Drive-By Truckers to release new album and reunite with Jason Isbell for performance
The iconic Southern rock band with strong connections to Alabama and the Shoals region is preparing to reunite with its former guitarist and songwriter, Jason Isbell.
Drive-By Truckers has revealed that they will share the stage with Isbell, a former member of the band, for a performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert scheduled for Tuesday, December 2nd.
“I consider Decoration Day to be our masterpiece, and (Jason Isbell) was such an integral part of that album that it’s wonderful that he’s able to join us in celebrating this release. Colbert has always been our favorite, so we are really psyched to be on his show again, with our previous appearance being the week of the election in 2016. This is a rare treat for us (and you).” Patterson Hood expressed his excitement about the upcoming performance.
The announcement coincides with the band’s reissue of the album Decoration Day, the first album recorded with Isbell as a member. Isbell is credited with writing the title track and Outfit.
Their new album, The Definitive Decoration Day, is now available and features remastered tracks alongside a recorded live set from an Athens bar in 2002.
Unreleased songs from the band’s hometown, performed acoustically, were recorded a year before the release of Decoration Day. This collection includes the band’s first-time performances of several of these songs.
“We decided that it would be fun to go play an acoustic late-night show at the tiny Flicker Bar, less than a block away from our beloved 40 Watt Club. We ended up playing a set that included all but one song off of our new, but still unfinished album. I didn’t even know until recently that there was an existing tape of the show. This is a beautiful document of our band at a very crucial and joyous moment in time. I’m so happy that it exists.” Patterson Hood shared his thoughts on the recorded performance.
Although the Drive-By Truckers have continued to create new music and tour without Isbell, they have maintained a close relationship. Hood and Isbell have performed together, including at ShoalsFest 2025, alongside fellow band member Mike Cooley.
“The legacy of the band has definitely grown and there’s a new appreciation for the Truckers and especially for that era of Decoration Day. Without them, you wouldn’t have the kind of work being done by MJ Lenderman and Wednesday and Waxahatchee and a bunch of other acts. I can hear the Truckers in all that music.” Isbell commented on the band’s influence on music.
Isbell has not made an official appearance with the Drive-By Truckers since 2007 when he left the band due to personal struggles with excessive drinking and drug use. Since then, he has had a successful solo career, including his most recent Grammy-nominated album, Foxes in the Snow.
In conclusion, the Drive-By Truckers’ reunion with Jason Isbell on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is a highly anticipated event for fans and musicians alike, celebrating the band’s rich history and significant impact on the music industry.