Check out ATO recording artists Drive-By Truckers and Deer Tick in DC on Saturday, August 2, at The Anthem, as they continue on their epic North American summer tour — The Charm & Decadence Tour.
Support throughout comes from special guest Thelma and the Sleaze!
This past year saw Drive-By Truckers rocking their beloved home base of Athens, Georgia, with the 2025 edition of their annual HeAthens Homecoming, a four-night concert event set for the legendary 40 Watt Club on Feb. 12-15. All four shows – which included an intimate performance of their acclaimed 2001 album Southern Rock Opera on February 12 – were completely sold out. As if that weren’t enough, Drive-By Truckers returned to the 40 Watt on Feb. 17 for a sold-out rock and pro wrestling spectacular with Athens’ own Classic City Wrestling.
Also, DBT’s Patterson Hood released his 4th studio album, Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams (ATO) on Feb. 21. He celebrated its arrival with a run of US headline dates in March. The Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams 2025 Tour – which featured backing from his band, The Sensurrounders, with support from special guest Lydia Loveless – made stops at New York’s Brooklyn Made, as well as shows in DC, Atlanta, and Nashville, while finishing up at The Whirling Tiger on April 5.
Watch the official music video for “Never Gonna Change” by Drive-By Truckers on YouTube:
Meanwhile, Deer Tick also hit the road this spring for a pair of eagerly awaited shows supporting Tyler Childers, set for Raleigh, NC’s Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek (April 15) and Charlotte, NC’s PNC Music Pavilion (April 16).
Watch Deer Tick perform “Forgiving Ties” live on YouTube:
Since their inception in 1996, Drive-By Truckers have carved out a unique niche with their raw, unflinching storytelling, heavy-hitting guitar riffs, and blend of alternative and Southern rock. Founded by Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley, Drive-By Truckers have released 14 studio albums and played more than 2,500 shows in the last three decades. Notable members include long-time drummer Brad Morgan and current members Jay Gonzalez and Matt Patton, who have helped define the band’s evolving sound. The band’s work has often reflected the state of American society, particularly through their celebrated trilogy of albums: American Band (ATO, 2016), The Unraveling (ATO, 2020), and The New OK (ATO, 2020). This series marked a bold foray into politically charged and topical songwriting, earning acclaim for its insightful commentary and fearless expression.
In 2022, they released Welcome 2 Club XIII (ATO), an introspective look back at their early days, juxtaposed with the realities of adult life and parenting. This album highlights the band’s continued ability to blend personal reflection with broader societal observations. In July 2024, the band released the deluxe edition of their influential third studio album, Southern Rock Opera. Alongside the reissue, the band has been touring across North America on their Southern Rock Opera Revisited Tour, featuring a full performance of the album that solidified their legacy in the annals of rock history. Last year also saw Drive-By Truckers marking the 2024 presidential election with an expanded new edition of their landmark 2016 album, American Band, now including bonus live tracks, updated liner notes, additional photos, and exclusive new artwork which sees the album’s powerful original cover by photographer Danny Clinch reinterpreted by longtime visual collaborator, the late Wes Freed. As they continue to push boundaries and explore new musical territories, Drive-By Truckers remain a vital and dynamic force in the rock genre, celebrated for their powerful narratives and unwavering dedication to their craft.
Founded by singer/guitarist John McCauley in 2004, with the lineup solidified in 2009, Deer Tick’s eighth studio album, 2023’s Emotional Contracts (ATO), catalogs all the existential casualties that accompany the passing of time, instilling each song with the irresistibly reckless spirit that’s defined the Providence, RI-bred band for nearly two decades. Deer Tick’s most collaborative work to date, the album sees all four members — including guitarist Ian O’Neil, drummer Dennis Ryan, and bassist Christopher Ryan — operating at their peak songcraft powers, with each of its raggedy eloquent 10 tracks based in playing around together and connected in the almost telepathic way that’s only possible after nearly 20 years. A phenomenally rowdy live act who once averaged 250 shows a year, Deer Tick mainly credit their deep-rooted connection to a mutual love for the unpredictability of the musical impulse.
“I feel very lucky that we all ran into each other at some point pretty early on in our lives,” says John McCauley. “From the start, I just wanted to find other musicians that would somehow all stick together, which definitely isn’t easy. But we all have a real fascination with music, and that desire to never limit ourselves or repeat ourselves is something that we all very much continue to share.”
Drive-By Truckers
Deer Tick
w/ Thelma and the Sleaze
The Anthem
Saturday, August 2
Doors @ 5:30pm
$57.75 GA/$90.95 Seats
All ages
