2006 was the year, when Drive-By Truckers reunited, both on-stage and on-record, with Athens-based pedal steel guitarist, John Neff. Neff was the first who played with the band on their 1998 debut LP, Gangstabilly, and played pedal steel on three subsequent albums, 1999's Pizza Deliverance, and 2003's Decoration Day. Neff was featured heavily on the 2006 release, A Blessing and a Curse. During the next year, Neff began touring with the band as an unofficial sixth member.
Jason Isbell announced his retirement from band in April . The following day, Patterson Hood confirmed the break on the official site. In his letter to the fans, Hood described the parting of ways as "amicable" and expressed the hope that fans would continue to support Drive-By Truckers as well as Jason's solo efforts. In the same letter, Hood declared the John Neff as a full-time member playing both guitar and pedal steel.
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. Creation's Dark moved to 37 number 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 ended the touring with the band at the end of Brighter. 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 band member. Gonzalez would go on to tour with the band and play a pivotal role in crafting the atmosphere and sound of 2010's The Big To Do.
On July 7, 2009, New West Records released the band's second official live album and DVD called Live From Austin TX. Material from Brighter Than Creation's Dark made up the majority of the mostly acoustic set-list. This was the first official release featuring Jay Gonzalez as the official 6th band member.
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