Drive By Truckers Didn’t Drive By New Haven

It was a chilly Tuesday night in New Haven, Connecticut but that didn’t deter fans from pouring into the College Street Music Hall. Southern rock/alt country darlings, Drive By Truckers graced the stage that evening to play a show not to be missed.

Bluesman Carl “Buffalo” Nichols opened the evening. This multi-talented guitarist has run the gamut of musical styles. He has played gospel, West African music and folk. However, he really shines when he plays stripped down blues. Accompanied only by drums, Nichols commanded the attention of those straggling in for the headliners. Nichols combines bits of all of the great masters of the blues forming a unique blend of his own. He no doubt wins over new fans wherever he plays.

Next up was Athens, Georgia’s Drive By Truckers. The band is on a marathon tour through early May in support of this year’s release, The Unraveling. This is a highly politically charged album much like their last release, American Band. Another similarity between the two albums is that they both were released during election years. Drive By Truckers have proven once again that they can put out music that sounds great no matter what your political views are. Their lyrics are thought provoking while their musical arrangements are a joy to listen to.

Drive By Truckers are as much of a joy to watch perform on stage as they are to listen to at home. They don’t rely on stage props, fancy lighting, make up, or any of the other trappings that many bands rely on to entertain their fans. They simply put their heart and soul into their live performance. This is more than enough to keep a crowd riveted. Their set covered the span of their career and included a cover of Warren Zevon’s “Play It All Night Long”. No doubt some walked away wondering why a particular song didn’t make the set list. However, with 22-songs played, they did a great job of trying to satisfy everyone’s desires.

For those wishing to see them perform live, follow this link for a list of upcoming tour dates.