Drive By Truckers – Americana UK

Drive-By Truckers release video for “The New OK” on eve of election – Watch

All the footage used in the new video for Drive-By Truckers’ ‘The New OK’ was shot in Portland, Oregon in the summer of 2020. Quite simply, it is shocking to see the scenes that took place on the streets of America. As Patterson Hood of the Truckers says, “The New OK is not OK.” The level of early voting in this year’s election indicates that there could be the highest turnout for a century. As the USA rages with internal turmoil, it has never been more important to use your vote. This video is intense, emotional and directly addresses the disunity at the heart of the United States. Continue reading “Drive-By Truckers release video for “The New OK” on eve of election – Watch”

Book Review: Todd Westbrook “Americanaville” (Independent, 2020)

Americanaville is a project created by Todd Westbrook that saw its inception as an essay but which has now burgeoned into a series of chapters that are currently available for free at http://tswestbrook.com. Westbrook describes a personal journey through Country, Americana, Bluegrass and Roots music that takes many detours but never loses its central thread of a series of recordings that, for Westbrook, have been seminal in shaping his experience of the music described. Continue reading “Book Review: Todd Westbrook “Americanaville” (Independent, 2020)”

Drive-By Truckers “The New OK” (ATO Records, 2020)

A second album in the same year from the Drive-By Truckers, and it’s a punchy pacey affair. It’s an album that started life as an EP, a quick follow up to ‘The Unravelling‘ which fleshed out some songs leftover from that album and filled a Covid shaped space in the Drive-By Truckers’ lives. And then, as the Summer unfolded, it grew some as a reaction to what has become an astonishing year. The opener and title song starts out as a raucous and rumblin’ rock put down of a woman
who is just too much trouble “she’s a laugh a minute from a joke so cruel” which it soon becomes apparent is really about the State of the Nation. In the same way as that bad girlfriend can change your outlook to accommodate staying with her so the changes of the last four years could be accepted as just the way it is – “the new ok“. It can be different – if that’s what people want, as Patterson Hood queries “will we rise up from where we’re planted with our fists raised up to the sun ? Or will we settle for tear-gassed eyes staring down the gun?” Continue reading “Drive-By Truckers “The New OK” (ATO Records, 2020)”

Lucinda Williams and Drive By Truckers join Black Deer 2021 bill

2021 really can’t come soon enough. Our favourite music festival bar none Black Deer has just announced some new additions to an already fairly impressive line-up, including Lucinda Williams, Drive-By Truckers and Canadian cowboy Colter Wall. They’ve also released their day splits which you can see below. Continue reading “Lucinda Williams and Drive By Truckers join Black Deer 2021 bill”

Interview: Patterson Hood on “The New OK”, COVID and the Portland Riots

Americana UK has been lucky enough to speak to Patterson Hood of the Drive-by Truckers as their new album, ‘The New OK’, gets its digital release. Their 2016 ‘American Band’ album was the Truckers most overtly political to date and Patterson Hood explained to AUK’s Martin Johnson that their new album is the final album of a trilogy that also includes ‘The Unraveling’, released at the start of this year. The impact of COVID on the Truckers themselves and the wider music industry is also discussed. Portland, Oregon, resident Patterson Hood has first-hand experience and insight into the Portland riots and shares a more balanced view of what is actually happening in this part of America. Just as some people may be thinking he is on a major downer, Patterson Hood explains why he is ultimately positive about the future and 2021. Continue reading “Interview: Patterson Hood on “The New OK”, COVID and the Portland Riots”

New Drive By Truckers album out tomorrow – Listen

2020 has been the year for surprises. Some of them not so nice obviously, but others more so, and continuing the theme of albums arriving out of the blue, Drive-by Truckers’ new full-length second LP of 2020, ‘The New OK’ arrives via ATO Records on streaming services tomorrow (Friday 2nd October), with a CD and limited edition vinyl arriving on Friday 18th December. You can listen to the title track below. Continue reading “New Drive By Truckers album out tomorrow – Listen”

Pick of the Political Pops: Drive By Truckers “Perfect Timing”

This week we’ve been made aware of some interesting facts and figures. Apparently net migration to the UK (year ending March 2020) was 313,000 – up on 221,000 on last year. Xenophobes and Brexiteers must be wailing and gnashing their teeth. In fact 715,000 people moved to the UK but 403,000 left hence the ‘net’ figure. Of that net figure the vast majority were non-EU nationals. Indeed an estimated 257,000 of those people arrived for study/university and the vast majority of those were from China or India. The remainder were for work and family reasons. That’s a lot of money generated for the economy. Then Covid-19 hit. After that there was a 97% reduction in passenger journeys. Also – and here’s the economy killer – study visa applications are down 99%. And of course the Brexit transition period will end pretty soon with no deal or agreement in sight. And the country is in debt to the tune of something like two trillion pounds. Best start looking for change down the back of the sofa…

Jerry Joseph “The Beautiful Madness” (Décor Records, 2020)

When Patterson Hood of The Drive-By Truckers describes you as “long one of my favourite songwriters, one of the absolute best of our generation” people are going to sit up and take notice and so it is that this album has already attracted a great deal of interest, even prior to its release. Hood produced the album and the Truckers provide the backing to Joseph’s songs further adding to the anticipation. So, who is Jerry Joseph, and does the album live up to expectations? Continue reading “Jerry Joseph “The Beautiful Madness” (Décor Records, 2020)”

Interview: Jerry Joseph on Dead Confederates and Middle Eastern child refugees

If you have come across Jerry Joseph’s name recently you may be forgiven for thinking he is a new artist, such is the buzz around his latest album ‘The Beautiful Madness’. However, he has been a professional musician since the ‘70s and has made over 30 albums. In America, he has built up a dedicated fan base and gained a reputation as one of the better songwriters. He is a true believer in the view that music is art and, despite personal challenges and the disappointment on missing out on a major record deal 30 years ago, he has continued to pursue his muse. Americana UK’s Martin Johnson caught up by phone with Jerry in a camper van on his Portland, Oregon, Continue reading “Interview: Jerry Joseph on Dead Confederates and Middle Eastern child refugees”

Video: Jerry Joseph with Drive-By Truckers “Sugar Smacks”

The latest single from Jerry Joseph is seven minutes of controlled aggression and a charged political assessment of the world around him. It is, as he sings, “…a rubber ball full of rage.” Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, again performing as Joseph’s band, says, “It might be the most punk rock song I’ve heard in twenty years (or more). As a founding member of Drive-By Truckers, I place this track among my favourite moments of this band’s discography and the rest of them are in unanimous agreement with me about that.” That’s some statement but it is hard to disagree. It’s a track that stays with you, particularly the raw emotion, long after listening. Continue reading “Video: Jerry Joseph with Drive-By Truckers “Sugar Smacks””