The Atlanta Chapter and the GRAMMY Foundation hosted a GRAMMY SoundChecks with the Drive-By Truckers for 30 GRAMMY U members at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, Ga., on Jan. 15.
In 2004 Rolling Stone magazine called the Drive-By Truckers "the boldest 'n' baddest Southern band in the land." The band recently released their entire "Austin City Limits" performance as a CD/DVD and has signed with ATO Records and will release their label debut, The Big To-Do, in March. Band members in attendance included vocalist/guitarist Mike Cooley, keyboardist Jay Gonzalez, frontman Patterson Hood, drummer Brad Morgan, guitarist John Neff, and vocalist/bassist Shonna Tucker.
After an hour-long soundcheck, students sat with the band for an up-close-and-personal discussion, moderated by GRAMMY U Representatives Cartter Fontaine and Summer Lutz, both students at the University of Georgia. Once the question-and-answer session began, students had the opportunity to ask the band questions about their songwriting process, career highlights, balancing career life and family life, maintaining relationships with friends, and touring.