If ever a band seemed to demand a full bio documentary, shedding light on member comings and going, musical evolution, et cetera, it’s the Drive-By Truckers, but pending that ever happening, we get performance DVDs.
Videos by American Songwriter
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS LIVE FROM AUSTIN TX
(NEW WEST)
[Rating: 3.5 stars]
If ever a band seemed to demand a full bio documentary, shedding light on member comings and going, musical evolution, et cetera, it’s the Drive-By Truckers, but pending that ever happening, we get performance DVDs. This being a visually and sonically better follow-up to their dark 2004 line-up The Dirty South edition. It’s a show taped last September, in the Austin City Limits series mode—released uncut, fuller than aired, and now with the CD version included with the video. Much of the show, particularly early on, is in cooperating “Americana songwriters” mode, with Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley and Shonna Tucker stepping forward in turn. When they get to the rocking likes of “3 Dimes Down,” with three guitars up, the sound and the excitement pick up simultaneously. The dramatic highlight of this show is Patterson’s monologue about his real-life trucker stepfather’s comeback for you never know what’ll grab you next with this band.
