Drive-By Truckers in Detroit

Before I forget it ever happened, I need to take some time to write about seeing Drive-By Truckers in Detroit on Friday, March 10.

This was my/our first indoor concert since before the pandemic, and guess what? L. and I both have colds now. We assume from being in a small space with hundreds of people in close quarters. Oh well, at least it isn't covid.

The show itself was fun. DBT always brings it and last Friday at Saint Andrew's was no exception. 

Since DBT has no "hits" per se, and a rabid fanbase that has in most cases followed them for decades and knows the entire discography front-to-back, the band plays whatever the hell they feel like playing that night. In fact, they are famous for not using a setlist. So every Truckers show is a unique experience and you're never sure what you will get.

Young singer-songwriter Margo Cilker was the opener. Despite some technical glitches--her guitar-playing partner on stage seemed to have some problems with his amplifier--she good-naturedly soldiered through and was warmly received by the crowd.

DBT played a high energy two-hour set. Apparently there is an 11:00 curfew because that is exactly when the show ended and the house lights came on. It was probably just as well because my feet felt like raw hamburger standing for 3 1/2 hours in thin-soled Vans skateboard shoes. (Note to self: next time wear shoes for comfort and not style. Nobody can see my shoes in the dark, anyway).

The most notable highlights of the show were the Truckers covering Alice Cooper's "I'm Eighteen," and the Jim Carroll Band's "People Who Died." Patterson Hood prefaced the Carroll song with a moving eulogy to the band"s longtime album cover/poster artist Wes Freed, who died unexpectedly late last year. Hood has always been transparent about his struggles with depression, and Freed's death shook him and sent him spiralling. Thankfully, it seems Hood is getting better. He certainly seemed happy and energetic during this Detroit show.