Hello Patterson, The Staff at Bozeman Mag. are very happy Drive-By Truckers are coming to Targhee Fest this year. For people who do not know, DBT are from Athens GA. Can you give us a brief history of the crazy, awesome, music scene in Athens, GA?

Patterson Hood: Late 70’s, sleepy college town gives birth to B-52’s, Pylon and REM. Tons of other bands follow suit. BBQ Killers, Mercyland, Dreams So Real, etc. REM becomes huge. Widespread Panic, Of Montreal, Neutral Milk Hotel, Bloodkin, Redneck GReece Deluxe (the big R is not a typo), Bands keep moving there or starting there. Scene not as big as it once was but still sprouting out great bands. Futurebirds, Hope For Agoldensummer, Lera Lynn, among tons of others. Our Producer, David Barbe has two sons that both have great bands so it keeps spawning new bands.

BM: What is it that sets DBT apart from other Athens bands, AND how are DBT similar to other Athens bands?

PH: I think we were initially considered sort of outsiders in Athens. We initially had a bigger following in Atlanta, which is actually rare, as there’s a weird dividing line between the two scenes (which I always considered stupid). Now I guess we’re so well known as being from there that we’re considered part of the scene. I love Athens and it’s scene, but I’m not sure how we fit in there. Guess we just do.

BM: Can you tell our readers about the Downtown 13 “After it’s Gone” song up on youtube?

PH: I wrote and recorded a song called “After It’s Gone” as a sort of love letter to Athens to draw attention to a website called protectdowntownathens.com which is trying to raise awareness about the implications of a really big development that some Atlanta developers are planning for a parcel of land right next to downtown Athens. They’re building a mixed use monstrosity anchored by a Walmart of all things a few feet from our beautiful little downtown. It’s got the town very up and arms and surprisingly divided.

BM: Please tell us who you like as new, upcoming artists and bands in Athens today.

PH: Futurebirds are incredible and I think will be a national act. A new band called Grass Giraffes is great. As I mentioned, the Barbe boys have great bands. Hope For Agoldensummer is one of my very favorites. Moths, Old Smokey. Lots of bands to watch out for.

BM: What do you think is the key(s) to having a successful music scene stay vital in a college town like Athens or Bozeman?

PH: I don’t know what makes something like that happen but I guess part of the key to keeping a scene vital is new blood coming in bringing new ideas and sounds to it. Also being supported by the local music lovers is paramount. That’s my fear for Athens, as I’ve seen a huge drop off in support over the last decade as people start to take it for granted and not be involved. I’ve been around long enough to where I’ve seen scenes die and it’s very sad.

BM: What is the most difficult thing you had to deal with to keep the band together for so long?

PH: You name it. Financial struggles, artistic struggles, personal bullsh*t. It’s all gone down at one time or another. Cooley and I have been playing together for 27 years this August. DBT was our fourth band together and we just celebrated our 16th anniversary. I guess personnel changes have been the hardest thing, but each time it’s happened, the new blood and energy in the band kind of gave us a new lease on life and brought something vital and new to the table. This latest one, as hard as it’s been, has been the same in that respect. In the end, I still can’t wait to hear Cooley’s next song and feel honored if I get to play on it. When I write a new song, I still want his input and playing on it. If you can honestly say that after 27 years, it’s pretty amazing and that’s why we keep doing it. I always want to hear Brad playing drums on whatever I do. He’s been in the band since 1999 and played with us part time before that. He’s also been on my solo albums. I’ve truly loved each incarnation of the band, but in many ways, right now is the best it’s ever been. I’m truly looking forward to recording our next album, whenever that will be.

BM: People always think being a musician is all fun and games and no real work. We know this is not true.
What’s your least favorite part of the music business or being a professional musician?

PH: At this point in my life, the constant traveling and being away from my family so much of the time. We’ve been through all kinds of hell through the years, but most of those things are behind us. We have had bad management, bad record deals, terrible financial problems, you name it. Right now, all of those things are running smoothly (the money part is sometimes a little shaky, but in this economy, whose isn’t). The band is taking a bit of a hiatus. We’re only playing a handful of shows the rest of this year and into next year, but there’s still a lot of work to do to keep it all afloat.

BM: Who are your favorite touring partners or bands to play shows with?

PH: Centro-matic from Denton TX. They’re probably my favorite band. We recently toured with Megafaun and they were great. Futurebirds are great and a lot of fun. I really prefer to play with bands I know and we have some kind of musical connectivity with whenever possible. I really love the new album by a band from Murfreesboro TN called Glossary. I really want to play some shows with them soon.

BM: How do you go about your songwriting process?

PH: Usually the best ones just hit me out of the blue and it’s like a satellite transmission that my antenna picks up. I just try to catch it and write it down before it goes away. If I don’t catch it, it’s gone, usually forever. I wrote one last night, so all is well for now.

BM: Who is Eddie Hinton to you, and what should people know about him?

PH: Eddie Hinton was a soul singer, writer and guitarist from Muscle Shoals (where I grew up) in Alabama. He wrote “Breakfast in Bed” which was a hit for Dusty Springfield and later a hit for Chrissie Hynde and UB40. He made some incredible albums that are very hard to find but well worth the effort. We covered two of his songs on our last album, including “Everybody Needs Love” which was about as close to a hit single as we’ve ever had. He played on a bunch of hit records in the early 70’s but kind of lost his mind and spent a lot of his later life in and out of mental facilities and even living in a park in Decatur Alabama. He passed away in 1995 living at his mother’s house in Birmingham.

BM: If you could go back in history, which people would you take from Rock and Roll’s past to start a new side band with, and why?

PH: I don’t know. I tend to collaborate with many of the same people over and over. Even on my solo albums, I tend to draw from a close arsenal of players. I’m not a big fan of supergroups as I don’t think the best players make as important a factor as chemistry. John Bonham was a great drummer, but the Beatles wouldn’t have been a great without Ringo. Etc

BM: What will people be able to expect from the DBT show at Targhee Fest on July 14?

PH: A great time.

BM: I am sure everyone in attendance will do just that.

Thank You for your time today Patterson.

If you are interested in seeing and hearing the DBT, visit www.grandtarghee.com or for more information on the DBT visit: DrivebyTruckers.com. Also please check out the video for “After it’s Gone” at www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ87g7uPyaY&hd=1