Bear with me; I've never done a concert review before. As with my album reviews, this'll just be what a regular guy saw and heard...Concert Review:
Drive-By Truckers
Memphis in May, May 1
If you're like me, you've got a list of bands and artists you have to see before they break up, die or you do. Drive-by Truckers was near the top of that list for me. Willie, Merle and AC/DC are also on that list for me, but happily, DBT is now marked off. Tom Lee Park, just off Beale Street and just up the bluff from the muddy Mississippi was the setting for the show.
2 days of sheeting rain had left the grounds an utter mess, pools of brown water, footprint pocked mud fields and brown sidewalks, but we had to see 'em regardless. It's possible even the Lord wanted to see the DBTs, because the rain stopped shortly before their set, a nice breeze cooled us down and the sun peeked through a few times. As that breeze rode in and just after catching the Burnside Brothers blues band and half a set from the North Mississippi Allstars, we found our spots on the slippery metal pavers in front of the stage and got ready for some [rock cliché]face melting[/rock cliché] southern rock. The band delivered.
Patterson Hood stepped to the mike in all his ragged rock star glory and ripped into the slow burning "After the Scene Dies" (from their new album The Big To-Do) with his shredded southeastern twang and it was on. The subject matter of music scenes gone by stretched into the next offering, "Self Destructive Zones" with Mike Cooley jabbing hair metal, grunge and American Idol in one fell swoop.
Speaking of music scenes gone by, all in attendance at this particular stage were skipping out on a bonafied rock n' roll legend to see DBT and Patterson made sure to chide us for it. "Jerry Lee (Lewis) is playing behind us...why are you here?" he questioned. He said his wife had called earlier and said she might come to the festival that day, but if she did, it would be to see the Killer, not them. The crowd ate it up.
All the while we sipped our $4 tall boys of watery beer (well, those of us who weren't partaking of the green leaf), the band members shared in a bottle or two of Kentucky's finest, and they weren't sipping. Shonna drank it like water, matter of fact.
For the most part, the songs played true to their studio recorded counterparts (of course, much more organic and inflamed in person), but on "72 (This Highway's Mean)" the band came across as a stone country act with John Neff's fine steel guitar work. It was an outstanding departure.
The climax of the night was, without a doubt, an epic take on Southern Rock Opera's "Let There Be Rock." Hood ripped the microphone from its stand for the first time, letting his guitar hang at his side and delivered a veritable sermon on the life-saving capabilities of rock n' roll. It was one of those performances that leave you feeling numb, not quite sure what you just saw and heard. Spectacular and moving, even to those unlucky souls who were unfamiliar with the band.
The band finished their set with the rollicking and [rock cliché]Stonesy[/rock cliché] "Shut Up and Get on the Plane" before bidding us adieu to go listen to our douche-rock that surely couldn't live up to the awesome sight we'd just witnessed (which it didn't - though I did enjoy Seether a little more than I should admit).
Mud, doped up North Mississippi Allstars fans and cheap beer be damned, Drive-by Truckers cemented their spot as my favorite band Saturday afternoon.
Setlist:
After the Scene Dies
Self-Destructive Zones
The Fourth Night of My Drinkin'
Birthday Boy
Girls Who Smoke
3 Dimes Down
Sink Hole
(It's Gonna Be) I Told You So
Get Downtown
This F*cking Job
72 (This Highway's Mean)
Sante Fe
Hell No I Ain't Happy
Let There Be Rock
Shut Up and Get on the Plane
