Monday, November 16, 2009

Eats, shoots and leaves

I briefly considered going off to check out other acts after David Lindley had left, but I wanted a good place to watch Drive-By Truckers from and there didn't seem to to be a lot going on. So I took a seat near the security barrier and waited for them to get on stage. Shortly thereafter, someone tried to step on my head. It seems a group of young people wanted to get into Bluesfest but didn't want to pay, so they jumped a fence near the back of the Subway Stage, leapt over the barrier (and onto me until I scrambled out of the way) and took off into the sparse crowd, leaving only a water pistol lying on the ground in their wake. I just hope they weren't Ludacris fans - if so they were a few minutes late to catch his set. Back to the Drive-By Truckers. They're probably my favourite band currently in their heyday. They've also had a busy year, with a new live CD/DVD, an odds-and-sods collection and Patterson Hood releasing a solo album. They've got a hard-earned reputation as one of the best bands around and proved it with a long and sizzling set.

Patterson Hood says hi.

Drive-By Truckers at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Mike Cooley smokes.

Drive-By Truckers at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Phew, they turned the lights on! That's steel-guitar man John Neff at left and travelling keyboardist Jay Gonzalez just behind Hood.

Drive-By Truckers at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

More Mike! I tend to be a bigger fan of Cooley's DBT songs than Hood's.

Drive-By Truckers at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

"Is there any way to dim that light?"

Drive-By Truckers at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Shonna Tucker sings!

Drive-By Truckers at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Shadowy steel guitar with John Neff!

Drive-By Truckers at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Gripping action!

Drive-By Truckers at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

More Shonna! And a blurry Brad Morgan on drums.

Drive-By Truckers at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Trucking action!

Drive-By Truckers at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Brad rocks the traps.

Drive-By Truckers at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Faceoff action!

Drive-By Truckers at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Cooley does like to strike a pose.

Drive-By Truckers at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Mike works the axe.

Drive-By Truckers at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Patterson swings the goldtop.

Drive-By Truckers at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

More gripping action!

Drive-By Truckers at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Hooray!

Drive-By Truckers at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

The only problem was that Black Mountain was putting on an equally sensational show back over at the Black Sheep Stage and you couldn't see both.
  • Show reminder: The Fays, Vancouver popsters The Parlour Steps, Sin Kickers and The Sonic Defence play Zaphod's; The Rainbow hosts Paper Lions.

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