Concert Review: Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires 8/9/13

When you think "concert" you think hundreds of fans huddled together around the stage screaming and yelling and trying to get as close to the band as possible. This was not really like that (until the encore) but still was one of the best concert experiences I've ever had. Due in part to the fact that it was in the small city of Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania and it was an intimate theatre setting, the crowd size was decent but after watching the show I can tell you the room should have been way more full. At first I was disappointed no one got out of their seats to crowd the stage but I realized that really didn't matter. It wasn't a happy sing-along show. It was more like a sit at the edge of your seat in awe because these people are incredible musicians kind of show.

Opening first was a local artist named Mike (MiZ) Mizwinski. He sang folk rock songs on acoustic guitar with no band. His songwriting wasn't groundbreaking but he is literally one of the greatest guitar players I have ever seen live. Look him up if you get a chance. Next was Jason's wife Amanda Shires. She came out and sang one of my favorite songs of hers, "Kudzu" completely acapella beautifully. Then with just a ukulele sang everything from her great murder ballad "I Kept Watch Like Doves" to songs like "When You Need A Train It Never Comes" and "Swimmer" off her 2011 album Carrying Lightening. Jason and his band The 400 Unit joined her for songs off her new record Down Fell The Doves which was released last week. The band backed her up while she sang and played fiddle. She always kept the audience engaged in her music and the stories she stopped to tell, which were always hilarious. Musically speaking, she is one of the most unique artists in Americana music. Her gothic like songwriting combined with her distinct raspy voice and her soft Texas accent and her crazy good fiddle playing equals some pretty incredible music.

I knew I had to see Jason Isbell live after I heard his new album Southeastern. Newly married and newly sober you could tell that he discovered the right path, not only in his music but in his own life as well. To be able to hear a singer/songwriter evolve after each album is pretty amazing, and that's exactly what happened. With Amanda back on fiddle throughout the whole show and the rest of the extremely talented band those songs come to life like I never could have imagined. He sang songs he wrote from when he was a member of the Drive-By Truckers like "Decoration Day," "Never Gonna Change," "Goddamn Lonely Love," and "Outfit." One of my favorite performances was of one of his most popular songs "Codeine." He switched to acoustic guitar and sang almost all of the songs off Southeastern. His personal love ballad "Cover Me Up" was also a standout of the night. One of the coolest things that happened would have to be the near dead silence in the audience when it was appropriate. Any big show there's always people that scream and cheer the whole time. Slow songs are often ruined by some drunk annoying person that has to be obnoxious during the whole show. That wasn't the case for this show, you could just tell the people that were there were there because they wanted to be fully immersed in the music surrounding them. Once he asked if we were having a good time and everyone cheered then he jokingly replied with "Well I can change that." With just an acoustic guitar and keyboard he performed one of the best songs he has ever written "Elephant." It went from just a silent crowd to a crowd that was completely still. I got chills, it was incredible. He closed the show with the 2012 Americana Awards Song of the Year winner "Alabama Pines." People finally got out of their seats and made lots of noise for the encore. He came back and ended the night with "Super 8" and a cover of The Rolling Stones "Can't You Hear Me Knocking." Now I've been to my fair share of concerts but there was just something about this show that stood higher than most others I've seen. This leg of the tour is almost over, but if he ever has a show date near you don't hesitate to go, and if you don't know him learn him now. Trust me.

5 Albums You Should Be Listening To

These days who knows what country music really is anymore. I just want artists who are in it for the music, not the fame or money, because that's what makes a real artist. I want them to make music they are proud of and have it represent who they are. That concept is so lost in today's mainstream pop country music. The list below are some of the best albums I've heard this year. I don't care if it's the "countriest" sounding thing in the world or not. I just want it to be good music. Here are 5 albums that are very different from each other. I guarantee you will find something you like and will not be disappointed.  

 Like A Rose - Ashley Monroe 

Even though Ashley Monroe is best known as a member of the Pistol Annies, she proved that she can do just as well, if not better as a solo artist. The Pistol Annies gave her enough exposure to really reach out to the mainstream country fan base, and they listened. Her video for "Like A Rose" was on CMT Top 20 Countdown and she performed (very briefly) on the ACM awards. It's a start. It was great to see her amidst all of the other "types of music" in mainstream country. This is a short, simple, sweet 9 track classic country sounding album that really hits home. With personal stories being told in the the title track and others it's hard to tell how much is truth and how much is just good songwriting. She has you believing every word that comes out of her mouth that's for sure.  

The Other Life - Shooter Jennings

I'll admit to the fact that I don't love everything Shooter Jennings has ever released. Some of his songs are a little too hard edged rock for my taste. He has some really great country songs but asking him for an entire album of them would be crazy, that's not who he is. This album is the perfect combination of country and rock. Mainstream country tries to make country rock work. For the most part it doesn't go over well. (Listen to any Brantley Gilbert song if you need an example) Shooter is one of those people who can successfully defy the genre lines because they can make it work and create unique music that really fits who they are. Unquestionably this is his best album yet in my opinion. 

In The Throes - John Moreland  

A singer/songwriter from Oklahoma you probably never heard of wrote one of the greatest albums I've listened to this year. The combination of the simple acoustic instrumentation with his Bruce Springsteen-like voice and his heartbreaking lyrics just isn't fair. There isn't one bad song on this album. Every single sentence is beautifully written like lines from a poem. The whole album is the story of broken dreams, lost love, and running low on hope. It will leave you sad and heartbroken but inspired at the same time.

Southeastern - Jason Isbell

Jason Isbell is one of the most talented songwriters I've come across, probably ever. The musical style of this album is definitely in the alt country/Americana category. It's different from his other solo albums and very different from his early days as a member of the southern rock band Drive-By Truckers. The one thing has always remained the same is his hauntingly beautiful songwriting. I don't care if you call it Americana, rock, country, alt country, it doesn't matter it's just good music, music that continues to evolve into something more and more brilliant. It's stuff like this that really made me hate mainstream music. Why are these money driven pop singers getting all the attention when music like this exists? I guess we'll never know. If you are looking for a good way to transition into real music, then look no further than this album.

High Top Mountain - Sturgill Simpson

I love Americana music, I really do, but my all time favorite little sub-genre of country music would have to be from the Waylon, Willie, Billy Joe Shaver, Paycheck, etc. Outlaw Era country. If that existed today this album would be what it would sound like. It's new music that shadows the music I love that was long before my time. This is pure, real, country music. It seems like all the people who want to make actual country music are drifting off into Americana or some other genre. That's okay, but I love the ones that are still doing it this way. There are many great underground singers and bands like Hank 3, Dale Watson, Hellbound Glory, Rachel Brooke, and so many others that are keeping real country alive. People like them give me hope. It just shows that it will be hard to kill country music. There will always be someone out there still doing it right, and for the right reasons. Sturgill's sound is so unique for today's music that I think this is quite honestly the best album of the year so far, it'll be hard to top it. I think there's an Eric Church song that goes "We need a Country Music Jesus to come and save us all." Alright Nashville, I've found him. I can only dream that one day you can accept him.