Drive-By Truckers' New Detour: How 'Horrific Grief' Rewrote the Band's History — rollingstone.com

The lights at the Ryman Auditorium were low, the pews were full and Patterson Hood sauntered off the stage with a furrowed brow long before the rambling chords of his guitar ceased for the night. One by one, the rest of Drive-By Truckers followed suit: the keys went quiet, the instruments were laid by their respective amps and the lofty echo of "Grand Canyon" died down in Nashville's hallowed hall as the men who brought its din into being stripped it of its parts. Mike Cooley loped off in the direction of the dressing rooms only to have his son leap toward him before he met the curtain, and the guitarist-singer hoisted the kid up into the crook of his arm without breaking stride. After bassist Matt Patton exited, drummer Brad Morgan was left sitting on his own, the confident heartbeat of his kit cutting through the static discarded in the wake of his band mates, the feedback of the abandoned guitars metallic and strong against Morgan's snare. Eventually, Morgan stood up and turned on his heel. He walked off without his sticks, and the crowd at the Ryman gave a standing ovation to an empty stage.

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