It wasn’t Fleetwood Mac, but things got sticky for the Drive-By Truckers when guitarist Jason Isbell and bassist Shonna Tucker divorced. Isbell was forced out of the band, and four years later Tucker left as well.
Last year, Tucker recruited DBT guitarist/pedal steel player John Neff to join her new band, along with former members of Elf Power and Bright Eyes. On Oct. 15, Tucker and her crew will release their debut, A Tell All.
Of course, Truckers fans have already gotten a taste of Tucker’s song-writing chops. She penned three tracks on the band’s last two albums, including the rocking Wilson Pickett-esque kiss-off, “(It’s Gonna Be) I Told You So” and the forlorn country ballad, “You Got Another.”
The forthcoming album seems to split the difference, judging from the three tracks available on Bandcamp. The pretty ballad “Your Jealousy” features twangy guitars and peals of pedal steel but also synthetic strings. “Linda Please” has a shuffling ’70s country-rock flavor backed by a stomping mountain backbeat, while “Since Jimmy Came” is a full-on rocker with a great hook. More molasses than honey, there’s roughness to Tucker’s vocals particularly suited to her brasher numbers.
Shonna Tucker and Eye Candy will play the Windjammer Sat. Aug. 31. The show starts 9 p.m. and tickets are $7. The band is joined by Radiolucent.
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