Ditching the label of Southern rock

In the 10 months since Athens, Ga., act Drive-By Truckers last visited Augusta, the band has embraced both its past and its future and attempted to shrug off the mantle of Southern rock revivalists.

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In August, the Truckers, who return to Augusta today to play the Mission, released The Dirty South, a concept album about poverty, power and the criminal element in the New South. The album received rave reviews and ended up on several critics' lists as a top CD for 2004. Earlier this year, the band raided its back catalog and released its first two albums, Gangstabilly and Pizza Deliverance, rough-and-tumble records that document the early successes of a band still searching.

"Now that those have come out, it's interesting to see how people respond to them," said Mike Cooley, one of the band's founding members and principal songwriters. "I'm glad to see that they hold up. There are a lot of people who think that Southern Rock Opera was our first album - our double-disc, concept album debut."

Quickly labeled the Saviors of Southern Rock after the release of Southern Rock Opera, the band has continued to mine the sound, both ironically and earnestly. But Mr. Cooley said Drive-By Truckers was never a true Southern rock band.

"The truth is, we've never set out to be ironic or Southern rock," Mr. Cooley said. "We set out to play music that we thought was fun. We were tired of doing what we thought was right or wrong. Sure, we pay tribute to a group of people that have had a big influence on us, but we're not a part of that movement. For one thing, it predates us by about 15 years."

Mr. Cooley said the band is enjoying the success that a string of acclaimed albums has brought.

"I think the last time we felt any real pressure was putting out Southern Rock Opera," he said.

"The hardest thing now is just accepting that we're working musicians. Sometimes it still feels like this is a side project. Then you realize this is it, This is who we are and this is what we do."

Reach Steven Uhles at (706) 823-3626 or steven.uhles@augustachronicle.com.

WHO: Drive-By Truckers, with the Redbelly Band and the Shaun Piazza Band

WHEN: 4 p.m. today, Redbelly opens

WHERE: Promoters moved the concert from the Jessye Norman Amphitheater to the Mission, 1157 Broad St., because of the forecast for inclement weather. Doors open at 4 p.m. For more information, call 722-1233.

COST: $15 at gate; www.soulbar.com