Page "Drive-By Truckers" Paragraph 12

Shortly after Isbell's departure, on April 20, 2007, Patterson Hood announced via the band's website that a longtime friend of the Hood family, Spooner Oldham, would be joining the band playing keyboard for a string of acoustic performances called The Dirt Underneath Tour.

This stripped-down tour would set the writing mood and style for the band's next release, 2008's Brighter Than Creation's Dark, a far more " swampy " and country record than its predecessor.

Brighter Than Creation's Dark went to No. 37 on the Billboard 200 album chart and was billed as a gothic masterpiece by the band.

Spooner Oldham contributed to the recording of the album, and also toured with the band in support of the record.

The record boasted nineteen tracks, clocked in at over 75 minutes ( for this reason the record's vinyl format was released as a double album ), and features the first song contributions from bassist Shonna Tucker.

Oldham stopped touring with the band at the end of Brighter Than Creation's Darks " Home Front Tour.

" Yet due to his influence on Brighter Than Creation's Dark, much of the band's new material required a keyboard player.

This, as well as playing with ( and being heavily influenced by ) keyboardist Booker T. Jones, led the Drive-By Truckers to enlist Jay Gonzalez as an official 6th bandmember.

Gonzalez would go on to tour with the band.