Mike Cooley: at The High Watt (Nashville, TN) Sat. February 9, 2013

Mike Cooley

Pop/Rock

Nashville Scene Critic's Pick …

Although his Drive-By Truckers bandmate Patterson Hood is the more prolific songwriter, longtime fans of the band know that one of the highlights of every DBT album will be the two or three contributions from co-founder Mike Cooley. With a sharp eye for human nature, a sense of the sardonic and the ability to capture a perfect turn of a phrase worthy of classic country songwriters, Cooley’s songs go to the heart of his characters’ hopes, dreams and disappointments in such classics as “Zip City,” “Women Without Whiskey,” “Daddy’s Cup,” “Cottonseed” and many more. Naturally, “Cooley heads” are thrilled to finally see the man step out on his own with the release of his new album, The Fool on Every Corner, and a solo acoustic tour that spotlights dramatically reimagined versions of many of his classic songs. He’s doing a two-night stand at The High Watt, so there’s no excuse for missing one of the best songwriters working today.

—Randy Fox