Album Review: Jason Isbell - Foxes in the Snow

Jason Isbell

Foxes in the Snow

**** out of *****

For his most recent effort, Foxes in the Snow, the singer/songwriter Jason Isbell stripped down to as basic as it comes. Isbell set up shop at Electric Lady Studios with just an all-mahogany 1940 Martin 0-17 acoustic guitar and his impressive vocals. Working with producer Gena Johnson over the span of just five days, Isbell's open, raw and hypnotic tunes are enchanting. 

Album Review: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Weathervanes

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Weathervanes

**** out of *****

The newest collection of stout songs from Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, titled Weathervanes, is yet another example of top notch song writing in a discography full of them; every release since Southeastern has been must hear and excellent. 

While it is clearly a band album, Isbell has truly started coming more into his own with enhanced self confidence. He self produced the record (with some help from Matt Pence), designed the cover art (whose weathervane only points south and east) and wrote all of the songs with his unique take on small town life standing in for larger societal problems. 

The album is fairly split between softer Americana/country/folk efforts and full band, southern rockers. The 400 Unit is Derry deBorja - Acoustic Piano, Electric Piano, Organ, Accordion, Synthesizers, Therevox, Tack Piano, Background Vocals Chad Gamble - Drums, Percussion, Congas Jimbo Hart - Electric Bass, Bass Ukulele Sadler Vaden - Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Electric 12 String, Acoustic 12 String, Background Vocals. His wife Amanda Shires supports as well on fiddle and backing vocals and other guests help out along the way. While the core songs remain Americana/Southern rock, there are flashes of new avenues musically that Isbell is toying with to keep things fresh. 

Opener "Death Wish" goes in a slightly new musical direction, with touches of new wave and angular percussion as the track oddly gets a dance beat roiling around swelling strings (provide by by Morgan O’Shaughnessey) as Isbell sings with an extra touch of anger, amping the distressing feeling immensely. A song like "King of Oklahoma" feels as if Isbell could have written it in his sleep, as down on their luck addicts fight their demons to regain a sense of humanity through righteous memories, killer guitar solos, and ensnaring turns of phrases; whether they are walking in homemade house shoes or stealing copper pipes.     

Highways and wounded cowboys arrive in "Strawberry Woman", as does Mickey Raphael's harmonica while "Middle of the Morning" has a laid back Allman's Brothers vibe coursing throughout the pandemic influenced track. The acoustic shuffling of "If You Insist" ramps up the twang to deal with isolation and loneliness while a trio of easy swaying numbers, "White Beretta", "Vestavia Hills", and "Volunteer" (with great supporting vocals from Shires) are so confident in their tales of broken dreams that contain slim slivers of hope, that it feels Isbell could literally churn these top notch efforts out forever. 

Never afraid of diving into tough subjects, gun violence is addressed directly and confidently on "Save The World" which brings in an early 80's Dire Straits sound (along with digital bleeps and electro keys) to the tale of helplessness one feels when another mass shooting tops the news; a powerful song. "Cast Iron Skillet" turns a mirror onto Southern charms that aren't very charming at all while the hard stomping "When We Were Close" painfully deals with substances abuse in the arts around the best guitar solo on the record.     

The album ends with two elongated tunes that really shine the spotlight on the band interplay as "This Ain't It" was recorded live and has a vibrant feeling as the 400 Unit uses a big rock sound with congas in a Rolling Stones like way winningly. Closer "Miles" feels like two songs in one and is a bit clunky, however, the opening playing/verses remind of a polished version of Neil Young and Crazy Horse before a big climax changes the tone as Isbell discusses modern issues of displaced rage and capitalisms faults. Perhaps breaking this into two songs may have been a better move, but the ambitious track certainly stands out on this record.   

Overall, while other Isbell albums have had higher pinnacles and must hear songs, the solid nature of every song here speaks volumes to the groups talents as the 400 Unit deliver and Isbell continues to craft mini movies with his specifically affecting songwriting throughout Weathervanes. 

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Support the artist, buy the album and peep some video below:

New Single from Jason Isbell "Death Wish" New Album and Tour Coming Soon

RtBE favorite Jason Isbell has a new album Weathervanes coming in June with supporting tour dates.

You can check out all of the supporting dates and the first single, "Death Wish", which is out now:

Full Show Friday: Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Live On My Green FM Music Festival 2020

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit! 

This week we head to Live On My Green Music Festival back in 2020 for Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit's set. 

Having caught Isbell and crew this summer, and multiple times before that RtBE can attest to their live prowess. 

Pro Shot, Pro Sound, Full Set List Below.  Enjoy! 

Intro: 00:00:45 If It Takes a Lifetime 00:01:03 24 Frames 00:05:03 Stockholm 00:08:30 How To Forget 00:12:10 Traveling Alone 00:16:19 The Life You Chose 00:22:04 Decoration Day 00:26:19 Speed Trap Town 00:34:04 Alabama Pines 00:39:09 Codeine 00:44:10 Cover Me Up 00:51:20 Super 8 00:58:15 Something More Than Free 01:03:25 Flagship 01:07:25 Never Gonna Change 01:13:10 Children of Children 01:21:25

Live Review: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit @ Pier 17 NYC 9/2/2022

Hey all, got a review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!

It is of Friday night's live show from Bully and headliner Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. 

Top notch stuff and an even better venue. Pier 17 has quickly leaped to the top of the list for outdoor venues in NYC. It is dynamite, if a touch expensive for drinks, but wow about everything else.  Will certainly be returning the next time I can. 

Check out the review and peep some video below:

Dylan Cover #527 Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires "The Man in Me" Live

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires playing "The Man In Me"

Every April (and first week of May) we have a special focus in our ongoing Monday Bob Dylan Cover Series on artists who will be playing Jazzfest in New Orleans. Today we highlight, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit who play the best festival in America on Saturday April 30th.

Thoughts on Original:
Almost a forgotten throw away track from Bob, which proves how great he really is, this peach of a song originally appeared on New Morning. The famous La-la-la's are so unlike Bob it instantly stands out as unique in his back catalog. "The Man In Me" is playful, loving, sincere yet deceptive. It took on an added life after showing up in the cult classic The Big Lebowski and now has a whole new generation digging its quirky sounds.  

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:

RtBE are big fans of Isbell, Shires and the Whole 400 Unit having seen them, reviewed them, and written about them a bunch. 

Thoughts on Cover:

Fantastic, like most music Isbell and Shires touch. A little more gravity than Dylan's original, but the duet is a gem on every level, from Jason's vocals to shires violin, A+ stuff. 

Sleater-Kinney Dig Me Out Tribute Album to Benefit LGBTQIA+ Youth Center

Last week we celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Sleater-Kinney's breakthrough album Dig Me Out.  Now it is announced that a host of artists will be contributing to a benefit tribute album.

The artists covering tracks from the classic record include: Courtney Barnett, St. Vincent, Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires, The Linda Lindas, Margo Price, Low, Tunde Adebimpe, Wilco, Black Belt Eagle Scout, Big Joanie, Self Esteem, and Tyler Cole. 

The album will benefit  a local LGBTQIA+ Youth Center in Seattle. While the track listing hasn't been released, as to who will be covering what song, it is sure to be exciting with all of those talented people onboard. 

Here is an original track to get hyped for this tribute:

Album Review: Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - Georgia Blue

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit

Georgia Blue

***and1/2 out of *****

Most of the time, PR for an album is all fluff, but for Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit's most recent offering, Isbell himself wrote about the process, the inspiration and the limitations in a clear and illuminating way: 

Georgia Blue is a labor of love. On election day 2020, when I saw that there was a good chance the state of Georgia might go blue, I came up with an idea: to record an album of Georgia-related songs as a thank you to the state and donate the money to a Georgia based non-profit organization.

I will admit my motivations were a bit selfish. For years, I’ve been looking for an excuse to record these songs with my band and some friends. The songs on this album are some of my favorite Georgia-related songs, but the tracklist is not meant to be comprehensive. I would love to cover Outkast and 2 Chainz, but I don’t think the finished product would be very good. We’re a rock band, so we covered rock songs. We have roots in blues and R&B, so we enlisted some brilliant artists to help us pull off songs by Precious Bryant, James Brown, and Gladys Knight.

This cover album allows the band to try new things all for a great cause. They open up with REM's "Night Swimming" Bela Fleck's banjo picking, strumming guitars and strings make for deep layers of sound while "The Truth" by Precious Bryant bounces along with a country jaunt led by Adia Victoria. The acoustic strums and eerie vocal harmonies float along with Brandi Carlile and Julien Baker helping out on The Indigo Girls "Kid Fears" while Cat Power's "Cross Bones Style" puts a modern spin on those strings, digitizing them up with the help of Amanda Shires. 

The big rock sound enters the fray with the sweet sounding "Honeysuckle Blue" with 400 Unit guitar man Sadler Vaden leading the way while "Driver 8" finds a smooth version of the REM track book ending things while "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" fits the outfit like a glove. The best Black Crowes song also gets a stirring cover complete with Steve Gorman helping out on drums as "Sometimes Salvation" blares out power, riffs and passionate vocals as the band slays the song on all fronts.  

The band also does a sweet job with their R&B covers as Brittney Spencer gives it her all on "It's A Man's Man's Man's World" supported by horns along with Isbell's weeping guitar in the distance and "Midnight Train To Georgia" which finds John Paul White supporting the polished effort. Isbell himself delivers his powerful vocals on the iconic "I've Been Loving You Too Long", putting in a top notch performance. 

A unique album worth hearing from a band on top of their game just playing some of their favorite songs with friends, for a State they love and giving the funds to very worthy causes. Nothing negative to say about any of that. 

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Support the artists, buy the album and peep some video below:

Year In Review 2020 - Favorite Albums of 2020

Here are our all of our favorite albums of 2020. This is the year end review, all in one place.

It starts with our honorable mentions then moves into our top ten albums of the year. There is a short blurb about the album and a song from it, click on the title to read our full review of the selected records. The focus here is on full albums, not singles, but long playing releases you can slap on and listen to all the way through.

It has been a weird year to say the least... 

Thanks for reading.

Year In Review 2020 - Favorite Albums Part 1 (The Just Misses and Let Downs)

Another year is finishing up and @RockBodElec wouldn't be a proper music site if we didn't end the year with a "Best Of" list, so RtBE presents 2020's Favorite Albums Part 1 (The Just Misses and Let Downs):

In the instance that RtBE has reviewed the album, either on this site or elsewhere, we will link to that review and just give a quick summation; click on the name/title and you can read our full opinion. RtBE worked with the Glide Team to give input on their Top 20 so you can expect some overlap if you already have seen that list.

Again the focus here is on full albums, not singles, but long playing releases you can slap on and listen all the way through. We know these are a dying breed, but it still is the way we consume music, no shuffle or singles for us.

The number ten just works for this so these are the albums that just missed out on being our ten favorite for the year. After that we have s few albums from artists we dig that we were let down by. Like all of our lists or 'best of's' these are meant to start conversations more than end them...

Live Streams: Hood To Holler - Votes for Kentucky and Beyond

With live music on lock down (like everything else currently in New York City) live streams and old concerts have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. While this current state of pandemic separation is in order we will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and you can always check out or weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past. Please support the artists any which way you can. 

Today we highlight: Hood To Holler- Which Side Are You On? Votes for Kentucky and Beyond

Rep Charles Booker is hosting an online music gathering to pump up the vote in Kentucky and beyond:

View this post on Instagram

We are standing on the side of the people. The side of democracy. The side of action. To celebrate our commitment to the fight as we all prepare to VOTE, Hood to the Holler is proud to present a groundbreaking virtual music festival: “Which Side Are You On?” Don’t miss it. Register now. LINK IN BIO.

A post shared by Hood to the Holler (@hoodtotheholler) on Sep 23, 2020 at 5:12am PDT

Some RtBE favorites will be performing including Layla McCalla, Jason Isbell, Jim James and more.  Here are the Nappy Roots to get ready for tonight's live show.  

Album Review: Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Reunions

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit

Reunions

**** out of *****

The newest release from Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit is a strong collection of Americana and builds upon the success of his recent efforts. Reunions continues Isbell and company's ride as some of the most important artists on the scene today with Isbell writing impressive songs regarding sobriety, parenthood and dealing (or not dealing) with societal  change.

One of the first noticeable things is an uptick in production and sounds as Isbell's longtime producer David Cobb (known mostly for stripped down country/folk) has focused on each instrument with great care. Repetitive questioning opener "What Have I Done To Help" has deep bass string vibrations, acoustic/electric strumming/wailing and electro-keys warbling around as the track uses it's title phrase over and over again, questioning life and choices made. On The Nashville Sound, the 400 Unit (Derry Deborja – keyboard, Therevox Chad Gamble – drums Jimbo Hart – bass Amanda Shires – harmony vocals, fiddle Sadler Vaden – electric guitar) seemed to be finding their way back to sharing the headline with Isbell, here they are much more integrated.

"Dreamsicle" amasses the small town woes Isbell is so adept at capturing with dramatic piano as the song itself could inspire an off Broadway play while "Only Children" deals with the song writing process itself with artistic struggles taking center stage.

The middle of Reunions look to slightly update Isbell's style as production, playing and tone successfully shifts towards a War on Drugs inspired, mid 80's radio vibe. "Overseas" works with finding your true self because no one else can, direct imagery and ripping guitar while "Running With Our Eyes Closed" uses a late night sense of cool to the troubling times described.

More familiar to fans is the poetically Southern tune describing the "River" as pianos flow like currents through the majestic offering while Isbell has ends the record with two tracks that could be theme songs in their complete perfect execution. "It Gets Easier" addresses the difficulty of staying sober directly and with a clear sense of the daily process while "Letting You Go" is a dynamite weeper for the parents (especially new Dad's) and will be featured in Father-Daughter dances during weddings for decades to come.

Most songwriters would kill for one song half this good, Isbell gives two (plus a slew of other damn good ones) and Reunions is a fantastic record, showing the best of the Southern Springsteen as he progresses with his dynamite talent....however there is one thing that sticks out and has since "Be Afraid" was released early.

Perhaps it is just these extra hyper changing times, but even before the world wide protests inspired by the murder of George Floyd, "Be Afraid" comes off as a hollow protest songs, arguing against hollow protest songs themselves.It is a neat lyrical trick and has a good groove...it only feels important and on 99% of artists albums that would be fine, but Isbell has the rare gift that makes ever song matter, and this one lyrically is a missed opportunity.

The more allusive "St. Peter's Autograph" is cryptic and haunting with it's illusions to ghosts, lost loves and not measuring up to memories with historical lynching implications embedded as well. Songs can naturally represent and be about anything all at once and Isbell is one of the best living writers in this art form, Reunions modernizes his sound at times, continues to do succeed with what he does best and leaves some room for improvement.

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Support the artist, buy the album and peep some video below:

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit New Album, Single and Tour

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit has announced a new album, Reunions, which will be out May 15th.

The group released the first song from the album titled "Be Afraid" and it is an upbeat piece of modern rock and roll. Lyrically it seems to be addressing writing protest songs, and does a neat trick/cop-out of not actually writing one while singing about writing one...

A good start to a record and RtBE certainly loves Isbell, having rated two of his albums among last decades best. Tour dates are below, and tickets go on sale today as the band are playing with some pretty cool opening acts (Billy Strings, Lucinda Williams etc) as well.



Jason Isbell — 2020 Tour Dates
February 29 — Tempe, AZ @ Innings Festival
March 26 — Savannah, GA @ Savannah Music Festival
March 27 — St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre
March 28 — Mobile, AL @ Saenger Theatre
March 29 — Montgomery, AL @ Montgomery Performing Arts Center
May 22 — Boston, MA @ Boston Calling
May 29 — Bethel, NY @ Mountain Jam
June 3 — Philadelphia, PA @ Met Opera House*
June 4 — Vienna, VA @ Wolf Trap†
June 5 — New York, NY@ Rooftop at Pier 17†
June 6 — New York, NY @ Rooftop at Pier 17†
June 8 — Durham, NC @ Durham Performing Arts Center‡
June 9 — Durham, NC @ Durham Performing Arts Center‡
June 11 — Atlanta, GA @ The Coca-Cola Roxy*
June 12 — Atlanta, GA @ The Coca-Cola Roxy*
June 13 — Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo
June 18 — Milwaukee, WI @Riverside Theater*
June 19 — Minneapolis, MN @ The Armory*
June 20 — East Moline, IL @ Rust Belt*
June 21 — St. Louis, MO @ The Stifel Theatre*
June 23 — Grand Rapids, MI @ DeVos Performance Hall*
June 25 — Toronto, ON @ Meridian Hall*
June 26 — Moon Township, PA @ UPMC Events Center*
June 27 — Williamsburg, VA @ Williamsburg Live at DeWitt Museum Lawn
June 28 — Boone, NC @ Schafer Center for the Performing Arts (on-sale TBA)
July 18-19 — Whitefish, MT @ Under The Big Sky Festival
July 20 — Vancouver, BC @ The Orpheum#
July 21 — Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre#
July 22 — Portland, OR @ Theater of the Clouds#
July 24 — San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield Theatre#
July 25 — San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield Theatre#
July 26 — Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl#
July 28 — San Diego, CA @ Humphreys Concerts By The Bay#
July 29 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre#
July 31 — Reno, NV @ Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort#
August 1 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Eccles Theater#
August 2 — Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks+
August 4 — Bonner Springs, KS @ Providence Medical Center Amphitheater#
August 5 — Little Rock, AR @ First Security Amphitheater#
August 7 — Austin, TX @ ACL Live at the Moody Theater#
August 8 — Austin TX @ ACL Live at the Moody Theater#
August 9 — Dallas, TX @ Bomb Factory#
August 29 — Chicago, IL @ Wrigley Field^
September 11-13 — Bristol, TN @ Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion
November 6 — Oslo, Norway @ Spektrum
November 7 — Stockholm, Sweden @ Stockholm Waterfront
November 8 — Copenhagen, Denmark @ Vega
November 10 — Berlin, Germany @ Festsaal Kreuzberg
November 11 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso
November 14 — Antwerp, Belgium @ De Roma
November 15 — Koln, Germany @ Gloria
November 17 — London, UK @ Eventim Apollo
November 18 — Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall
November 19 — Dublin, Ireland @ Olympia Theatre

*with Strand of Oaks
†with David Crosby & Friends
‡with The War & Treaty
#with Billy Strings
+with Lucinda Williams
^with Chris Stapleton

Live Review: Steve Earle's Fifth Annual John Henry’s Friends Benefit 12/17/19 Town Hall, NYC

Hey all, got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!!!

It is of Steve Earle's Fifth Annual John Henry’s Friends Benefit held on Tuesday night December 17th at the historic Town Hall in Times Square.

This was a really fun night of good music for a good cause, the Keswell School.  If people would like to donate and help out you can here:
https://www.keswellschool.org/get-involved

Fun night, good cause, great tunes. Not much more needs to be said other than that and what was in the review.  Happy Holidays.

Top 50 Albums of the 2010's: Numbers 10-1

Way back in 2009 we were lucky enough to help contribute to Glide Magazine's list of Best Albums of the 2000's. Hard to believe it has been ten years since we worked on that list, but it is that time again to look back at the previous decade and put together some arbitrary rankings. Since this site has been going strong the full decade we have a lot to pull from.

Here comes RtBE's picks for the top albums from the last decade, 2010-2019.

If we reviewed the album we will provide a link to that review in the title, a brief reflection on the record and a tune from it. A lot can change in ten years and a lot stays the same. Some albums were just right for their time and place and haven't aged particularly well and others were perhaps misunderstood or even prophetic as to where the world was headed.

Just our two cents, but this decade will not be looked back at fondly when it comes to remembering music in general. Things (for the most part) are being programmed and mushed together into mellow, white bread, digestible tunes with a hip hop foundation around pop hooks, synth vibes, a few strings and nothing the least bit exciting or offensive for the majority of music out there. In an era that should be considerably be ripe for protest, outrage, and individual expressionism, very little of actual substance has escaped to the masses.

Also from a practical standpoint, never before has the concept of "album" been so meaningless in our streaming/playlist curated society. While RtBE isn't completely old fashion, we still haven't bought into those ways of consuming music and the album is still our only way of listening to things, whether on vinyl or downloaded; no shuffling of singles here. This list focuses on full lengths that are played from beginning to end and deliver the goods.  

We will break this down over five parts, doing ten albums a day. There were a ton of good records released over the last ten years, much more than fifty, but these are our choices. We kept our personal musical releases off the list, but feel free to listen and critique those.

As a note, Glide Magazine, the main site we contribute to, changed it's rating system in the middle of the decade from 5 Stars to 10 stars, then removed it all together so if you see say #49 on our list with only 4 stars, consider it doubled to 8.

Like all of the lists RtBE have done, this is meant to start conversations, not end them. So let's kick it off...

Top 50 Albums of the 2010's: Numbers 30-21

Way back in 2009 we were lucky enough to help contribute to Glide Magazine's list of Best Albums of the 2000's. Hard to believe it has been ten years since we worked that list, but it is that time again to look back at the previous decade and put together some arbitrary rankings. Since this site has been going strong the full decade we have a lot to pull from.

Here comes RtBE's picks for the top albums from the last decade, 2010-2019.

If we reviewed the album we will provide a link to that review in the title, a brief reflection on the record and a tune from it. A lot can change in ten years and a lot stays the same. Some albums were just right for their time and place and haven't aged particularly well and others were perhaps misunderstood or even prophetic as to where the world was headed.

Just our two cents, but this decade will not be looked back at fondly when it comes to remembering music in general. Things (for the most part) are being programmed and mushed together into mellow, white bread, digestible tunes with a hip hop foundation around pop hooks, synth vibes, a few strings and nothing the least bit exciting or offensive for the majority of music out there. In an era that should be considerably be ripe for protest, outrage, and individual expressionism, very little of actual substance has escaped to the masses.

Also from a practical standpoint, never before has the concept of "album" been so meaningless in our streaming/playlist curated society. While RtBE isn't completely old fashion, we still haven't bought into those ways of consuming music and the album is still our only way of listening to things, whether on vinyl or downloaded; no shuffling of singles here. This list focuses on full lengths that are played from beginning to end and deliver the goods.  

We will break this down over five parts, doing ten albums a day. There were a ton of good records released over the last ten years, much more than fifty, but these are our choices. We kept our personal musical releases off the list, but feel free to listen and critique those.

As a note, Glide Magazine, the main site we contribute to, changed its rating system in the middle of the decade from 5 Stars to 10 stars, then removed it all together so if you see say #49 on our list with only 4 stars, consider it doubled to 8. For Reference, here is 50-41 40-31 and all of those are also listed at the bottom of this post.

Like all of the lists RtBE have done, this is meant to start conversations, not end them. So let's kick it off...

Live Review: Jason Isbell & Father John Misty 6/19/19 Prospect Park, Brooklyn NY

Jason Isbell & Father John Misty 

Live 6/19/19 

Prospect Park- Brooklyn NY

There has been a ton of rain in New York City this Spring and it poured all day Wednesday June 19th but while the clouds and some light sprinkles fell over the Prospect Park band shell Mother Nature thankfully held off from soaking the three quarter full crowd on this night. While Jason Isbell and Father John Misty's co-headlining tour did not sell out, the groups played strongly to the receptive audience.

Jason Isbell opened up this night as the players alternate on the tour and he and the 400 Unit oozed confidence as they delved into their collection of songs about recovery, broken homes, tough choices and even a cover. "Hope The High Road" opened things up with Isbell's slide guitar playing fantastic but a bit muted as the sound system caught up to the players. On the whole the volume was low this night, probably so the rich neighbors lining the park wouldn't complain, but eventually the sounds leveled off nicely. 

"White Man's World" had a great fiddle guitar duel from Amanda Shires and Sadler Vaden who also paired up for a closing jam, which included mallets on the drums and fluid bass runs during "Last of My Kind" which proved a set highlight. Another great tune was the glorious version of "Cover Me Up" which started as a duet before huge swells and powerfully gorgeous vocals from Isbell. There was some banter around his Star Is Born song "Maybe It's Time" and the group covered Fleetwood Mac on "Oh Well" but it was the delicate closer "If We Were Vampires" which showed the strength and nuance of the songwriter and band.

After a brief set break Father John Misty took to the stage in his blazer and pants, hands in pockets to serenade the crowd with "Hangout at the Gallows" around pumping horn work. His ten-piece backing band were fluid and nimble on the evening, at times providing dramatic backing to Misty's singing or laying in the background to allow his voice to shine.   

"Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings" had a good groove but allowed the guitars to get after it, all the while bathed in soothing red lighting while "Mr. Tillman" brought out huge cheers from the crowd when he hit the line, "Jason Isbell's here as well/And he seemed a little worried about you" but Isbell did not make a cameo.

Two of the major set highlights came back to back "Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins) included swelling drama as trumpets soared before he introduced "Please Don't Die" from the excellent God's Favorite Customer as "yet another song about death" but the harmonica work from Tillman, strumming guitars and warm increasing horns were life affirming.

Misty and company played two newer, unreleased songs, "Time Makes a Fool of Us All" which is pushed along with an 80's pulsing dance beat while "Tell It Like It Is" was a slow poetic piano ballad that started off slow but included beats and more harmonica work. 

The set wrapped up with Misty dancing with his microphone for "I Love You, Honeybear" before the encore of "I Went to the Store One Day" and "Date Night" ended an excellent night of music under the swelling clouds and darkening Brooklyn sky.
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Support the acts, see the tour and peep some video below:

Jason Isbell & Father John Misty Co-Headlining June Tour

In the Father John Misty song "Mr. Tillman" he sings the line "Jason Isbell's here as well/And he seemed a little worried about you". Now Jason Isbell himself can keep close tabs on Mr. Tillman as the two will be co-headlining a cross country tour this June.

Both are RtBE Personal Favorites as we love Isbell's albums and shows while rating Misty's most recent album, God's Favorite Customer our favorite from last year, but have not yet seen him live.

That will change this June in Brooklyn as the pair play hour long sets each for the Celebrate Brooklyn show. Tickets can be obtained now through the artists pre-sale with the code: FJMISBELL
The full on-sale happens this Friday if the pre-sale sell out. It is going to be a fun night of tunes out in Brooklyn in June, or wherever you happen to catch this tour as Isbell and Misty are two of the best songwriters going today. Below are some live videos to prep for the show:

June 6 – San Diego – Cal Coast Open Air Theatre $ + 
June 7 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl $ + 
June 8 – Berkeley, CA – The Greek Theatre At UC Berkeley $ + 
June 9 – Bend, OR – Les Schwab Amphitheater $ + 
June 11 – Redmond, WA – Marymoor Park $ + 
June 14 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory $ + 
June 15 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion $ + 
June 16 – Milwaukee, WI – BMO Harris Pavilion $ + 
June 17 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre $ + 
June 19 – Brooklyn, NY – BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival $ + 
June 20 – Canandaigua, NY – CMAC $ + 
June 21– Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion $ + 
June 22 – Philadelphia, PA – Metropolitan Opera House $ + 
June 24 – Richmond, VA – Altria Theater $ + 
June 25 – Cary, NC – Koka Booth Amphitheater $ *
June 27 – Irving, TX – Pavilion At Toyota Music Factory $ + 
June 28 – Houston, TX – White Oak Lawn $ + 
June 29 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center $ + 

$ – Father John Misty
* – Jade Bird
+ – Erin Rae
^Unless otherwise specified.

Album Review: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Live From the Ryman

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Live From the Ryman

** out of *****

Jason Isbell is an amazing songwriter as his recent run of outstanding records (Southeastern, Something More Than Free and The Nashville Sound) has placed him at the center of the Americana scene with southern version of Bruce Springsteen small town tales. He is also a whip crack live performer who can solo and move in/out with his longtime live band The 400 Unit. Unfortunately the combos newest release, Live From the Ryman does not prove the live part of that assertion and the songs all sound better on the studio efforts.

Having seen Isbell multiple times the performer puts energy and class into his playing, but one of the coolest things is how he mixes in covers and his Drive-By Trucker tunes to give a complete overview of things. Live From the Ryman dos not contain any of that, instead you just get note for not recreations of his recent songs which is fine just not very essential.

In truth the only tunes which deviate much from the originals are "Last of My Kind" which contains delicate solos from most of the band members, the bombastic ending of "Cover Me Up" and the punchy opening "Hope The High Road".  The rest are just fine live versions and even these small changes to the originals are never must hear. This is professional yet completely inconsequential and dull; had we not already mentioned them, this album would have been included in 2018's biggest let downs. 

The artwork is perhaps the best part of the vinyl and while it is highly recommend to see Isbell live, skipping this record and just re-listening to the studio originals is probably the best bet. The 400 Unit may have a great live album in them, but Live From the Ryman is not it.     
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Support the artist, buy the record and peep some video below:

Full Show Friday: Jason Isbell Live @ The House of Blues 2/27/16

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Jason Isbell!

This week we dip back into 2016 for one of RtBE's favorites, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Live @ The House of Blues in Boston.

We were lucky enough to have caught this tour only two nights beforehand when the group played the Beacon Theater on the 25th. Lots of the same songs were played at both shows, this one is pro shot with pro sound and the full set list is below. Enjoy:



February 27, 2016 – FULL SET – Jason Isbell, winner of two grammy awards in 2016 (Best Americana Album & Best American Roots Song), performs in front of a sold-out House of Blues Boston, MA. Setlist: 00:25 Palmetto Rose 05:17 24 Frames 08:52 Flying Over Water 13:28 Stockholm 16:54 Dress Blues 23:23 Decoration Day (Drive-By Truckers) 31:18 Flagship 37:08 Alabama Pines (Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit) 42:55 The Life You Chose 46:54 Traveling Alone 52:25 Something More Than Free 57:50 Never Gonna Change (Drive-By Truckers) 1:06:45 Cover Me Up 1:14:27 If It Takes A Lifetime 1:18:28 Super 8 1:23:49 Children Of Children (Encore) 1:32:50 Speed Trap Town 1:37:45 Codeine (Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit) Jason’s website: http://www.jasonisbell.com/ Band Credits: Jason Isbell - lead vocals/guitar Derry deBorja – keys/accordion Chad Gamble – drums Jimbo Hart – bass guitar Amanda Shires – fiddle Sadler Vaden – electric guitar