Jason Isbell is one of the greatest living American songwriters. This might seem like a bold claim since Dylan and Springsteen are still alive and kicking, but the Alabama native belongs in the same pantheon.
I was very disappointed when he left his former band the Drive-by Truckers but this is the rare example of a split working out for the best: DBT is still releasing killer music (Mike Cooley and Patterson Hood are brilliant songwriters too) and Isabel now has an outlet for all of his songs. It's a win for everyone.
Whether he tackles social issues, talks about his own experiences or talks about people he invented, his writing is always sharp and compelling. His records are the best thing Americana has to offer and they take another dimension on the stage. His personality, his humour, his honesty transcend those already wonderful songs and give them even more depth and emotion: I challenge anyone to listen to Jason sing his song "Elephant" without shedding a tear.
But he can also make you laugh and sing and dance and horny... a Jason Isbell concert is a cathartic event where the audience can experience the whole range of human emotions like the people at the Café de la Danse did last night.
In a time of superficiality and style over substance, this is not a thing to take lightly.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Feel free to comment on this post: