Last week Jason Isbell brought his version of the rock show to Tampa for the third time since his split from the Truckers. Much like the Shackshaker’s show a couple of weeks ago, I’ve seen enough Isbell shows that at this point it’s getting redundant to write the same review each time he comes to town. That said, this seemed like a good time to give the ol’ “live tweet” thing another run. Here are the results:

@autopsy4: Isbell has started & they sound great.
@autopsy4: New drummer?
@autopsy4: Killing it. A few years ago Jason was so timid as the front man. Now, 100% confident.
@autopsy4: God damn lonely love. FUCK YES!!!!!
@autopsy4: Must be the Truckers cover segment of the show. Color me happy! Remember when the Truckers played Tampa?
@autopsy4: Surprised he’s playing Dress Blues so early.
@autopsy4: @BroStephenScott I miss the Truckers w/Jason too.
@autopsy4: We’re at the Browan’s song part of the show. He needs a new song.
@autopsy4: http://twitpic.com/4p8ug – Another club gets the love
@autopsy4: No Isbell show would be complete w/o Outfit
@autopsy4: The drunk guy in front of me thinks the words to the song are “slobber slobber slobber slob”
@autopsy4: Same drunk dude likes to tell the band how much they rock at every lull.
@autopsy4: Covering Patterson’s Killer
@autopsy4: Rather. The Assassin
@autopsy4: I need a Twitter app with customizable automatic has tags
@autopsy4: It is the witching hour. Imma bout to have to go regardless of show completion

There you go. Prior to the show I was curious how the newer, more mellow material would go over live. Honestly, I really just wanted the new songs to be over. I miss the rocking Jason…a lot. I like the new album in my car, but I’m not sure I dig it very much in a live environment.

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – Outfit
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – Goddamn Lonely Love
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – Grown

Patterson Hood – The Assassin

YOU CAN SEE MORE PICTURES FROM THE SHOW HERE

I wanna take a moment to drop some love on the opening act, Red Cortez. Maybe I go to too many shows, maybe I’m jaded or maybe I’m just a prick but I usually try to get to shows sometime after the opening act has taken the stage and I rarely pay them any mind. Red Cortez wasn’t to be any different.

Then they started playing.

I’d love to tell you I got up off my ass, ran inside and watched their entire set but that’s not how it played out. I didn’t go inside, I opted instead to watch the show through the glass doors of the club but was impressed enough to buy their EP off their web site the next day.

Red Cortez is a quartet out of California. They have an EP entitled, Hands To The Wall. While short (6 tracks) it’s as catchy as man-bear-pig flu. Musically it really reminds me of The Zutons sometimes while lyrically it’s smart and topical.

You can buy the album off the bands web site and I recommend you do.

Red Cortez – Laughing Streetcar
Red Cortez – World At Rest

When Jason originally left the Trucker’s I imagined him releasing albums full of awesome tracks like, “Never Gonna Change”, “Decoration Day” and ballads as moving as “Goddamn Lonely Love”. As time moved on and Sirens of the Ditch was released and I stared to hear the previews of Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, I realized that wasn’t gonna be the case. The longer I thought about that, the more it became clear that my original vision of what I thought a solo-Isbell was gonna be was terribly misguided. For one, if he was just gonna continue to write the kind of music he was writing with the Trucker’s, then why not just stay with DBT? For two, it would be utterly impossible to write albums full of tracks of that quality. A single album full of tracks the quality of “Never Gonna Change” would easily go down as one of the greatest albums in the history of rock and roll. So, when I got the band’s second self-titled album I decided to listen to it on its own merits, not on the merits of Jason’s past.

One of the first things I noticed when listening to this album was that, much like his second time through Tampa, his second solo album seems to have much more self-confidence that its predecessor. It seems he no longer needs to lean on his DBT back catalog and he is willing to sonically separate himself from the shadow he had already created. This new sound relies heavily on that Muscle Shoals sound that helped put Alabama on the musical map. Mixing equal parts soul, blues, rock and country, this album proves to be Jason’s most mature album to date.

Unlike Sirens of the Ditch, this album was an entire band experience. Jason wrote the songs, but the entire band; Browan Lollar (guitar), Derry deBorja (keyboards) and Jimbo Hart (bass), wrote and recorded the music as well as produced it alongside Centromatic’s drummer Matt Pence, who also played drums on the album.

The only question left really is whether or not people who like will Jason like this. I think the answer really depends on whether your buying this album to hear ‘Jason Isbell, the artist’, or if you’re buying it to hear the newest album from ‘Jason Isbell, the former guitarist of the Drive-By Truckers’. If you’re buying it to hear more DBT, you’re gonna be disappointed. However, if you buy this album willing to hear Jason in his own skin, then what you’ll find is a fantastic album full of songs as layered and deep as his past efforts with a slightly little different sound. I think it’s Essential Listening. What do you think?

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – Streetlights
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – Sunstroke
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – No Choice In The Matter

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit’s Official Site, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit on myspace, Buy Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit

I was checking out the fantastic blog, HearYa this morning and they’ve started a new feature about cover songs that are better than the original and the most recent one features Jason covering Patterson’s song, The Assassin, from his solo album, Killers and Stars. Like HearYa, The Assassin, has always been my favorite track from the album and hearing Jason’s electric version of it makes it even better.

Maybe Jason will cover it on his next album…That! Would be awesome.

Patterson Hood – The Assassin

Jason Isbell: Live @ Mercy Lounge in Nashville, Tn:

Many things have changed since Jason last came through Tampa. People have finally quit linking Jason so tightly with DBT (something he never will and shouldn’t want to totally escape), the price of gas has increased by two dollars a gallon, I became a homeowner (the day before this show, so I was appropriately out celebrating), and Jason has gotten much more comfortable with being “the man” on stage. Last time through Jason seemed shy, timid and almost came off as the reluctant front man, so much so in fact that he even allowed fellow guitarist Browan Lollar to completely steal the show. Such was not the case this time. Jason was loose, he joked and communicated with the crowd, and while Browan was his completely awesome self, all eyes were on Jason this time around.

Playing to a much larger crowd than last time through, the band played a good mix of songs from Sirens, spiced with all the DBT familiars you expected, and a few covers to round out the set. The crowd favorites were obviously Jason’s old DBT tracks “Outfit” and “Never Gonna Change”. Last time walking in, I wanted to hear two songs, my very favorite Isbell song, “Goddamn Lonely Love”, and my favorite track from Sirens “Try” and he managed to get both in, so I went home drunk and happy. This time I just wanted a solid performance from the band…well, that and I really wanted to hear “Never Gonna Change”, since I was out in full party mode. I got both, so now Jason is two for two when it comes to me going home drunk and happy.

Jason Isbell – Try
Jason Isbell – Dress Blues

Jason w/DBT – Never Gonna Change
Jason w/DBT – Decoration Day

I have pictures from the show. I’ll post them tonight when I get home from work.

Jason Isbell posted an outtake from the A Blessing and A Curse studio sessions on his myspace profile yesterday. I can certainly see why the track did not make the final tracklisting. Seemingly more Black Rebel Motorcycle Club than Drive-by Truckers it offers a drastic departure from the familiar DBT sound. I wonder if this type of sound will make an appearance on Jason’s next studio effort. I must admit, I hope so.

Jason Isbell – Drop the Weapon

Designated Driver. Music to my ears when the show is across the bridge. The wife volunteered to do the driving duties, so I broke the seal on a bottle of Beam early for this show. Gone solo or not, Isbell, in my opinion, is still part of the Trucker family and half a bottle deep is the best way to start a night at the rock show. Common decency dictates the whole deal. The last time the Truckers were in town, they played to a packed Jannus Landing, and on the way to the show I wondered how that would translate for Isbell. The crowd was significantly reduced compared to the Jannus show, but it was still bigger than most for an artist touring on their debut cd.

Jason and his band took the stage with the familiar Jack Daniels bottle in hand, and in that single moment I knew everything was gonna be okay. Opening the show with “Brand New Kind of Actress”, the same track that opens the cd, gave me a moment of worry. Ever since I saw Social Distortion play their new cd track by track, in order, and then walk off stage, I have worried when a show opens with the first track from the current album. Five minutes later, though, all my worries were squashed as Jason started picking the familiar opening riffs of “Decoration Day”….and the crowd went wild. From there, the band played a good mix of songs from Sirens, spiced with DBT familiars, and a few covers to round out the set. The crowd favorites were obviously Jason’s old DBT tracks “Outfit” and “Never Gonna Change”. Walking in, I wanted to hear two songs, my very favorite Isbell song, “Goddamn Lonely Love”, and my favorite track from the new cd “Try”. He managed to get both into the set, so I went home drunk and happy.

In closing, I would like to type a few lines about the band itself. Ever since Jason went solo, I have wondered about the 400 Unit. Was it really Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, or was it Jason Isbell and a revolving cast of players that were gonna heretofore be known as the 400 Unit? While I will not pretend to actually know anything beyond what anyone can see, standing out in front of a stage and watching them play, they certainly seemed to be a band and not a front guy with some hired guns. They were tighter than I expected them to be, and guitarist Browan Lollar even got to take over lead singer duties during a rather spirited cover of The Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer”. Speaking of Lollar, whew, did Jason find himself a gem in that guy! That kid has got so much stage presence and charisma oozing out of him that I found it hard to watch the rest of the band at times. Oh yeah, and the boy can play the fucking hell out of a guitar as well.

All in all, I was really happy with Jason’s creation. I hope he keeps this lineup for the next cd and I look forward to hearing what Jason does now that this has his undivided attention.

Jason Isbell – Brand New Kind of Actress
Jason Isbell – Try

Drive-By Truckers – Never Gonna Change
Drive-By Truckers – Goddamn Lonely Love

Pictures of the show are available here.

The fine people over at New West Records have given me a pair of tickets for Saturday’s show at The Crowbar and a signed tour lithograph to give away to you fine readers. So here is the deal…the first person locally (Tampa Bay area) to answer the following trivia question correctly will win the tickets to the show. The second local person or the first non-local correct answer will win the signed lithograph.

-=Give Away Completed=-�

Question: What colors are mentioned in Jason’s song, Goddamn Lonely Love, from the Drive-By Trucker album, The Dirty South?

-=Give Away Completed=-

Email me your answers and I’ll contact the winners.

It’s been quiet around town for a few weeks, but it looks like this weekend will be making up for it. When it rains it pours, I guess, but it’s better than sitting at home and watching pre-season football.

Friday Night @ Skipper’s Smokehouse:

Jacksonville’s own JJ Grey & Mofro bring their swamp-infused brand of front porch blues/soul music to the Skipperdome. I have never seen these guys live, but everyone I know who has is telling me it is gonna be one of my favorite shows of the year, and I’m totally buying into it, too. I’m loving their new cd, Country Ghetto, and judging from the tunes I can glean from archive.org, the band is tight and energetic. Besides, what could be better than an August night eating fried catfish and gator tail while listening to some bluesy soul music?

JJ Grey and Mofro – Tragic

Opening up for Mofro is a group quickly taking over as my favorite local band, Nervous Turkey. Playing a brand of blues dirtier than a country boy’s, feet Nervous Turkey always puts on an entertaining show and will make for a perfect opener for this evening. So, come out, drink beers, eat fried food and have a good time.

Nervous Turkey – Too Late for Romance

Show starts at 8:00 and tickets will be $22.00.

Saturday Night @ Crowbar:

from aes presents:

“After amicably breaking away from his gig as an axman and songrwriter for DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS, Isbell returns with his first solo outing, a gorgeously whiskey-soaked Country-Soul masterpiece. It’s a perfect soundtrack for rocking on the porch or crying into your PBR.” – highly recommended for fans of DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS, RYAN ADAMS, UNCLE TUPELO, KINGS OF LEON, THE BOTTLE ROCKETS, etc. – from Muscle Shoals, AL – brand new record, “Sirens of the Ditch”, out now on New West.

I have been looking forward to this show for a few months now. If you are a fan of the rock show this is a must-see. Opening up for Jason is Denton, Texas’ Centro-matic. They come in with a root-rock/alt-country sound and seven albums under their belt. Always a good show, there is no reason for you to show up late for this show.

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Try

Doors are at 9:00 and tickets will be $12.00.

ADDITIONAL JASON ISBELL AND CENTRO-MATIC MP3′S ARE AVAILAVLE HERE.

Saturday Night @ Janus Landing:

Like I said earlier, when it rains it pours. Weeks of nothing and then we get two shows on the same damn night. If it weren’t for the Jason Isbell show, I would be at this show for sure. Tech N9ne, Kottonmouth Kings and Hed PE bring it to St. Pete. I don’t really know what the definition of ‘Krunk’ is, but when I think about seeing Tech live, I think K.R.U.N.K.. Fans of that hiphop sound should be at this show. Then email me and tell me what I missed.

Tech N9ne – The Industry is Punks

Doors are at 7:30 and tickets will be $28.00

Tomorrow, Jason Isbell’s DBT side project-turned-band sees their debut cd, Sirens of the Ditch, finally hit the shelves. It seems like I have been reading and talking about this cd for ages. Hell, I even named it as one of my most anticipated releases back in December. So I can only imagine what it has felt like for Mr. Isbell. Along the way, as we all know, Jason and the Trucker’s went their separate ways and Sirens finally got a firm release date. So, what does the solo Jason sound like?

First, this ain’t a Truckers album with Jason singing all the songs but it isn’t like the guy put on a brand new suit either. For the people hoping to hear “Decoration Day” and “Never Gonna Change” over and over, this cd is gonna take a couple of spins before you start to dig it…but you will. My first time through the cd, “Try” and “Devil is My Running Mate” jumped out, but outside of that I was a little let down. I went into the cd blind and expected the “Truckers album with Jason singing all the songs” cd. It was in the subsequent listens, as my original expectations gave way and I accepted the songs, that I began to really hear them. There is a varied sense of maturity to this cd and dare I say, it sounds like the kind of cd DBT was trying to make when they stumbled on A Blessing and a Curse.

My personal favorite track on the cd has got to be “Hurricanes and Hand Grenades”. First time I heard it, I could not hit the skip button fast enough. I dunno, maybe I was in a shit mood or maybe it was just too far away from what I was expecting to accept it at the time. It really reminds me of a 70’s-era contemplative “my baby left me” country song. It’s a beautiful song. Other standouts include the driving guitars rock song sound you expect of “Try”, the acoustic guitar and banjo interplay of “The Magician”, and the piano driven song for his departed grandfather, “Chicago Promenade”. Also included on the cd is “Dress Blues”. Hardcore Truckers fans are quite familiar with this song already, but for the uninitiated, it is a song about a friend of Jason’s who did not make it back from the war. A powerful song on the youtube and DBT live boots, it acquires an 8 pound sledge in its studio version. The cd closes with “Devil is my Running Mate”, an acoustic anti-war ballad that lacks all the anti-war song cheese everyone is starting to bore of, and has all of the craft we have come to expect and love from Jason’s songs.

All in all, this wasn’t what I expected at first, but as the cd played I found it to be exactly what I was expecting. Jason isn’t a member of the Truckers anymore and that means we have to listen to him with new ears. When you do, what you will hear is a diverse collection of songs with the songwriting talent you’ve come to expect from Jason, coupled with the freedom to do whatever he feels like.

Jason Isbell – Chicago Promenade
Jason Isbell – Try
Jason Isbell – Hurricanes and Hand Grenades

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit’s Official Site, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit on myspace, Buy Sirens of the Ditch

Note to Tampa/St. Pete readers: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit are playing Crowbar with the super awesome Centro-matic on August 18. You would have known this if you actually checked the ninebullets.net calendar with any regularity. There is no reason not to go…it’s on the weekend and I’ve already told you it’ll be awesome. See you there. Buy me a drink.

Useless trivia moment: The 400 unit refers to the 4th floor (rooms starting at 400) at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital of Alabama. It’s the crazy ward.