By: Karla Ludzack
Two of the South's best bands, Drive by Truckers and Centro-Matic, came to Minneapolis on October 27th. If you didn't get the opportunity to see them, you missed a hell of a show.
Runner and the Thermodynamics from Boston opened the evening. Overall, I wasn’t impressed. Their brightest moment was when they closed with The James Gang's Seems To Me.
Centro-Matic was next. Their sound is built up in layers so it often take time to sink in, unless they play something that like the song “Flashes and Cables” which is likely to hit a chord with listener right away. I ranted enough about that song in my previous review of Will Johnson's solo show, so I won't gush about it further here.
Centro-Matic opened with “Love You Just The Same,” the title of their latest full-length release; but oddly enough, that song isn't on it. Instead, that song can be found at the end of the Flashes and Cables EP that came out last year. “Love You Just the Same” is a great choice for opening a show. It starts out quietly and builds to a crescendo of screeching guitars and pounding drum beats. If it hasn't gotten your attention by the time Will Johnson's hoarse whisper utters the first line, you aren't paying attention. And if you aren't hooked on Centro-Matic by the time Scott Danbom joins on harmony vocals, you probably never will be.
Drive By Truckers' Jason Isbell joined the band on guitar for the next song, Flashes and Cables. In fact, Isbell joined the band for several songs during the set. Bassist Mark Hedman told me after the show that they plan to take advantage of Jason whenever the opportunity arises. I have a feeling we may see them together again at SXSW next March.
Centro-Matic played songs both old and new from their many releases. I was especially pleased to hear a couple of my favorites from 2000's All The Falsest Hearts Can Try. I have found myself playing that CD quite a bit over the past few weeks as it paints an appropriate picture of our country's political climate these days. Another pleasant surprise was “Fidgeting Wildly” from the band’s first album Redo The Stacks. “Fidgeting” is a very catchy, danceable song featuring some wry Will Johnson lyrics. If I were forced to pick a favorite Centro CD, Redo The Stacks would probably be it. Of course, that album is practically a Will Johnson solo project, though drummer Matt Pence was responsible for the recording and keyboardist/fiddle player/guitarist Scott Danbom helped out as well.
Drive By Truckers were their usual amazing selves. New bassist Shonna Tucker Isbell fits in nicely with the band and seems to be getting the hang of things. Jason Isbell has been writing more songs for the band the last couple of years and his songs are being featured more prominently in the band's shows. Of course, we still get plenty of Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley songs as well.
Earlier in the evening we’d seen the band play a lovely in-store at The Electric Fetus. Hood, Isbell, and Cooley all traded lead vocals with Tucker and drummer Brad Morgan backing them. It was nice to hear the songs given the acoustic treatment. At the club show, many of these same songs were given the famous "three guitar attack" that the Truckers are known for.
Drive By Truckers put so much energy into their shows its exhausting just to watch them. The band had already been playing for a couple of hours and was well into their first encore by the time we called it a night. I heard that they were planning to play three hours at the very least, so there was probably at least 45 minutes left in the show. I am glad the band has graduated to the First Avenue Main Room after several dates in smaller venues around town.
Centro-Matic setlist:
1. Love You Just The Same (Flashes and Cables EP)
2. Flashes and Cables (Love You Just The Same, Flashes and Cables EP) (w/ Jason)
3. Call The Legion In Tonight (All The Falsest Hearts Can Try)
4. Strahan Has Coralled The Freaks (Love You Just The Same)
5. The Mighty Midshipman (Love You Just The Same)
6. Saving A Free Seat (All The Falsest Hearts Can Try)
7. Biology Tricks (Love You Just The Same)
8. Argonne Limit Co. (Love You Just The Same)
9. Janitorial On Channel Fail (Distance and Clime)
10. Who's Telling You Now? (The Static vs. The Strings, vol. 1)
11. The Blisters May Come (All The Falsest Hearts Can Try)
12. Fidgeting Wildly (Redo The Stacks)
Location Info:
First Avenue
Artist Info: Centro-Matic, Drive By Truckers
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