On Brighter Than Creation's Dark, the Athens, Ga.-based band Drive-By Truckers offers an epic and emotional 19-song rock statement. The roots-music powerhouse knows its way around thundering Southern rockers, country ballads and, lately, Stax-inspired soul. Bassist and vocalist Shonna Tucker is mostly responsible for that last addition, now contributing her own songs to the band.
Co-founded by Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley in 1996, Drive-By Truckers already had a firm musical base, straddling the line between Southern culture celebration and critique. Songs like "The Living Bubba" and "Too Much Sex (Too Little Jesus)" were goofy country tunes written with tongues firmly in cheek. But it was around the double-disc Southern Rock Opera (2001) that the Truckers began to craft stories about unique regional characters and came into their own as stronger songwriters.
In an interview and performance with guest host Michaela Majoun, Drive-By Truckers' members play songs from Brighter Than Creation's Dark.
This segment originally aired on April 24, 2008.
Copyright 2008 XPN
