No. 51: Drive-By Truckers

One of the most explosive bands to ever come out of the cultural hotbed that is Athens, GA, the Drive-By Truckers have cemented their rightful place as holders of the contemporary Southern rock crown. But don't tell front man Patterson Hood that...... "Southern Rock" has never been a tag he's been proud of wearing. Hood would rather be associated with a much broader scope of influences, which is why he was probably ginning ear to ear when critics called his band "America's greatest rock band". For the Truckers, the road to get to that superlative has been a long and winding one. The band nearly broke up in 2006 after a nightmare tour and tensions within the band, the documentation of which can be found in the just-released film, "The Secret To A Happy Ending". Shortly thereafter, the band parted ways with guitarist Jason Isbell, an element of the band that contributed, in my opinion, some of the best Truckers songs like "Decoration Day", "Outfit", and "Danko/Manuel". Since then, the truckers added John Neff in Isbell's place and continue to rip up the road touring with Booker T and in support of their most recent effort, The Big To-Do. The album is OK, but the one Truckers album that really does it for me is The Dirty South, where guitarist Mike Cooley and Hood trade haggard tales of the Reagan-era economy in Alabama, folk heroes, World War II, and tornadoes. Shonna Tucker and Brad Morgan round out the rhythm section as Morgan's grungy beats wrap themselves around Tucker's more reserved bass and sensitive vocals.

I will definitely checking out the Drive-By Truckers at Lolla this year. I have seen them a couple times and if you like balls out rock, you won't want to miss them.

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www.drivebytruckers.com