Some folks here — do we call them Refugees? [wink wink] — asked me for a review of the Isbell show in Baltimore, and I’m nothing if not people pleaser so I wrote about it here.
65 Likes
Fantastic piece. Never really heard his music I will have to check it out now.
4 Likes
Ok I’m mad I saw this while I don’t have the time to give it a proper reading.
Really appreciate you writing about the show, though. Seeing him in a couple weeks will be my first time, and already planning to see him during his Opry week in October
3 Likes
What was Vampires like, assuming they played that as well? Like you said in the article, he can probably autopilot that song every night if he wanted to and be fine. Vampires seems arguably more difficult to tie it to a daughter or friend or whatever may come. The few times I’ve seen him live, Amanda was present so he sang both Cover Me Up and Vampires directly to her and with her, so I’m very curious of how those songs will feel moving forward.
5 Likes
I feel bad saying this since KVV himself posted the piece…
But.
I’ve been a DBT/Isbell fan for a very very long time. I could have never predicted the bizarre parasocial phenomenon that cropped up around Isbell and his wife. To see it bleed over into the NLU world probably means it’s gotten completely out of hand or I’m just an ass who doesn’t get it.
1 Like
eli5? (google no help)
1 Like
"The term parasocial relationship refers to a relationship that a person imagines having with another person whom they do not actually know, such as a celebrity or a fictional character.
This often involves a person feeling as though they have a close, intimate connection with someone whom they have never met due to closely following that person (or character) in media, such as TV shows, videos, podcasts, etc."
TLDR: Zillions of men online have analyzed Jason and his wife’s relationship far more than they’ve likely analyzed their own, particularly in recent weeks.
I’m in recovery as well, but, there’s just this really, really intense emotional connection to Jason Isbell as not just a musician, but a husband and father and a sober person. I’d say that’s a weight he probably doesn’t want to carry, but he does seem to cultivate it as well.
7 Likes
Great write up, Kevin.
I was lucky enough to see him and the band twice before they blew up. Great shows.
Not qualms with anything you’ve written here, but I will say, and not to go all #notallmen, but it’s not all men lol. The person who got me into his music is a woman, and he seems to have one of the closest thing to an equally split hardcore fan base as I can remember ever seeing from someone who wasn’t like a pop country artist
1 Like
I appreciate the thoughtful response because I thought I was just going to get shit on, hah.
Is it an equally split hardcore fan base or is it couples that attend shows together and really identify with the husband and wife on stage?
Just my thoughts, anyways.
1 Like
Fantastic read. As a massive Isbell fan (tattoo to boot), I resonated with many of the insights/shared experiences @KVV wrote.
2 Likes
I’m actually just going to let it all out in this thread while we’re discussing Isbell because I love KVV, I love the Refugees, and don’t post on Twitter.
At some point in his career (Southeastern probably), Isbell’s music really started to sound like it was written exclusively for barn wedding first dance songs. Then something happened where his own relationship became just as important as the music, and I dunno…
5 Likes
When I was none of those things, I loved his music.
I think that’s two different things - when Jason sings Cover Me Up, " it is about Amanda; when I sing Cover Me Up (Alone in My Car Version) it’s for my wife, and when Morgan Whallen sings, it is for some underage blond.
kind of sucks that right now, my duet partner ain’t got anyone to sing to.
Art means something to the audience, it always will, and because it is good art, we are going to have deeper emotional connections. And some of that shines will make its way to the artist… that’s just how humans work.
7 Likes
Thanks for this @KVV TBH, It’s been a whirlwind last 3 weeks and the news of JI and Amanda splitting up hadn’t really registered. I have only known him/them together (I came “on board” after the NYT article/Southeastern), and have now seen him a dozen times. TBH, having seen the HBO documentary, I can’t say I was shocked at the news. It’s tough – 2 musicians, ambitious and strong-willed ones at that.
In the end, the meaning of CMU may change for them, but it will never change for me. I will always hear that song in that time and place. And be grateful that AS was there for him in that time of need and he was willing to let her in to help him resurrect his life.
8 Likes
Enjoyed the article @KVV! Me and @ChickPhilA will be at his show in Philly!
12 Likes
Great article, as always.
Great article.
I, for one, am really looking forward to an Isbell show that does not have Cover Me Up as part of the setlist. My dude plays 19 songs every show…he does not need to play CMU every freaking show. The catalogue is massive at this point and I hope it gets a break.
1 Like
Dumb question but - how the F did a squid like morgan wallen get the rights for that cover? Label’s decision? Im just learning about this today and its not ok!
3 Likes
Mechanical licensing. You don’t need someone’s permission at all.
1 Like
I had never heard of that. And man what a fucking squid!
1 Like