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Biography: After spending six years with Southern rock outfit Drive-By Truckers, singer/guitarist Jason Isbell left the group in 2007 to pursue a solo career. Isbell had already honed his songwriting skills during his tenure with the Truckers, and he funneled those talents into Sirens of the Ditch, a bluesy, punk-infused lesson in guitar tones and Southern swagger that marked his solo debut in summer 2007. While Isbell took a more introspective approach on his next two albums, 2009's Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and 2011's Here We Rest, he enjoyed a critical and commercial breakthrough with 2013's Southeastern, a lean but compelling set written and recorded in the wake of Isbell coming to terms with his alcoholism. Newly sober and re-energized, Isbell began attracting a significantly larger audience for his concerts, and his subsequent studio albums Something More Than Free (2015) and The Nashville Sound (2017) reaffirmed his status as one of the most celebrated songwriters on the roots music scene.
After parting ways with the Drive-By Truckers in 2007, Isbell wasted no time launching a solo career, and a collection of songs he'd been tinkering with for years formed the basis of Sirens of the Ditch, which was co-produced by DBT's frontman Patterson Hood and featured former bandmates Brad Morgan on drums and Shonna Tucker on bass. (The latter was also Isbell's former wife.) Backed by a new band dubbed the 400 Unit, Isbell took his songs on the road and soon began penning another album, which he recorded with the 400 Unit in 2008. Released the following year, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit was another step away from his work with the Drive-By Truckers, relying as much on sad, melancholic country ballads as the familiar Muscle Shoals sound. After performing more than 200 shows annually for several years running, Isbell took a breather in 2010 and returned home to northern Alabama. The area had been hit hard by the recent economic downturn, prompting Isbell to write a new batch of songs about the war vets, barflies, and out-of-luck characters who populated the area. The result was Here We Rest, which was released in spring 2011 to critical acclaim. Isbell followed it a year later in 2012 with a live set, Live from Alabama, recorded at the WorkPlay Theater in Birmingham, Alabama and at the Crossroads in Huntsville, Alabama. Embracing his newfound sobriety, Isbell next produced an album of haunting atonement and redemption, the sparse and impressive Southeastern, which appeared in 2013. Southeastern was a smash with critics and a commercial success that introduced Isbell to a new and larger audience.
In 2014, Isbell issued Live at Austin City Limits, a video release documenting a set he played for the long-running PBS music series. Later the same year, Isbell returned to the studio to record the follow-up to Southeastern. The resulting Something More Than Free dropped in July 2015 and took home the Grammy Award for Best Americana Album the following year. In March 2017, Isbell released "Hope the High Road," the first single from The Nashville Sound, which arrived in June. Credited to Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, the album was fittingly more band-oriented than Isbell's previous two efforts, boasting a bigger and more musically diverse sound. More touring followed, and in 2017 Isbell and the 400 Unit played a sold-out six-night stand at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, the original home of the Grand Ol' Opry. Several of the shows were recorded, and a 13-song concert souvenir, Live from the Ryman, was released in October 2018. [Allmusic]
Major Discography:
Sirens of the Ditch (2007) Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (2009) Here We Rest (2011) Southeastern (2013) Something More Than Free (2015) The Nashville Sound (2017)
Sounds Like Genre: Americana, alternative country, southern rock Similar Artists: Drive-By Truckers, Amanda Shires, Justin Townes Earle, John Moreland Similar Bonnaroo Artists: Brittany Howard, Grace Potter, Greensky Bluegrass, Yola, Mandolin Orange
Suggested Listening Jason Isbell's last three albums (Southeastern, Something More Than Free, and The Nashville Sound have all been instant classics. You can't go wrong with any song from any of them. Some of my favorites below...
Physical Reaction/Live Show The first time I saw Jason Ibell was a solo acoustic set opening for Ryan Adams on his solo acoustic tour. I was vaguely aware at the time that Jason Isbell used to play with Drive-By Truckers (of whom I was vaguely aware). Despite my being a huge fan of Ryan Adams at the time (GODDAMMIT, RYAN ADAMS!!), Jason Isbell's set left far more of an impact on me that night. His lyrics and melodies drew me in that night, but what really grabbed me was his sincerity. Sometimes he sings about himself, but often he sings about characters that we all know, and he does this like no one else of his/my generation.
I've had the good fortune to see him with the 400 Unit a half dozen times since, and every show has been outstanding. It is especially great when Amanda Shires's schedule aligns and she joins the 400 Unit on fiddle and vocals. As of now, she has no other tour dates during Roo, and they live in Nashville, so it seems likely that she will be there. In addition to Isbell's incredible songwriting, the band is phenomenal and can jam with the best of them. Though he wrote, in my opinion, some of the best songs the Drive-By Truckers ever recorded, his primary role during his stint with them was as the lead guitarist. He can absolutely shred. An Isbell set always has a nice balance of sing-along anthems ("Hope the High Road", "Super 8", etc.) and beautiful songs that will have you sobbing with 80,000 of your closest friends ("If We Were Vampires", "Elephant", etc.).
Interesting Facts
Jason Isbell cowrote a song and performs on The Highwomen's self-titled debut. He also appeared recently on Strand Of Oaks's Eraserland album. 400 Unit guitarist Sadler Vaden previously performed with Drivin' N Cryin'. Keyboardist Derry DeBorja previously performed with Son Volt. Jason Isbell is worth a follow on Twitter. He's very funny.
Upcoming Shows: 4/19 - Alvvays @ Bogart’s 4/21 - Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band @ Nationwide Arena 5/15 - They Might Be Giants @ Madison Theater 6/2 - Pigeons PPP/Andy Frasco/Dogs in a Pile @ MEGACORP Pavilion 6/5 - Pixies/Modest Mouse/Cat Power @ Andrew J. Brady Center 6/13-6/16 - Bonnaroo 7/25 - Foo Fighters @ Great American Ballpark 7/26 - Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew: Remain In Light @ Bogart's 7/28 - Brett Goldstein @ Taft Theatre
postjack
Which Ditch Bridge Troll Wannabe God-King of the Cone
Creeping up my list as I get more and more familiar. What are the best rockers of his that aren't sad as fuck?
Tough Question...
1. Hope The High Road 2. 24 Frames 3. Super 8 4. Cumberland Gap 5. Never Gonna Change 6. Go It Alone 7. Traveling Alone 8. Goddamn Lonely Love - DBTs (Don't think is too sad, really) 9. Decoration Day - DBTs 10. Outfit - DBTs 11. Daylight - DBTs
Creeping up my list as I get more and more familiar. What are the best rockers of his that aren't sad as fuck?
Tough Question...
1. Hope The High Road 2. 24 Frames 3. Super 8 4. Cumberland Gap 5. Never Gonna Change 6. Go It Alone 7. Traveling Alone 8. Goddamn Lonely Love - DBTs (Don't think is too sad, really) 9. Decoration Day - DBTs 10. Outfit - DBTs 11. Daylight - DBTs
i approve this list. I'd add "The Day John Henry Died", song is a straight rollicking rocker.
"Hope The High Road" has been anthemic for me since 2017. love the lyrics. but proof that even the "not sad as fuck" Isbell songs can make me teary-eyed lol.
not a rocker really, but "Codeine" is one of Isbell's best songs, and while it's one of the great break up songs ever written, it's actually not sad, it's funny.
actually at bonnaroo 2016 isbell said when he wrote it he thought it was sad, but these days he thinks its funny.
Creeping up my list as I get more and more familiar. What are the best rockers of his that aren't sad as fuck?
Tough Question... 2. 24 Frames
relistening to this one. one of my favorites. confirmed it is 50% sad as fuck / 50% funny.
You thought God was an architect, now you know He's sitting in a black car ready to go You made some new friends after the show But you'll forget their names In twenty- four frames
