Sunday Truckin'

Last Sunday I went to see the Drive-By Truckers at the Shepherds Bush Empire. The Drive-By Truckers are one of my favourite bands. I’ve got every album of theirs, even a bootleg called Christmas At Cooley’s House which is a recording of them getting pissed and playing acoustic versions of their songs. I’ve seen them numerous times, including when I was passing through Chicago and had to pay a ticket tout way over the odds to get in.
On the way to the gig I wasn’t looking forward to it as much as other Drive-By Truckers gigs. Maybe because it was on a Sunday. I think it would be so much better if Sunday gigs began late afternoon as things start earlier and end earlier on a Sunday. On Sundays you eat the main meal of the day earlier, go to the pub for a few pints in the afternoon, then early evening go back home and sit in front of the TV trying not to think about getting up early for work in the morning. Well for most people of my age anyway (which is the demographic of the Drive-By Truckers fan base).

When I got there, went to the bar and had to fork out just over four quid for a beer that wasn’t even pint size I would’ve rather stayed at home, that is up until the band came onstage and banged out the opening chords to the song Uncle Frank.

The Drive-By Truckers are always good value for money, but it wasn’t one of the best gigs of theirs I’ve been to. Nothing to do with the band but I preferred it when I saw them at smaller venues like the Highbury Garage, The Carling Academy and Dingwals. Surely everyone would rather see a band in a small venue. Medium sized venues like the Sheppard’s Bush Empire and The Roundhouse are okay but I don’t think I’ll watch a gig in bigger places than that anymore.
One thing for sure is that I will never make the mistake of seeing a gig at either the Wembley or Docklands Arena again. Just awful.
The bigger the band the more money you pay to get a worst view and sound. Give me The Luminaire in Kilburn or The Borderline in Charing Cross anytime.