Photo via Patterson Hood’s Facebook page

Drive-By Truckers kicked off a three-show New Year’s run at Washington, DC’s 9:30 Club on Saturday. As previously reported, longtime Truckers guitarist John Neff announced his immediate departure from the band via Facebook late last week. According to a post by Truckers co-founder Patterson Hood himself, members of the Truckers first heard the news when they read Neff’s message.

Despite numerous guest rumors, the Truckers did not bring on anyone to replace Neff on Saturday. However, Truckers keyboardist Jay Gonzalez pulled double duty and played auxiliary guitar at several points throughout the group’s shows on Saturday and Sunday. As they have in the past, DBT crew members Craig Lieske and Paul McHugh also took the stage with the band for a cover of Jim Carroll’s “People Who Died” on Saturday night.

The North Mississippi Allstars Duo will open for Drive-By Truckers at the 9:30 Club this evening. The Truckers will host their annual homecoming shows at Athens, GA’s 40 Watt Club from January 17-19. They are expected to asses future lineup additions when they begin work on a new album in 2013.