Illuminating Mike Cooley’s songwriting brilliance through four Drive-By Truckers tunes

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 2, 2010 By Steve Newton Just got back from a family vacation to Powell River, and man, if you ever get the chance to go kayaking in Desolation Sound's Okeover Inlet, take it. The scenery is stunning and you can get up close and personal with bald eagles, seals, and huge … Continue reading Illuminating Mike Cooley’s songwriting brilliance through four Drive-By Truckers tunes

Drive-By Truckers guitarist Jay Gonzalez steals the show from Patterson and Cooley in Vancouver

  photos by Jeff Sutherland By Steve Newton The Drive-By Truckers, probably my fave band at the moment--unless I'm in a heavy Gov't Mule mood--played the Imperial in Vancouver last night, and man were they smokin'. Touring behind their latest album, American Band, they played some of the finest tracks from that disc, including the … Continue reading Drive-By Truckers guitarist Jay Gonzalez steals the show from Patterson and Cooley in Vancouver

The Drive-By Truckers’ Mike Cooley wonders what the hell is wrong with some people

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 28, 2016 By Steve Newton The Drive-By Truckers have always been a politically minded outfit, but on their brand-new album, American Band, they really waste no time in tackling the big issues of their home country. The opening track, “Ramon Casiano”, tells the fact-based (but little-known) story of former NRA leader … Continue reading The Drive-By Truckers’ Mike Cooley wonders what the hell is wrong with some people

The Drive-By Truckers’ Mike Cooley thinks Donald Trump “might be f***in’ crazy”

"I'm pretty astute when it comes to the flaws in American culture, but the fact that this many people take this guy seriously..."

Drive-By Truckers tell of trophy tail wives taking boner-pill rides in Vancouver

photos by the newt By Steve Newton The Drive-By Truckers didn't play all of my fave DBT tunes at the Vogue last night. For example, there was no "A Ghost to Most", singer-guitarist Mike Cooley's jangley indictment of George Bush's macho posturing from the sprawling 2008 Brighter than Creation's Dark album. And neither did I get to hear my … Continue reading Drive-By Truckers tell of trophy tail wives taking boner-pill rides in Vancouver

Drive-By Truckers captured at its raw and raucous best on Live from Austin TX

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 12, 2009 By Steve Newton Drive-By Truckers fans had cause for concern when long-time guitarist-vocalist Jason Isbell—one of the group’s main songwriters, along with cofounding singer-guitarists Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley—decided to leave the southern rock–influenced alt-country band in 2007. But the group simply responded by recruiting guitarist and pedal-steel … Continue reading Drive-By Truckers captured at its raw and raucous best on Live from Austin TX

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