One of my favorite things about seeing live shows (well, after the music) are the crazy comments that you hear along the way. Here are a few choice selections from Fall 2014.
This song is for everyone having a bad day. If you’re having a good day, sit this one out. Andrew Duhon
No “Freebird,” dude. “Wagon Wheel,” we’re Americana. Susan Cattaneo
Some of you know what you want to hear, none of you know what you’re gonna hear. James McMurtry responding to some shouted requests
You’re asking for songs that I put on a record and never played again. Jon Snodgrass trying but failing to accommodate a fan’s requests
Play some rock and roll. Loud guy in the crowd as the Drive-By Truckers took the stage in Pawtucket, RI
No. Patterson Hood, in response
This is the kind of city that don’t take no shit from nobody. I like that. Mike Cooley adding his perspective
Boston will always hold a special part of my heart. Everything except your baseball team. St. Louis Cardinals fan Joe Fletcher playing a show in Boston
I live like 15 minutes from here, it only took me like an hour to get over here tonight. Ward Hayden of Girls Guns and Glory on fighting traffic to get to a hometown show
That’s what I get for starting the show sober. Ben Nichols of Lucero, forgetting the second verse of the first song of their set.
We still have significant others who think we’re on vacation. James McMurtry on the touring life
I love this part of it but there are 22 other hours in a day and they fucking suck. Jon Dee Graham on the touring life
I’ve got cds that I can sell you so I can buy gas to get to Baltimore tomorrow. Turns out that’s far away. Joshua Black Wilkins, to a Boston crowd
I didn’t join a band to play music, I joined a band to ride in a van with my friends. Jayke Orvis
It’s great to see a redneck go over well with a New York crowd. Overheard as Tigerman Woah wowed a NYC crowd. Ironically, the Tigerman crew are from Lynn, MA
We haven’t played this one in awhile. We haven’t played any of them in awhile. Dave Gibbs of the Gigolo Aunts during the band’s first performance in 20 years
You can yell all you want to, I know you didn’t see us. Patterson Hood introducing a song by Adam’s House Cat, the little-known Hood-Mike Cooley collaboration prior to Drive-By Truckers
That was one of the first songs we ever wrote. Ben Nichols of Lucero
It’s one of the first songs you ever forgot. Lucero guitarist Brian Venable’s response
He’s not even from Texas, he’s from New Jersey. (crowd groan) Yeah, I know. You should see the way they talk about you guys. Jon Dee Graham introducing Austin-based tour mate Mike June to a Boston crowd
How’s everybody doing? (pause) You were pretty non-committal about that. Mike June reacting to lukewarm audience applause
The times that it saved my life were well worth the times that it almost killed me. Patterson Hood on rock and roll
We appreciate you coming out and ruining your Tuesday. Austin Lucas acknowledging the crowd attending a late night Monday show.
It’s already recorded for the new record so if it’s no good I don’t care. Northcote introducing a new song.
That’s some guerrilla Garfunkel shit. Austin Lucas after Jon Snodgrass grabbed a mic from the soundboard in the back of the room to join in on vocals.
My mother was catholic and my father was Jewish. I was born guilty and went to school to learn it. Greg Trooper
I never saw Lynyrd Skynyrd and I never saw the Clash but I saw the Replacements mother fuckers. Patterson Hood ad-libbing the lyrics of “Let There Be Rock”
There’s a reason that we usually leave town after one show. Ben Nichols of Lucero on the closing show of a three-night stand.
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.