- Well, I got myself a Alabama ass-whuppin' last night when I stumbled into the odious 400 Bar — flask in pocket — just to check out my most favorite band the Drive-By Truckers. Yeah, yeah, the 400 is a crap club with overpriced beer and a phony reputation for indie cred (and also they turn off the fuckin' pinball machines when some shyte "quiet" artist is onstage!), but it seems all the good bands have been playing there lately. But the Truckers are better than good. I only know 'em from their albums Gangstabilly and Pizza Deliverance (both masterpieces), but a lot of people are talking about this hot new concept album Southern Rock Opera as if it dripped like a bead of sweat off God's scrotum I've only heard a couple tunes from it, but yeah it sounds pretty good. It's apparently about George Wallace or Lynyrd Skynyrd or something, and judging from the tunes they ripped through last night I think I'm gonna save my pennies and buy a copy. The band were fascinating to watch: a motley nonchalant crew of ugly Alabama fuckers with several different methods of approaching a tune. Leader Patterson Hood was much more sober and friendly than I'd imagined, with a nice trim beard, Sonic Youth tee, and shining eyes. Co-leader Mike Cooley (the cute guy with the big-ass bird nose) had a sweet little rock-star vibe going, as if he got lost in a timewarp somewhere around a Rossington-Collins audition back in 1979. He stepped up to the front stage and put his big ol' foot on the monitors when he played them Skynyrd-style solos, and we all loved it. But hot damn I couldn't take my eyes off bassist Earl Hicks (I think that's his name), who had a ZZ Top beard and a flashy Kenny Rogers tee.....
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
Article comments
1 - mooncricket
If you are only gonna buy one album, get this one. Great liner note, lyrics and art as well. Goes on the shelf with the classics!