DBT's Hood protests Wal-Mart in song

After it's Gone is the new single just released by Patterson Hood and the Downtown 13. The song was inspired by the threat of a Wal-Mart in the heart of the downtown that nurtured the band's career. Hood assembled The Downtown 13, a musical collective made up of Athens musicians to celebrate the city's musical heritage and to protest a developer's proposed building of a mixed use development in downtown Athens, anchored by a 94,000-square-foot Wal-Mart.

"This Atlanta developer wants to clog our cultural heart and build a bunker the size of three city blocks next to the vibrant downtown scene," says Hood. "They hit The Easy Button: a big box store in our downtown district is clearly misguided and a somewhat ridiculous notion. Downtown Athens is a dynamic network of local businesses--Athens already has a meaningful brand and we are extremely protective of it."

"We have a vibrant downtown with plans for the future that involve planned development along the river and hopefully a high speed rail to Atlanta," said Hood. "We don't need a big box retailer, the very definition of the past, to once again bring us back through that dark episode of closed down storefronts and empty parking lots. Protect Downtown Athens-- that's what this is all about."

The song can be downloaded. A video also is available.

The songs features members of Drive-By Truckers, Widespread Panic, R.E.M., Futurebirds, Hope For Agoldensummer, Lera Lynn, Justified True Belief and The Quick Hooks. Musicians were Patterson Hood - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Mike Mills - Harmonies and Piano, John Bell - Lead Vocals, John Neff - Pedal Steel, David Barbe - Bass, Jay Gonzalez - Wurlitzer Electric Piano, Brad Morgan - Drums, Todd Nance - Percussion, Claire Campbell - Banjo and Harmonies, Lera Lynn - Harmonies, Brannen Miles, Carter King and Payton Bradford - Backing Vocals and Henry Barbe - Electric Guitar.