I am one of the biggest Drive-by Truckers fans around, but must say their show Thursday night at NYC’s Terminal 5 was not good.


To be fair, other critics loved the show and disagree.

Mired by bad sound (shame on you Terminal 5) that included speaker shrieks, poor sound board mix (where where the drums and bass?)

and way too loud vocals…the Drive-By Truckers did not excite the sparse crowd with the new English Oceans songs.


BTW…I love the new album so that ain’t it.


After talking up DBT for years, I convinced a good music buddy (J.P…I hope you give em another chance) to stay the night in NYC and see the show.  He was not impressed.


Also unfortunately, I missed the opening set by Blitzen Trapper (see Last Waltz show review) due to my extreme thirst for just one more pint of Patron.


Cooley’s voice was sour and the band was a step slow… it almost looked like they couldn’t hear the backbeat bass and drums either.


The band did have glimpses of their true self  though during the familiar “Ronnie and Neil”, “Lookout Mountain” and “Hell No I Ain’t Happy”.


As I said to one die-hard fan (he showed me the Cooley dragon tattoo on his stomach) that travelled from Memphis… perhaps the guys had too little or too much of whatever they take/drink to power up before a show.


Like a parent that says “only your mother would tell you…(fill in the blank)”… 


Fellas the show was not good.


The next time you come to NYC, bring your A-game.