Jason Isbell - how big has he gotten?

I wish the show here in Portland was going to be reserve seating like the one in NY. In which case I'd try to get in on the presale starting tomorrow. I was able to get 3rd row a couple years ago in NH. Even though we stood 95% of the time it was still nice to have a seat.

I'll have to settle for GA in a flat field and no cover this time. The venue is kind enough to offer a blanket and beach chair area.............in the back.

 

He's playing Red Rocks with Aimee Mann. It's about half-sold -- 4,500 tickets out of a little more than 9K available. Still, he was hitting small clubs here not long ago.

 

Jason is incredible! I love every single song on his latest CD. He got a Grammy for it and for the single from it "If We Were Vampires"

 

That show is not until September. He might sell more tickets before then.

 

Definitely. DBT with Isbell circa 2003-05 was about as good as it gets from a live show standpoint. Saw them several times during that period. That line-up rocked the paint off the walls every single night. I used to freakin' love Isbell's lead guitar playing on Cooley's "Where The Devil Don't Stay" (among others). They played that song a lot before they actually released it and it was always a major highlight of those shows for me.

 

Of course there will be more sales. But if you're familiar with the concert business, 90% of ticket sales happen with the on-sale date. Maybe Jason will have a high-profile hit/appearance/whatever between now and then, but if not, this is pretty much it.

 

I'll give it a shot. This is the song that got me to like his music.

 

Watching him on Austin City Limits right now, really my first exposure and I like it! Authentic Americana, great musicianship within the band

 

That was the first and so far only song I've heard by him. What else is as good?

 

He just finished with Anxiety, which was fantastic. Start and finish were dirty instrumental with a heartfealt song in between

 

He played If We Were Vampires, another highlight. His wife, Amanda Shires, was with him, and now I’m watching her do her own ACL set

 

If you like that listen to If We Were Vampires from his last album, The Nashville Sound

 

Now he is guesting with Amanda, who is an excellent Americana artist on her own, Jason playing a fiery and intricate guitar line

 

I wouldn't call Isbell a country artist. I'd call him a rockin' singer/songwriter.

 

“Last of my kind“, the first track on The Nashville sound.

 

I describe his look as, Southern Baptist Youth Minister. Not a put down. They are normally good folk.

 

I'd say his work is best appreciated when taken as a whole. Sit down or stretch out and put on Southeastern for starters. Then go from there.

 

I'd like to give JB a listen. Where's the best place to start with his solo discography?

 

Southeastern. His masterpiece. It’s very introspective, and begins a career renaissance for Isbell.

The two records that follow are both very strong as well and rock harder.

 

I'll assume you would want to include Jason Isbell's post Truckers discography with his band. These will be listed in Discogs under "Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit". If that is the case, I strongly recommend you start with his fantastic live album "Live From Alabama".
I don't disagree that Southeastern is a masterpiece, with The Nashville Sound close on its heels. I'd still start with the live album.

 

If you wanna see a super live show, go watch him at the Ryman. Of course, he sells out the 5-6 shows about ten seconds after they’re available which makes getting tickets a little tough!

 

That live album is amazing and gives you almost all his best Truckers’ songs—the version of Decoration Day is just blistering—and a good mix of the best stuff from his pre-Southereastern records (all of which were under appreciated when they first came out).

 

I’m not familiar with the concert business, except I’ve been to a bunch of them! I am very familiar with Isbell and his fans. Be willing to bet there will be easily 8000+ at Red Rocks.

 

I'm pretty sure he''s hovering around 180 lbs these days...
so you know...not that big.

 

I'm still not in the habit of going to YouTube, so I'm only half aware of Isbell. I know a guy who I respect for his music interests and he loves Jason.
But what I have seen of him, he seems so earnest and serious, like he takes himself very seriously. What I like about the Truckers is they seem like a rock band who have interesting ideas, while Isbell seems like he wants to bare his soul. Idk. Am I off-base here? My fiend recommended a version of Born In the USA by Isbell, and it didn't thrill me like he thought it would.