “Hard Sun”, which were pretty cool even if you have heard them a thousand times on the radio.  But other original songs didn’t really grab your balls; they just laid flat existing rather than impressing.  He must have known these limitations because he made up for it with some awesome covers and succeeded to keep the crowd well entertained throughout the night.

In what has maybe become his new favorite instrument, Vedder grabbed the mandolin and ripped a stirring rendition of Pearl Jam’s hit, “Porch”.  He also torched an ode to Pete Townsend, playing a hit from the former Who great’s solo work, “Let My Love Open the Door”.  Splitting the crowd into guys and girls, he gave us the opportunity to back him on the refrain over and over again.  As fun as this was, perhaps the most entertaining portion of this night didn’t require Vedder to play an instrument at all.  He just had to dance around stage like a goofball with two men dressed in hipster dufus attire to Barry White’s seductive “Can’t Get Enough (of your loving)”. 

The fanfare didn’t parallel most Pearl Jam shows, where Eddie has been known to climb up into the rafters, but it did provide for a memorable evening.  The San Diego native’s mom was in the audience to celebrate her birthday.  Eddie’s present to her (and to us) was a cover of Bob Dylan’s version of the song, “Forever Young”.  His mom was even provided a tiny star struck moment not often found in San Diego, as the kid from the movie “Into the Wild” sat on stage for a couple of songs, while Eddie ripped him for being a Hollywood fat cat. 

As if composing an opera, Eddie’s song selection took us on a musical journey.  After a relatively slow start, he was able to accomplish what he set out to do – and it may have been the last song of the night that really tied it all together.  The stage filled with smoke, a reel to reel tape displayed a sunset backdrop on the curtain behind the stage, and our man put on a black and white striped jacket that would have made Beatlejuice proud.  The stage turned into an ocean of mist and while standing in the surf, Vedder broke out the opening to his hit, “Hard Sun”.  The crowd erupted with an energy that he fed off of for the duration.  In the closing chord of the concert he leaped into the air and again showed an affinity for Pete Townsend…the midair, windmill, splits.  With that the show was over.   “Ed-die, Ed-die, Ed-die” and he took his bows. 

--Will Bavinger

Will Bavinger can be reached at foamfoot6301@hotmail.com