by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: The Drowners - Long Hair (MP3)

We mentioned in passing that local four-piece The Drowners are opening for The Vaccines and Porcelain Raft at Webster Hall on April 23. If you're free tonight (4/17), you can go see them at Pianos for free. They're on at 11:30 and the bill also features Broncho (feat. Ryan Lindsey of Starlight Mints) and NYC band Brothers.

The Drowners don't seem to have been around long (they started their Facebook page last month!) but the two songs posted are pretty good, UK-leaning (singer Matt Hitt is from Wales), breezy guitar pop that recalls the lighter side of the Arctic Monkeys or laid back Californians The Tyde. (Their name makes me think of Suede's debut single.) You can download "Long Hair" at the top of this post (or stream it below) and there's a second song you can stream at their Tumblr.

Continue reading "check out The Drowners (playing free show at Pianos tonight, opening for The Vaccines) -- dates & MP3"

photos by Tim Griffin

Drive-By Truckers @ Stubb's

Y'ALL:
Last Wednesday, I fell down and cut my hand.
Fifteen stitches in my left palm.
Wish I had a cool story, but I don't.
The movie version would have me getting cut by a bottle of rot-gut whiskey in a bar fight.
No doubt defending the honor of someone or another.
My heroics bookended by a scene of me carrying my hand for reattachment by a disgraced former surgeon in the back of a grimy tattoo shop because lack of insurance would preclude being seen by a real doctor.
I would be brave and not cry or complain.

Hurling would be out of the question.

Ahh, the movie version.

Unfortunately, the truth is kind of tame, lame even.
I was picking my daughter up at first grade, carrying a bottle of water.
I tripped and fell (in front of her entire class).
I fell, shattering the glass which I then duly landed upon, pushing shards up into my hand.
My fucking left hand.
Fifteen stitches in my palm.
No biggie. No cut tendons or damaged muscle. Missed that artery (bled like a stuck pig though).
Hurts like hell, but it won't long and I will be as good as new in a month or less.
Unfortunately, I can't play guitar for a few weeks and we have a tour beginning this week.

In the words of Three Dog Night, "The show must go on".
My friend Kevin told me, as I was bleeding all over the playground, awaiting my ride to the Emergency Room, "You guys have too many guitar players anyway."
Nonetheless, to insure everyone's Premium Rock and Roll Experience, we have recruited our friend Will Johnson, from Centro-matic to fill in on guitar, covering the SG through a Fender Vibro-King parts.
I will be in full front man mode, on other words, it's dancing shoes time.
I always wanted to be Phil Mogg, and for the next couple of weeks...

We only have Will Johnson through New Orleans, then we will have to improvise, but that's one of the things we do best, so STAY TUNED.

So come out to this, hopefully once in a lifetime DBT Show.
We guarantee you a great time and a Premiere Go-Go Extravaganza that you'll be telling your Grandkids about (maybe sooner than later).

Oh and Bob, the 9th is my son's birthday and it's GO TIME.

Long Live Rock and Roll and Country Soul.
Captain Hook
(Patterson Hood)
(or is it Dr. Hook?)

An injured Drive By Truckers played a headlining show at Stubb's in Austin on 9/1 with Will Johnson on guitar and with Will Johnson's band Centro-Matic opening. The New Orleans date has now also passed, but the show goes on and DBT continue their tour on 9/7 in Tuscaloosa AL (a benefit for tornado relief).

The current trek never comes east, but in October DBT play a string of shows with Those Darlins not long after Those Darlins play The Bell House in Brooklyn with The Beets and Brothers. Tickets are still on sale for that show. Centro-Matic play MusicFestNW this coming weekend in Portland.

All dates and more pictures from the Austin show, below...

Continue reading "Drive-By Truckers played Stubb's, Patterson Hood cut his hand, Will Johnson filling in on guitar (pics & more dates)"