The Drive-By Truckers prove that “Shit Shots Count” on Conan

photo by the Newt Just saw one of my fave bands, the Drive-By Truckers, tearing it up on the Conan O'Brien Show. They went to town on a song called "Shit Shots Count", the opening track from their brand new album English Oceans. The tune is written and sung by Mike Cooley, who I like to … Continue reading The Drive-By Truckers prove that “Shit Shots Count” on Conan

Umphrey’s McGee guitarist Jake Cinninger thinks the jam-band movement is the new rock ‘n’ roll

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 5, 2005 By Steve Newton The annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival is the type of event where jam-happy bands from across the States converge to spread the gospel of anything-goes improv. Umphrey's McGee makes its fourth appearance at the three-day Tennessee fest this June, joining the likes of the Allman … Continue reading Umphrey’s McGee guitarist Jake Cinninger thinks the jam-band movement is the new rock ‘n’ roll

Booker T. Jones hooked up with the Drive-By Truckers after meeting Jason Isbell at SXSW

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 17, 2009 By Steve Newton In the music business, having the right manager is huge, as Hammond B3 legend Booker T. Jones recently learned. Before recording his latest album, Potato Hole, Jones found a new manager in Dave Bartlett, who hooked him up with the Drive-By Truckers, the raggedy southern-rock outfit that … Continue reading Booker T. Jones hooked up with the Drive-By Truckers after meeting Jason Isbell at SXSW

The Drive-By Truckers’ country-soul mojo gets invigorated by Eddie Hinton on Go-Go Boots

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 9, 2011 By Steve Newton Last year the Drive-By Truckers released The Big To-Do, a raucous collection of southern-fried alt-country tunes highlighted by the exuberant single “Birthday Boy”. A totally different vibe typifies the band’s new album, Go-Go Boots, which is surprising since its material was recorded during the same sessions as its … Continue reading The Drive-By Truckers’ country-soul mojo gets invigorated by Eddie Hinton on Go-Go Boots

Alabama-bred Jason Isbell learned a lot from “The Swampers” at Muscle Shoals Sound

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 8, 2011 By Steve Newton Being from Alabama certainly has its benefits, one being the fact that you can really put your heart into it when you sing the chorus of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s biggest hit. But for Jason Isbell, one of the joys of growing up in northern Alabama was being … Continue reading Alabama-bred Jason Isbell learned a lot from “The Swampers” at Muscle Shoals Sound

Writing songs saved his life, says Patterson Hood

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 26, 2012 By Steve Newton When he was 27 years old, Patterson Hood went through the most turbulent period of his life. His band broke up, he got divorced, and he had a falling out with his family, who he had been extremely close to. As he explains in the … Continue reading Writing songs saved his life, says Patterson Hood