Customer Reviews

Drive By Truckers - Dirty South - Live at the 40 Watt

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I watched this DVD having only heard of the DBT's and never hearing any songs. I only knew they were Southern. I was mesmerized from the get go! Then, after each frontman sang his piece, I was floored. Was this the same band? Each tune was a little different as all three guitar players, Patterson, Cooley and Jason each write and sing their own songs. I immediately went out and bought "A Blessing and a Curse", "The Dirty South" and 2 tickets to the show in D.C. That's the impact of this DVD.

I'm not gonna write an in depth review-I know why you're here...so I'll just tell you this was well worth the wait. The packaging, the sound, the direction-killer. It's hard to believe one band could have SO many great songs, and perform them all with sweat, passion and grace. If you've seen these guys live, this will remind you of why you had such a great time at the show...for those who havn't, I assure you this is the next best thing to being there-just without the over-zealous fan next to you spilling your beer as he rocks out to the best Southern rock band since Skynyrd. Yeah, I said it, and you know it's true.

Over the last year, I have become a huge DBT fan and have most of their CD's (including "Live at Austin.") Despite some tepid reviews seen here, it is no exagerration to say that it is one of THE best live concerts I have ever seen (in person or recorded). Let's get the downsides out of the way now: The lighting is mostly miserable. You feel that the club (the 40 Watt) got its name because the lighting consists of some guy in the rafter using a 40 watt bulb. The upside is that you can bet this was the same lighting the audience had to deal with, so at least the DVD gives you a "club feel." Also, on the strengths of the Austin and 40 Watt concerts, I think it's safe to say that Patterson Hood teeters on the edge of self-indulgence, occasionally leaping, not stumbling over (It's not like I'm not a fan of Hood's..his new solo disc is great). An example of this would be the choice and execution of their final encore song, the old Jim Carroll song: "These Are People Who Died". First, most of us who are familiar with the original, thought that Carroll, an acknowledge poet, decided he wanted to be a rock star and wrote songs like this. I don't mind covers, but pick a worthy one. Hood's repition of "they f@#&in' died" about 6 times was both annoying and self-indulgent. Patterson, we got it the first time.
OK, the good stuff (and there's lots of it): Mike Cooley and Jason Isbell are the best guitar duo I have heard since Clapton and Allman during the "Layla" sessions. Equally gifted,in different. Although Cooley is spectactualar, Isbell is the star here. It's a credit to the band that they could sustain his loss (on guitar,vocals, and songwriting) and still be the superior band they are. Also, they are one of the tightest bands I've ever heard. It's ironic when they claim they never practiced, with Cooley chiming in, "If you want to break up a band, practice." Their harmonies were much more noticeable here, and the sound,in general was spot-on. I think that every live song bested the studio version. Lastly, it was obvious they were having a ball up there, and that's infectious to the viewer, even one seeing it on DVD.
In short, I can't imagine any true DBT fan not wanting to own this, especially because it's the only live performance with the incomparable Jason Isbell.

This is an outstanding concert featuring 3 excellent guitar players, songs with a Southern Theme, and three different vocalist on different songs. It also, includes stories told by band members about the South. The set list consists of 17 songs, then they are called out for an encore and play an additional 5 songs. It was filmed fairly recently at the 40 watt club in Athens, Georgia.

The line-up consists of: Patterson Hood - guitars & vocals, Mike Cooley on guitars and vocals, Jason Isbell on guitars and vocals, Brad Morgan on drums, and Shonna Tucker on bass (I really like Shonna, she's talented and good looking). Four of the Five are from the Muscle Shoals Alabama area. I like the band member's southern accents!

Some of the highlights include: "The day John Henry died", "Carl Perkins Cadillac", "Never Gonna Chance" (a reference to "Freebird"), "Cottonseed", "The Buford Stick" (a reference about Buford Pusser in the movie :"Walking TAll"), "the Southern Thing", "LookOut Mountain" (in Alabama/Georgia), "Decoration Day" (about a family living down on Mobile Bay), "Women without Whiskey" (a reference to the late Ronnie Van Zant giving up Whiskey?), "Shut up an Get on the Plane" (a reference about the late Ronnie Van Zant boarding the plane that crashed carrying the Lynyrd Skynyrd Band - It's a great song and story about the late Ronnie Van Zant being ready to die if it's his time), and "The People who Died" (although this is a Jim Carrol Band song, it seems to be making a reference to the people who died on the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash of 1977). Note, this band has released a "Southern Rock Opera" CD and included in the notes to this CD, they refer to "Lynyrd Skynyrd" as the Greatest Rock Band ever. They are paying respect and tribute to the "Lynyrd Skynyd" Band that went down in the plane crash of 1977 and the people who died in that crash.

This is an excellent 3 guitar "southern rock" concert, that is very enjoyable, and I highly recommend it. Thanks!!!

Before you purchase this DVD, ask yourself one question: "Am I ready to shake the walls and bring the house down?" That is exactly what will happen if you put this concert film in. The Drive-By Truckers--Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley, Brad Morgan, Jason Isbell, and Shonna Tucker--raise more hell than a meeting of Satanists. The setlist is primarily composed of songs from their then-new release, "The Dirty South," but it also contains good samplings from other albums, namely "Southern Rock Opera" and "Decoration Day." Every song is great, though as one reviewer noted, certain staples like "Let There Be Rock" were not included. The performances are tight but loose; it's clear that they know their stuff extremely well, but they don't stay strictly to the album recordings. Each musician is in great form, and the three guitarists (Hood, Cooley, and Isbell) burn up the fretboards with their playing.

This is one of the few DVDs I have seen where I can say that it genuinely feels like you're in the audience watching. Plenty of shots of the band all together on stage mixed in with shots close enough to make you feel like you're in the front row watching the band, but not so close that you are really aware that you're a true outsider looking in. It really does feel like you're there when the camera chooses to focus on one or two people at a time. The stage can get a little dark at times, but never enough that it distracts from the viewing, and there is the occasional problem with the focus, but not as bad as one reviewer made it sound. It's only a few times in the whole show. Also interspersed with the songs are backstage interviews with the band, which give small amounts of insight into them. One of the big highlights of the set is the fact that Mike Cooley married a couple onstage at one of the shows, and it's on this DVD. Great to see him pronounce them man and wife and then get back to rocking after they exit.

Bottom line is if you like the Drive-By Truckers, you will love this DVD. The setlist and performances are all great, especially when the guys trade guitar solos. It sounds awesome turned up loud and like I said, because of the camera positionings, you really do feel like you're in the audience watching them play. Very highly recommended.

The Drive By Truckers ROCK!
These folks write and sing music that will make you remember your childhood or wonder what the rest of us did growing up. They sound excellent on media or live. They seem to have a good time and treat each song as if they were creating a time capsule for those in the future to get a hint of life growing up in southern small town USA.

A MUST HAVE!

This is simply the best concert DVD since the Led Zeppelin set from a few years back. This show is ballsy, artistic and personal. The direction of this piece was awesome. I felt like I was there...really captured DBT at their best. My favorite tracks are The Living Bubba and Careless. Also some great interviews with the band and even a wedding on stage performed by the good reverend Cooley! Great graphics, artwork, and the 5.1 surround sound mix is top. A nice bonus feature is a music video for Never Gonna Change. The quickest two hour show I have ever seen.

This is one of the best concert dvd's I have. You surely can find other titles with better audio and picture, with musicians with better technique and better hairstyle but we're talking about ROCK'N'ROLL, and this dvd is everything a ROCK'N'ROLL fan really needs: great songs played with passion by a brave and inspired band.

I have listened to countless bands and attended many concerts. Folks, this is the best rock band I have ever heard. I love Skynard, Led Zep, and AC/DC just like many. But, you will not find a more mechanically rhythmic, diverse, and captivating rock band anywhere.

You may read reviews where people complain about the lighting used in this dvd - well, those people have never been to the 40 Watt. Others say some really good songs were missing. That is true, but they have so many great songs it would be hard to fit them all. This is a must have for fans of the band and for fans of great rock n roll.

The video is pretty good as concert films go. The band is kind of crammed in together and close to the crowd, which is different from your typical shot-for-MTV performance, but that's an accurate depiction of a small-club Truckers show.

What makes this DVD worth having is the sound, which is awesome. Put it on a 5.1 surround system (it has options for either 5.1 or regular stereo) and crank it up loud.

The only (minor) drawback to this DVD is what it leaves out--concert staples Let There Be Rock and Zip City aren't on here--but the stuff they include is terrific. But since it's unlikely that DBT will ever play Isbell songs like John Henry or Outfit again, it's nice to have those on here. Buy this and then buy the Austin City Limits DVD when it comes out, too.