By Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Dec 19, 2007 at 7:16 AM

Don't you just love the term "cowpunk?"

As a label and an adjective, it accurately describes the genre of music to which it refers, which, as any writer knows, is an extremely rare and valuable thing.

At this moment, we're using it in reference to the Drive-By Truckers, a Southern-bred five-piece band that mixes a hearty helping of country with a teeny tiny bit of punk rock aggression (think Lucero).

The band's releasing a new album Jan. 22 -- "Brighter Than Creation's Dark" (New West Records) -- and will be here in Milwaukee to play all 19 of the record's tracks (hopefully) at 8 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Pabst Theater. Special guest The Felice Brothers is a folksy four-piece comprising brothers Ian, Simone, James and their friend, Christmas.

Tickets are $20 and go on sale at noon Friday at the Pabst Theater box office, on the Web at pabsttheater.org and tickets.com, or by calling (414) 286-3663 or (800) 511-1552.

Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com

OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.

As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”