Grousing The Aisle: Drivin’ N’ Cryin’

Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ – 12/26/2009 Atlanta, GA [download] [stream]

Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ is without a doubt one of the best kept secrets in the history of Rock & Roll in my opinion.  Lead singer/guitarist/songwriter Kevn Kinney is a true American icon and his songs have a way of touching people and becoming part of their lives.  Kevn and Co. have without a doubt been part of the soundtrack of my life for well over 15 years so to see them celebrating 25 years in 2009 was an amazing thing.  The band had just released their amazing  new album The Great American Bubble Factory and set out on their most ambitious tour in years.  The band was playing to packed houses everywhere they went and also playing the better shows than they’d played in many years.

This show from The Tabernacle in Atlanta before a near capacity crowd shows the band in top form doing what they do best: rocking some fucking faces off.  The band opens with Detroit City Rock from the new album and then delivers a one-two punch by going all the way back to the beginning with Scarred But Smarter to a rousing roar of approval.  Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ also shows their ability to hold their own in the world of “jamming.”  While never really known as a “jam band,” Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ was embraced by the jamband world and its easy to see why.  The jams in this show aren’t the kind of noodling that makes you wanna go get a beer.  Their jams are full of life and really lend themselves to adding life to the songs and at times a bit of tension that makes you wonder just where they’re going.

This is a legendary band in their prime and a show not to be passed up.