Drive By Truckers - First Avenue, Minneapolis (May 1/2015)

Without opener the screen raised and The Truckers took their places on stage without need for a tardy slip at 9pm. There was excitement from the mostly approaching-middle-age crowd and the band echoed that excitment back all night, repeatedly mentioning how much they love the room and that it was one of their favourite places to play ("in the world" even). An acoustic set, the two songwriters sat up front  and swapped lead on songs essentially all night with Jay Gonzales on keys and pedal steel, plus their drummer and reliable bass player tucked in just behind them. Not only did they treat us to their very vivid and literal tunes but also introduced many with colourful back stories of either the characters in the songs or the songwriting itself. This brought an intimate aspect to the show even if the volume was still up for the acoustic show. I haven't seen their electric set but can imagine that it comes on strong! Admittedly I'm not nearly as in touch with their catalogue as the man next to me who mouthed the entire set as I hardly recognised anything. Therefore it wasn't until partway through the first set when they did play a track from the latest release (that I studied in preparation for this show, to little end), Pauline Hawkins, that I could get an idea of whether they were vastly modifying the songs. There were definitely differences but it was enjoyable to hear the new takes. As mentioned there were two sets because this show would go all night. Nearing the close of set one they rocked out Elton's Benny and the Jets to everyone's enjoyment. The Dirty South is the album I know thoroughly and it was after returning from a barely quarter-hour break that I finally got a taste of it and then it was two back to back. The Sands of Iwo Jima had a mid-song story accompaniment about the actual man who gave the quote which was touching and lovely. A rousing response allowed the singer a moment to wipe the tears from his cheeks. Foregoing the song-and-dance of leaving the stage and returning for an encore they just told us that it was time to close it down and focused on the song aspect. It was midnight - curfew - when they finally brought it all to a close, this time with a cover of Ooh La La ("wish that I knew what I know now"). It wasn't the covers though but their originals that are so original and that revealed through the stories they shared that made it a lovely and special evening.