Jason Isbell

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- Bio

“If I die before I’m old, my story will be less than told.” (Taken from “Chicago Promenade”) Jason Isbell may still be young, but he’s packed an enormous amount of musical experience into his 29 years. Growing up in a family of musicians, he absorbed everything he heard and began channeling it into guitar at age six and piano at 12. For the past six years, Isbell was one of three frontmen for the critically acclaimed Drive-By Truckers (DBT)—and although fans may have been shocked by his leaving the band in April, once you hear his solo debut Sirens Of The Ditch (which was co-produced by Isbell and DBT’s Patterson Hood) it will only confirm that Isbell has his own unique voice. Musicians joining Isbell on the album include DBT’s Shonna Tucker (bass) and Brad Morgan (drums) with cameos from Patterson Hood, his father David Hood, Spooner Oldham, John Neff and more. Recorded over the past four years at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals (Aretha Franklin, Duane Allman, Otis Redding), Sirens Of The Ditch is a diverse collection of songs that incorporates elements of rock, blues and soul music into a heartfelt mix of songs that favor piano and pedal steel over buzzing guitars—although, don’t worry, there’s a fair share of overdriven amps as well. “A lot of old soul musicians came through here in the late ’60s and ’70s and helped define the Muscle Shoals sound,” the lifelong Alabamian explains, “so that influence was always in my environment, but on this record I really tried to capture that.” “I think in a lot of ways these songs are different than the stuff I wrote for the Truckers,” Isbell explains from his home in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, a few days before leaving for a solo tour supporting alt-country legends, Son Volt. “Usually when I write, it’s pretty obvious if I’m writing a Truckers song or I’m writing a song for some other purpose,” he continues. “Sirens Of The Ditch is more of a power-pop record than what the Truckers would normally write. The songs are more hook-oriented and they’re not necessarily as story-driven.” While driving rock numbers like the opener “Brand New Kind Of Actress” evoke Isbell’s previous band, there’s a remarkable amount of variance inherent on Sirens Of The Ditch. For example, “Chicago Promenade” is a heartfelt, piano-driven ballad that’s a paean to the past as much as it is a hopeful glance toward the future; “Hurricanes & Hand Grenades” is a classic Muscle Shoals soul track that showcases Isbell’s tender tenor; and the acoustically driven “In A Razor Town” continues the folk tradition pioneered by artists like Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie, but recontextualized through Isbell’s decidedly pop paradigm. Although Sirens Of The Ditch may be more tender musically, that doesn’t mean the lyrics are any less striking that what Isbell has penned in the past. “There are definitely some political overtones on this record,” Isbell explains, clearly referring to the song “Dress Blues.” “I’m really proud of that song because it seems to affect people in a certain way,” Isbell elaborates. “It was one of those where you sit down and the story was already there, so I just told it the best way I knew how.” Essentially, that statement is as good as any to describe what Sirens Of The Ditch is all about. “I guess I tried in some ways to write a record that sounded more pop-oriented, but still talked about darker issues,” Isbell summarizes. “ I can’t help it, that’s just want I’m drawn to.”

Twitter Updates

Headin' to Portland for another show with the Mother Hips! http://bit.ly/10kCfo
12:35 PM November 06

Latest bulletin 10.29.09

"Things that Rock" on Jason's Blog!

Check out Jason's list of "Things that Rock" on his new blog, "Try the Special"

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Photos posted by Jason Isbell

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Blog posts

Salt Lake City Show Review - 11/09 Nov 3
Things that Rock on Jason's Blog! Oct 29
Tour Dates, Video and Free Download! Oct 21

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Anna C
Oct 16, 05:19 AM

Hey Jason, saw the show last night at MS2MR, had a great time. Have you recorded your song the Outfit?? Would love to add it to my playlist.
Oct 14, 02:40 PM

please!
Sep 25, 07:49 AM

Awsome show last night at Cincinnati's Midpoint Music Fest! They put on a two hour clinic on how to rock Midpoint!
Sep 01, 12:14 PM

Worked with you in Savannah GA at locos and would love for you to come to town here in columbus,ga!!!! have great locations like SoHo, and the loft for you to play at. Hopefully we'll see you soon
Aug 15, 12:26 PM

Nice show at the Birchmere last night, come back to DC soon
Pete N
Aug 14, 11:14 PM

Soon, please, dammtt.
Aug 08, 04:14 PM

Why don't you add Streetlights?
Jul 24, 01:59 PM

Great Show At Summit City !!!

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Videos posted by Jason Isbell

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Featured songs

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Seven-Mile Island
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Sunstroke
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Good
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Cigarettes and Wine
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However Long
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The Blue
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No Choice in the Matter
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Soldiers Get Strange
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Streetlights
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The Last Song I Will Write
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Other popular songs

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Dress Blues
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Hurricanes and Hand Grenades
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Chicago Promenade
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Brand New Kind Of Actress
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In A Razor Town
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Recently recommended by fans

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Dress Blues
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SVGirl: "He's going to be part of the "Beards - no Beards" tour with the liks of Steve Earle, Old 97s, John Hiatt, Drive-by-Truckers, etc. A show I want to catch to be sure - Jason is a nice addition to th..." more