Video Fun: DBT - "Birthday Boy"

 

TV Rock - Pearl Jam and Drive By Truckers

In case you missed them, here are recent performances by Pearl Jam on last weekend's SNL performing "Just Breathe" and "Unthought Known"and the Drive By Truckers on Letterman performing "This Fucking Job".

Drive By Truckers: Webisode

In the days leading up to the March 16th release of the Drive By Truckers new album, The Big To-Do (ATO Records), the band has released a webisode chronicling the making of the album and other items.




Go here to pre-order and listen to a stream of the entire album

Drive By Truckers Ready Two Albums/DVD

Continuing on our lazy week of relaying music news by pasting press releases, The Drive By Truckers have been busy prepping two new releases for you:

PR/Marketing Goggles On!

Drive-By Truckers Polish Up Unreleased Songs For New Album

The Fine Print (A Collection Of Oddities and Rarities 2003-2008)
CD, Double Vinyl and Digital Download Available September 1, 2009

LIVE FROM AUSTIN, TX CD / DVD AVAILABLE ON JULY 7, 2009
Features Complete Concert Filmed For PBS-TV's Acclaimed Austin City Limits
Filmed in Hi-Def and in 5.1 Surround Sound

Los Angeles, CA – Drive-By Truckers (DBT) have been making music together for 13 years resulting in 7 critically acclaimed studio albums which could not contain all of the songs written by the band. DBT recently dug into the New West Records vaults, with guidance from longtime producer Dave Barbe, and put finishing touches on a selection of songs that were never quite completed. “For me, it’s been a fun stroll through memory lane and a chance to tie up some loose ends,” says Patterson Hood. The result of the collaboration is The Fine Print (A Collection Of Oddities and Rarities 2003-2008), a 12-track album of previously unreleased and rare songs, available September 1, 2009. This summer New West will also release Drive-By Trucker’s entire Austin City Limits performance as a CD / DVD combination pack as a part of the Live From Austin, TX line.

The Fine Print (A Collection Of Oddities and Rarities 2003-2008) features songs written by band members past and present, including Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley and Jason Isbell. 7 of the twelve songs come from The Dirty South era… a highly creative time for DBT. Hood explains “That was an especially fertile period for the band, as we more or less wrote that album and the one before it, Decoration Day, as well as my first solo album all in a three year period as we were recording and touring behind Southern Rock Opera.” The record also contains four covers including “Rebels” by Tom Petty, which the band recorded originally for the TV show “King Of The Hill” and “Like A Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan which provided Shonna Tucker with her first ever lead vocal performance on a DBT recording.

Drive-By Truckers graced the Austin City Limits stage on September 26, 2008 while touring for their last studio album Brighter Than Creation’s Dark. A CD/DVD combination package featuring the entire performance will be available on July 7th, 2009. The 13 songs, which were filmed in Hi-Def and recorded in 5.1 Surround Sound for the critically acclaimed PBS show, include a mix of new songs from Brighter Than Creation’s Dark alongside the classics “Let There Be Rock” and “18 Wheels Of Love” (off their second album Gangstabilly) and “Marry Me” (from Decoration Day). The band line-up featured is Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley, Shonna Tucker, John Neff, Brad Morgan and Jay Gonzalez.

THE FINE PRINT TRACK LIST:

1. George Jones Talkin’ Cell Phone Blues
2. Rebels
3. Uncle Frank (alternate version)
4. TVA
5. Goode’s Field Road (alternate version)
6. The Great Car Dealer War
7. Mama Bake A Pie (Daddy Kill A Chicken)
8. When The Well Runs Dry
9. Mrs. Claus’ Kimono
10. Play It All Night Long
11. Little Pony And The Great Big Horse
12. Like A Rolling Stone

LIVE FROM AUSTIN, TX Track List:
1. Perfect Timing
2. Heathens
3. A Ghost To Most
4. The Righteous Path
5. I’m Sorry Huston
6. 3 Dimes Down
7. Puttin’ People On The Moon
8. Space City
9. The Living Bubba
10. Zip City
11. 18 Wheels Of Love
12. Let There Be Rock
13. Marry Me

DBT's Patterson Hood to Release Solo Album

Some good news to reinvigorate this music blog's meager output lately...Drive By Trucker Patterson Hood will finally release his long-in-the-making solo album Murdering Oscar (and other love songs) on June 23, 2009. And not only is the album coming out, but Patterson and the Screwtopians are playing some live dates. Lets hope for some Left Coast shows!


Below is the official Murdering Oscar press release:

Patterson Hood will release Murdering Oscar (and other love songs) on June 23, 2009 on Ruth St. Records. The second solo record from the leader of the Drive-By Truckers has been 15 years in the making. The album was produced by Hood and long-time DBT producer David Barbe (Sugar). Most of his DBT band mates join him on the album as well as Don Chambers, Will Johnson and Scott Danbom from Centro-matic/South San Gabriel. This is also the first time Hood’s father David Hood, famed Muscle Shoals bass player, joins him on a record.

The album was recorded at Chase Park Transduction Studios in Athens, GA and will also be released on 180 gram vinyl. The vinyl release will include three exclusive bonus tracks. An a cappella version of “Range War” will also be available exclusively with iTunes. “Pollyanna” and “Pride of the Yankees” are available to preview on his Myspace page: www.myspace.com/pattersonhood.

Hood and the Screwtopians will start the first leg of their tour in Nashville and end with a headlining slot at AthFest in Hood’s hometown of Athens, GA. Joining Hood on tour will be Brad Morgan (drums), John Neff (guitar/steel), Scott Danbom (keys/fiddle), Will Johnson (guitar) and David Barbe (bass), who has not toured since his days with Sugar. Will Johnson will open the shows.

Tour dates:
June 18 Nashville, TN Grimey’s in-store
June 18 Nashville, TN Mercy Lounge
June 19 Louisville, KY Headliner’s
June 20 Chicago, IL The Metro
June 22 Philadelphia, PA World Café Live
June 23 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
June 24 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
June 25 Washington, DC The Black Cat
June 27 Athens, GA AthFest

Advance tickets went on sale Tuesday, 4/21 at http://pattersonhood.baselineticketing.com

Track listing:
1. Murdering Oscar
2. Pollyanna
3. Pride of the Yankees
4. I Understand Now
5. Screwtopia
6. Granddaddy
7. Belvedere
8. The Range War
9. She’s A Little Randy
10. Foolish Young Bastard
11. Heavy and Hanging
12. Walking Around Sense
13. Back of a Bible

BONUS TRACKS (on vinyl only):
Uncle Phil and Aunt Phyllis in the Month After the Election
Playboy Mansion
Sam’s in the Ground

www.myspace.com/pattersonhood
www.pattersonhood.com

2009 Coachella Lineup Announced

My Best Of List is So Much Better Than Your List

With blogging and the decline of printed publications, everyone is a music critic these days (including yours truly). What music is "the best" is completely subjective to the listener and their own personal tastes.

Having said that, here are albums that we couldn't stop spinning, albums that we liked because they were so foreign to what we normally listen to, and a few albums that contain great songs but had some suckage landmines buried in the tracklisting. In no particular order:













My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges - grower of an album that got even better after we watched them rock Berkeley. Awesome road trip record for driving on the 101 in Cali.












Mudcrutch - Mudcrutch - Best Tom Petty album in years. From the originals to the covers, the album is relaxed and unforced. I'm a bootleg flyer. Nuff said.














Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely - Great straight-up rock album. Throw it on, crank it up. Even the stranger songs like "The Switch and the Spur" are okay.













Drive By Truckers - Brighter Than Creations Dark - Even though it's too long by about 4 songs, a great rebirth for the band after Jason Isbell's departure. #2 best live show behind MMJ.













Gutter Twins - Saturnalia/Adorata - Moody, dark, & haunting. Awesome, long-awaited collaboration between Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan. Hello darkness my old friend...












Darker My Love - 2 - Loud LA scuzz rock with a pop edge. Great groove album. BRMC didn't put out a new album this year, but these guys more than filled the gap.














Lucinda Williams - Little Honey - She's happy, she's horny and that's just plain weird to hear on a Lucinda Williams record, but what a fun album to throw on the stereo. A great snapshot of how Williams and her backing band Buick 6 sound live.













Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes - This ethereal album makes me feel like I'm trapped in a cabin and it's snowing like mad outside, but in good way. Sometimes they sound too much like early MMJ, but still an album that continues to reveal itself with each listen.
















Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul/The Verve - Forth - I'm combining these releases because both bands put albums out where half of it is awesome and the rest is just okay. Nice to have The Verve back in action. Brit Pop is alive and well in 2008.













Cold War Kids - Loyalty to Loyalty - underrated second album from this band. Yes, the dude's voice can get annoying but they make great minimalist blues punk to coincide with a shitty economic forecast.













Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago - Another log cabin album. Like the Fleet Foxes, this music can bug me out, but in a good way. A bummer record that doesn't leave you feeling completely bummed.

Honor Roll:

Everest - Ghost Notes
Beck - Modern Guilt
Gary Louris - Vagabonds
Spiritualized - Songs in A&E
Supergrass - Diamond Hoo Ha
Mudhoney - The Lucky Ones
Vetiver - Thing of the Past

Live Review: Rock N' Roll Means Well Tour

Drive By Truckers/The Hold Steady
The Fillmore
San Francisco
11.23.08


The last time I caught the Drive By Truckers in concert they were opening up for the Black Crowes in Alpine, CA., and the potent combination of an early opening time slot and lack of crowd made for a show I'd rather forget.

Fast forward two years and I found myself on a crisp Sunday evening at the Fillmore in San Francisco, CA. taking a much needed 4 hour break from reality. In a time when our national economy yo-yo's between recovery and collapse, the $30 ticket for the Rock 'n Roll Means Well tour would prove to have a solid ROI and a healthy elixir for the soul.

The Hold Steady kicked the evening off with their punked up Springsteen brand of rock, and while the crowd was populated by more Trucker fans than Hold Steady fans, the band's infectious energy won quite a few converts by the end of their set.

Lead singer/guitarist Craig Finn worked the crowd with his manic stage energy, throwing his whole body enthusiastically into each song much like Fugazi's Giu Picciotto would back in the day. Finn's Springsteen/narrator-style lyrics and delivery weren't my cup 'o tea, but I give the band credit for a lively, passionate stage show. Hell, a guy in a gorilla suit showed up on stage at one point. A for effort.

My ear's perked up when THS invited DBT's Patterson Hood to the stage for a casual and spirited rendition of "Burning for You" by Blue Oyster Cult. The crowd erupted at this point, and the smiles spread across all the musicians faces on stage indicated the good times were about to get even better.

DBT took the stage to loud applause. For year's I've read about amazing DBT shows in the Bay Area and whatever the connection is between the band, the Bay Area and their fans, the electricity in the air was apparent and it was time to take a deep swig of whiskey and let the rock show begin.

Ask any longtime DBT fan what it's like for the band to begin a show with "Zip City" off their classic Southern Rock Opera album and they'll most likely tell you it doesn't get much better. The band fired off a trio of songs from that album to begin the show. "Ronnie and Neil" had an appropriate Neil Young/Crazy Horse ragged, dirge-like vibe, followed by the Mike Cooley-sung "72" giving longtime fans a nice tip of the hat to some prime era Truckers.

Picking up the pace a bit, the driving rhythms of "February 14" was a nice surprise as pedal steel guitarist John Neff traded searing licks with Mike Cooley over drummer Brad Morgan's piledriving syncopation. Without pausing, the band sequed to "The Righteous Path" and kept the energy high and opened a selection of songs off this year's Brighter Than Creation's Dark album.

A show highlight was the filthy blues funk of "Goodes Field Road". The band took the songs' swampy groove and opened it up wide in the live setting, giving Patterson Hood the perfect foundation to spin one of his southern tales of misfits and criminals. Bassist Shonna Tucker took a spin on lead vocals on the Who'ish "Homefield Advantage" letting the band jam the song out for a bit.

"The Stroker Ace", Mike Cooley had many shining moments in the evening - "3 Dimes Down" layed down some greasy Keef Richards guitar licks while "Checkout Time in Vegas" and "Ghost to Most" were pure country rock heaven.

Singer Kelly Hogan joined the band for two numbers - " I'm Your Puppet" and a haunting version of "Angels and the Fuselage" that had me hearing Patterson and Hogan singing "I'm scared shitless of what's coming next" for days in my head.

Being in San Francisco, the appropriately titled "Steve McQueen" was a late set special treat, as was a cathartic performance of "Hell No, I Ain't Happy". The set ended with Cooley's "Marry Me" complete with the tour-naming and now famous lyrical line "Rock 'n roll means well, but it can't help telling young boys lies".

While I couldn't put my finger on it, the band was projecting a confidence I had not seen in past performances. Maybe confidence isn't the right word, but the Drive By Truckers had a presence on stage all night long. They were in complete control of their craft and it translated into a monster of a first set.

The encore was full of even more surprises: An powerful cover of Springsteen's "Adam Raised a Cain", Van Halen's classic "Ain't Talkin' Bout Love" and Warren Zevon's "Play it All Night" complete with members of The Hold Steady sent the crowd into the stratosphere of rock 'n roll bliss before both groups knocked everyone in the building out with a vicious version of Jim Carroll's "People Who Died".

While The Hold Steady didn't win me over, both bands put on a hell of a show to give fans and new converts a transcendant Sunday night on the town. The Drive By Truckers played an amazing set of music that saw the band raise its game and deliver big time, leaving fans excited at the possibilities for the future.



Drive By Tuckers setlist:

Zip City
Ronnie and Neil
72
February 14
Righteous Path
Checkout Time in Vegas
Goode's Field Road
Ghost to Most
I'm Your Puppet (w/ Kelly Hogan)
Living Bubba
3 Dimes Down
Homefield Advantage
Lookout Mountain
Hell No, I Ain't Happy
Shut UP and Get on the Plane
Steve McQueen
Marry Me
Angels and Fuselage (w/ Kelly Hogan)

-encore-
Adam Raised a Cain (Springsteen)
Where the Devil Don't Stay
Let There Be Rock (w/ The Hold Steady)
Ain't Talkin' Bout Love (Van Halen w/ THS)
Play it All Night (Zevon w/ THS)
People Who Died (Jim Carroll w/ THS)

Check out Alabama Ass Whuppin's great collection of photos from the show here

DBT Tour Countdown: Perfect Timing

Getting excited about the upcoming Drive By Truckers/Hold Steady "Rock n' Roll Means Well" tour stop at the historic Fillmore in San Francisco this Sunday and Monday. Here's the latest video from DBT for "Perfect Timing" featuring guitar craftsman Scott Baxendale.

Election Day Download: Drive By Truckers

Get Out and Vote Fuckers!

To coincide with Election Day, Patterson Hood of the Drive By Truckers has offered up a free download of the new song "Uncle Phil and Aunty Phyllis in the Month After the Election".

You can download the song here.

Here's a personal note from Patterson about the song and his thoughts on election day:

I wrote this song the week after the 2004 Presidential Election. I was in a state of semi-shock and near-depression as my daughter's birth was impending and I was depressed to think of her born into the world during a Bush Presidency.

It was recorded live in the studio at Chase Park Transduction with me on the microphone, David Hood (my Dad) on the bass guitar, Johnny Neff playing some sleazy sounding electric guitar, Brad Morgan playing the drums, and David Barbe on the B3. It was late at night and everyone's spirits were high.

I am throwing this out as my election week gift to you.
Please get out and vote.

I will be voting for Obama because I think he has the guts, vision judgment and smarts to guide us through these troubled times and help America regain her prominence in the 21st century.

It's time for a change and not four more years of bullshit.

Jr. has wrapped the Camaro around too many telephone poles and it's time to take his keys away.

LONG LIVE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

Respectfully Yours,
Patterson Hood
Drive-By Truckers

On The Road Again: More Fall Tours Announced

As is the custom this time of year, Fall tours are being announced. This week, we learned about some great pairings for the road:





















In a move sure to give everyone's liver a run for their money and see the stock for Jack Daniels soar to unseen heights, The Drive By Truckers are teaming up with 2008's critical darlings The Hold Steady for a double bill that will see each band alternating the closing slot:

Rock and Roll Means Well Tour Fall 2008

Thu Oct 30 Louisville KY COYOTE’S @ CITY BLOCK (HS Closes)

Fri Oct 31 Nashville TN RYMAN AUDITORIUM (DBT Closes)

Sat Nov 01 Atlanta GA TABERNACLE (DBT Closes)

Sun Nov 02 Tallahassee FL THE MOON @ FSU (HS Closes)

Mon Nov 03 Raleigh NC LINCOLN THEATRE (DBT Closes)

Wed Nov 05 State College PA THE STATE THEATRE (HS Closes)

Thu Nov 06 New York, NY TERMINAL 5 (Closer TBA)

Fri Nov 07 New York, NY TERMINAL 5 (Closer TBA)

Sat Nov 08 Philadelphia, PA ELECTRIC FACTORY (DBT Closes)

Sun Nov 09 Boston MA ORPHEUM THEATRE (HS Closes)

Tue Nov 11 Toronto ONT PHOENIX THEATRE (DBT Closes)

Wed Nov 12 Pittsburgh PA CARNEGIE MUSIC HALL (HS Closes)

Thu Nov 13 Bloomington IN BLUEBIRD (DBT Closes)

Fri Nov 14 Chicago IL RIVIERA (HS Closes)

Sat Nov 15 Minneapolis MN FIRST AVENUE MAINROOM (DBT Closes)

Sun Nov 16 Minneapolis MN FIRST AVENUE MAINROOM (HS Closes)

Wed Nov 19 Boise ID THE BIG EASY (DBT Closes)

Thu Nov 20 Seattle WA THE SHOWBOX (HS Closes)

Fri Nov 21 Seattle WA THE SHOWBOX (DBT Closes)

Sat Nov 22 Portland OR CRYSTAL BALLROOM (HS Closes)

Sun Nov 23 San Francisco CA THE FILLMORE (DBT Closes)

Mon Nov 24 San Francisco CA THE FILLMORE (HS Closes)

Tue Nov 25 Los Angeles CA THE WILTERN (DBT Closes)

By tickets here

Not only is Neil Young bringing his latest tour back to North America, he's having Wilco and Death Cab for Cutie open select dates. Opening all the dates will be Los Angeles' Everest. Accorinding to a Billboard.com article, Young is bringing the same band that backed him on his recent European tour. Long may you run Neil.

Oct. 14: St. Paul, Minn. (Xcel Energy Center, w/ Death Cab For Cutie)
Oct. 16: Winnipeg, Manitoba (MTS Centre, w/ Death Cab For Cutie)
Oct. 18: Regina, Saskatchewan (Brandt Centre, w/ Death Cab For Cutie)
Oct. 19: Calgary, Alberta (Pengrowth Saddledome, w/ Death Cab For Cutie)
Oct. 21: Everett, Wash. (Comcast Arena, no opener specified)
Oct. 22: Vancouver (GM Place, w/ Death Cab For Cutie)
Oct. 29: San Diego (Cox Arena, w/ Death Cab For Cutie)
Oct. 30: Los Angeles (Forum, w/ Death Cab For Cutie)
Nov. 1: Reno, Nev. (Events Center, w/ Death Cab For Cutie)
Nov. 4: Kansas City, Mo. (Sprint Center, w/ Death Cab For Cutie)
Nov. 5: Omaha, Neb. (Qwest Center, w/ Death Cab For Cutie)
Nov. 29: Halifax, Nova Scotia (Metro Centre, w/ Wilco)
Dec. 1: Montreal (Bell Centre, w/ Wilco)
Dec. 2: Ottawa, Ontario (Scotia Bank Place, w/ Wilco)
Dec. 4: Toronto (Air Canada Centre, w/ Wilco)
Dec. 7: Auburn Hills, Mich. (Palace of Auburn Hills, w/ Wilco)
Dec. 9: Chicago (Allstate Center, no opener specified)
Dec. 12: Philadelphia (Wachovia Spectrum, w/ Wilco)
Dec. 15: New York (Madison Square Garden, w/ Wilco)
















A reunited Beachwood Sparks is doing a small tour as a way for the hallucinatory country band to work out the cobwebs and prepare them to enter the studio for Sub Pop records and record a new album.

Source: Billboard
Aug. 21: San Francisco (Bottom of the Hill) Aug. 23: San Diego (Casbah) Aug. 24: Los Angeles (Sunset Junction) Sept. 11: Philadelphia (Johnny Brenda's) Sept. 12: Hoboken, N.J. (Maxwell's) Sept. 13: New York (Bowery Ballroom)

Finally, legendary Seattle band Mudhoney have posted a series of U.S.,South American and Japan dates. The band is touring in support of their recently released album, The Lucky Ones. Grab your earplugs and take the Mudride!

Mudhoney fan site

9/5/08 The Granada Theater. Dallas, TX

9/6/08 Emo's Outside Room. Austin, TX

9/19/08 The Horseshoe Tavern. Toronto, Canada

9/20/08 La Sala Rossa. Montreal, Canada

10/9/08 Circo Voador. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

10/11/08 Clash Club. Sao Paolo, Brazil

10/12/08 Clash Club. Sao Paolo, Brazil

10/19/08 Niceto Club. Buenos Aires, Argentina

11/14/08 The El Rey Theater. Los Angeles, CA

11/15/08 Casbah. San Diego, CA

11/29/08 The Showbox. Seattle, WA (This show is to celebrate The Supersuckers' 20th anniversary.)

12/12/08 The Independent. San Francisco, CA

12/13/08 The Rio Theater. Santa Cruz, CA

1/14/09 Club Quattro. Tokyo, Japan

1/15/09 Club Quattro. Nagoya, Japan

1/16/09 Club Quattro. Osaka, Japan

1/18/09 O-Nest Club. Tokyo, Japan

Monday Music News

The ennui of summer continues, but as we enter the second half of the season, bands who have been on the road are slugging it out night after night in the name of rock and bands that have been off the radar for a bit are gearing up for the Fall:

Kings of Leon have begun their promotional duties for their upcoming album, Only By the Night. The album will be released September 23rd through RCA, but in the meantime, you can freely download the first single "Crawl" through British music rag NME. You can also enjoy some behind-the-scenes home movies like this one:







Tom Waits is currently in Europe wrapping up his all too brief "Glitter and Doom" tour, but fans can enjoy a stream of his recent July 5th stop at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, GA, through the good folks at NPR Music.

Buy Orphans [Fold-out Digipak with 24-page booklet]Here







Here's the setlist:

Lucinda / Ain't Going Down to the Well
Down in the Hole
Falling Down
Chocolate Jesus
All the World Is Green
Cemetery Polka
Cause of It All
Till the Money Runs Out
Such a Scream
November
Hold On
Black Market Baby
9th and Hennepin
Lie to Me
Lucky Day
On the Nickel
Lost in the Harbor
Innocent When You Dream
Hoist That Rag
Make It Rain
Dirt in the Ground
Get Behind the Mule
Hang Down Your Head
Jesus Gonna Be Here
Singapore

ENCORE

Eyeball Kid
Anywhere I Lay My Head

[Photo Credit: Bob Butler, copyright 2008 NPR]

Once you are at the NPR site digging on the Tom Waits show, why not enjoy a live recording of Spiritualized as well? This is from the July 25th show at Washington DC's famous 9:30 Club. J. Spaceman and his band of cosmic rockers are currently on tour in support of their fine new release Songs in A + E.

Buy Songs in A&E Here

Lastly, it's been a while since we've had any news on the Drive By Truckers, who continue to tour in support of their 08 release Brighter Than Creations Dark. Below is the video for "Ghost to Most". Enjoy