Every year, hundreds of Drive-By Trucker fans take vacation time from their jobs, drive/fly thousands of miles, and all meet in a small college town in Georgia for a three-night concert featuring their favorite band. Athens is the home of the Drive-By Truckers, and so it is only proper to have this event there. This event is “Homecoming.” The fans, who call themselves “Heathens,” after the song with the same title, tend to call it “Heathens Homecoming”. Whatever the name, no words can really describe this event unless you have experienced it. I headed south to GA on Thursday morning and arrived just in time for the first night show that opened with the Dexateens.

If you do not know the Dexateens, you need to change that immediately. Founded in the late 90’s in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, they have gained a cult following in the South and way beyond and are one of the best bands to catch live. The current lineup, Elliott McPherson, John Smith, Brian Gosdin, and Matt Patton, give the band the gritty and raw sound. No other band can go from a melodic and catchy sing-along to full-on punk rock like the Dexateens do. I must mention that Matt Patton, the bassist, is also the full time bass player for the Drive-By Truckers. Matt brings nothing but badass to both bands . . . but he does it with a smile on his face. Watching Matt play is one of the great joys of a rock show.

The 40 Watt was beyond packed, and the temperature was near sauna level when the mighty Dexateens came on after an awesome intro by Patterson Hood of the Truckers. Once they hit the stage, they did not stop. They played all of the fan favorites, such as “Maker’s Mound,” “Take Me to the Speedway,” “Anna Lee” and “Naked Ground.” Their shows are always unapologetically loud, super groovy, and a lot of fun. I have seen the Dexateens a few times over the years, and they always KILL it. Every. Single. Time. They bring so much energy to their live shows. They are the type of band that you crave when your job sucks, you are stressed and tired of the daily grind, and you just need to let off some steam and rock out. Lots of people who came to see the Truckers are also huge fans of the Dexateens, but the talk after the show was from the people who had never heard them before.I believe the phrase I kept hearing was “Where have the Dexateens been all my life?”  Needless to say, they gained a whole lot of new fans Thursday night. 

And then the Drive-By Truckers hit the stage. WOW. They opened with one of my favorite songs, “Shut Your Mouth and Get Your Ass on the Plane” from their album Southern Rock Opera. Following that were “Puttin’ People on the Moon” and “ Where the Devil Don’t Stay,” two of their best songs from my favorite album, The Dirty South. Each of these three songs got the crowd singing, stomping, and hollering within seconds. The show continued with songs both from years past and from the recently released new album, The Unraveling. The Truckers never use a setlist, but instead just play what they want, when they feel like it. You may catch Mike Cooley’s hand signals or see a quick look exchanged by band members to determine the next song. Sometimes, I think, they even surprise themselves with what they come up with. The Thursday night set was complete with songs including “Lookout Mountain,”  “Love Like This,” “Zip City,” and “Buttholeville,” which goes into a killer version of “State Trooper,” by Bruce Springsteen. The new songs, like “Awaiting Resurrection” and “Slow Ride Argument,” were absolutely fantastic live. The Truckers closed the show with the beautiful “Grand Canyon,” which is a tribute to their friend/merch manager/all-around-go-to guy, Craig Lieske, who passed away in 2013. Singer/songwriter Jerry Joseph (who melted faces as the opening act for Saturday night’s show) and David Barbe (musician and producer of many DBT albums) joined in for “Grand Canyon.” As always, there was not a dry eye in the house, as fans remembered the sweet soul that was Craig Lieske and all the others who have passed on.

Drive-By Truckers’ shows are always amazing, sometimes unpredictable, and leave you wishing they would play just one more song. Their energy, love for the fans, and pure talent made it one of the best live shows I have ever experienced. Patterson’s stage presence and interaction with the fans in the front row perfectly complement Cooley’s badass elusiveness that he projects with little effort. You cannot help but feel how much Matt Patton loves to play, always smiling. Brad Morgan, the drummer, is always calm and cool and keeps the band together when things get a bit rowdy. Jay Gonzalez, who plays a little bit of everything, completes the current (and best ever) lineup of the band. Add to that the hundreds of fans who have become lifelong friends and put them all together in the iconic 40 Watt, and you have an incredible event full of love, laughter, and pure rock. The 40 Watt staff are amazing, the city of Athens is beautiful, and its music/art/food scene is welcoming. There is so much to do and see and eat in Athens that the weekend is filled with much more than just music. But music is what makes it happen. 

Homecoming is also about giving back to the community. The band is heavily involved with Nuci’s Space, which is a health and resource center for musicians. They provide access to treatment and care for musicians, and their goal is to end the stigma of brain illnesses and prevent suicide. Nuci’s Space is a beautiful building on the corner right next to the “R.E.M Steeple,” which is all that is left of the 150-year-old church where R.E.M. played their first show in 1980. On the Saturday of Homecoming, the Heathens come together at Nuci’s to put on silent auctions, selling food and t-shirts to raise money for Nuci’s Space. The band and their families are there as well, and it is just a nice, laid-back event for everyone. So far this year, the fans and friends of the Truckers have raised over $50,000, all given to Nuci’s. Deciding to do something different this year, as fans designed and published the limited-edition coffee table book, The Company We Keep, with stories about the Athens community, the Truckers fans, and lots of concert and fan pictures. The book has recently had its second printing and was a great contribution to the Nuci’s Space fundraiser, driven by the love of a band and a community devoted to them. 

Heathens Homecoming is not for the weak. 3 nights of sweaty rock shows, some hangovers, little sleep, random, sketchy happenings at the Days Inn (affectionately nicknamed “The Dazed Inn” and the closest hotel from the 40 Watt), lots of new faces, laughter, some tears, and the friendly competition over the sweet auction items at Nuci’s can wear down even the most seasoned concertgoer. People rest up and load up on vitamins in the weeks before Homecoming. Money is stashed away. Art is created to donate to the Nuci’s auction. Travel plans are made. Dinner dates are reserved. This is an EVENT, and a vacation to many. I guess the only way I can sum up Homecoming is that it feels like a reunion. So much love, great music, kind people, and the beautiful community of Athens just make it feel like a home away from home. It is kind of like a family reunion but with the cool kids. And instead of Grandma’s tater salad and weird Uncle Jimmy, you get tons of friends, a full bar, and 3 nights of rock shows. 

Catch the Drive-By Truckers on their current tour, before they head overseas in June. 

Drive-By Truckers:

drivebytruckers.com

The Dexateens:

facebook.com/Dexateens/

Amy Ellis Photography:

instagram.com/amyellisphotography/