Looking Back at Drive-By Truckers
The charming young men in the photo represent Drive-By Truckers as they were in 2003, the year they released the iconic album Decoration Day. At that time, a very young Jason Isbell was part of the band as one of its three songwriters. While Isbell contributed fewer tracks to Decoration Day compared to Patterson Hood or Mike Cooley, he did write the title song and “Outfit.” He played with Drive-By Truckers from 2001 until 2007, after which he went solo and found significant success on his own, continuing to include his DBT songs in his live performances. He will be temporarily reuniting with the band for a special television appearance.
New Album Release
This Friday, Drive-By Truckers will unveil The Definitive Decoration Day, a four-LP box set that features additional material, including the unreleased live album Heathens Live At Flicker Bar, Athens, GA – June 20, 2002, accompanied by liner notes from Stephen Deusner, who authored the DBT biography Where the Devil Don’t Stay in 2021 and Stereogum’s retrospective on Pizza Deliverance for its 20th anniversary in 2019. In celebration of this release, Jason Isbell will reunite with Drive-By Truckers for a performance on the December 2 episode of Stephen Colbert’s Late Show.
Cordial Relations
Jason Isbell has maintained a positive relationship with Drive-By Truckers over the years, with occasional surprise reunions. For example, a couple of years ago, Patterson Hood joined Isbell and his band, the 400 Unit, to perform “Lookout Mountain” in Portland. Likewise, Isbell has surprised fans by appearing with DBT in Nashville and at Shoalsfest. In a recent press release, Isbell expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “The legacy of the band has definitely grown, and there’s a new appreciation for the Truckers and especially for that era of Decoration Day. Without them, you wouldn’t have the kind of work being done by MJ Lenderman and Wednesday and Waxahatchee and a bunch of other acts. I can hear the Truckers in all that music.”
Celebrating a Masterpiece
Patterson Hood remarked, “While we’ve always remained friends with Jason, and I feel we’re closer now than ever, this is our first officially ‘announced’ performance together in nearly 20 years. I consider Decoration Day to be our masterpiece, and Jason was such an important part of that album, making it special for him to join us in celebrating this release. Colbert has been our favorite, so we’re really excited to be back on his show, the last time being during the election week of 2016. This is a unique treat for us (and you).”
Release Information
The Definitive Decoration Day will be available on November 14 from New West Records. The performance on Colbert’s show is scheduled for December 2. For additional insights, check out our interview with Jason Isbell.
