It’s no accident that Patterson Hood will lead the Drive-By Truckers to the D.C. area for shows before and on New Year’s Eve. Although the much-in-demand band had many choices of venues at which to play, they knew early on they wanted to book the D.C. gigs.
“9:30 really is one of the best venues in America. It’s definitely one of our very favorites,” said Hood. “We played some dates back there in March and those were two of my favorite shows of the year. We love the audiences, the staff and the people who run it…It’s just a great place to play.”
| Onstage |
| Drive-By Truckers |
| Where: 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW |
| When: 7 p.m. doors Thursday, 8 p.m. doors Friday, and Saturday |
| Info: At presstime Thursday and Friday’s shows were sold out, $55 tickets for Saturday shows were available; 9:30.com; 800-955-5566 |
Hood would know. Since forming a punk-inspired band in 1985 with college buddy Mike Cooley, a group that eventually led the two to the formation of the Drive-By Truckers, the band has been true road warriors on tours and playing high-profile events.
The constant travel has left the band mates a bit weary, though, and Patterson said the Truckers will take a hiatus in 2012. During that time, Hood will release a 12-track solo album — “Heat Lightening Rumbles in the Distance” — and play dates in support of that work.
“I’m really happy with it. It turned out really well,” said Hood adding the album would be released in the spring. “[It developed when] I was trying to write a book and it inspired a bunch of songs. I started [writing the album] this summer and I finished it this week.”
The book concept was based on life events Hood went through when he was about 27 or 28. Those stories directly inspired more than a few songs on the album, which Hood said have a stripped down sound quite different from the southern rock of the Truckers.
That’s especially interesting, since Hood tapped many members of the Drive-by Truckers to play and sing on the album that also includes a guest spot by his famous dad David Hood. The senior Hood, a multi-instrumentalist who is a member of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, founded the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio and produced music for many performers including the Rolling Stones, Willie Nelson and Cher. He has also played bass on albums by Paul Simon, Bob Seger, John Hiatt and other known performers.
But Truckers’ fans should not despair. The band will return.
“We’re not breaking up,” said Hood when asked. “We have been breaking up [via rumors] for 20 years. There will definitely be at least one more record. We have at least one more record in us. We aren’t in any big hurry to do it, but that’s just because I’m really happy with what we have done [with past albums]. If [Drive-by Truckers] doesn’t put out a new record this year, that will be a healthier thing for everyone involved.”
