Jason Isbell Delivers Landmark Performance in Return to Telluride
It’s a shame you can’t get away from all the political polarization in the United States at the moment, and that it’s even more difficult for some to separate the politically polarizing aspect of Jason Isbell’s social media presence from the landmark legacy he’s assembling in music. Why this man and his backing band The 400 Unit are opening shows for the Turnpike Troubadours is beyond confounding when he performs one of the most jaw-dropping progressive Southern rock shows ever placed on stage, except when you factor in the parsing of his fan base due to that polarization.
But as he proved headlining the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in beautiful Colorado Thursday night, anyone recusing themselves from Jason Isbell’s music—either in album form, but especially in the live arena—are doing a dramatic disservice to their life’s musical experience and the fulfillment they could be receiving from it. And that assessment comes from someone who’s been dragged by Isbell on social media directly.
Jason Isbell’s set at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival felt uncommonly inspired, which Telluride tends to do with the incredible views and expanse it afford to performers. Isbell first played Telluride as a member of the Drive-By Truckers, and he told the story of being a little worried about a Southern rock band taking the stage at a bluegrass festival. What he found was one of the most open-hearted audiences in music that as long as your music and intent is honest, they embrace you with open arms.
Then Isbell launched into a 400 Unit rendition of the Truckers song “Decoration Day” with perhaps the most epic solo ever performed on the song, starting on the slide, and then finishing with fingers on frets. Isbell’s no Duane Allman, or Dickey Betts. But as someone known first for their songwriting, he’s a monster on his own leads, or trading licks with guitarist Sadler Vaden, making for a enviable 1 and 1A combo or any musical outfit. You add on top of that songs that have gone on to define the pinnacle of writing over the last decade-plus, and you have true apex musical experience.
When you can leave songs like “Cover Me Up,” “Elephant,” and “Cast Iron Skillet” on the shelf and still have the audience walk away feeling entirely fulfilled, you know you’re a boss with a stacked catalog. Isbell did play quite a few selections from his 2025 acoustic solo album Foxes in the Snow full band style (see track list below). This included a pretty epic version of the new song “Ride To Robert’s” that mentions the legendary Robert’s Western World on Lower Broadway in Nashville. Isbell and Sadler Vaden teamed up acrostic style, extending the song well past the boundaries of the recorded version.
This is a common occurrence for an Isbell song rendered live. You wouldn’t go as far as to call it a jam band. But often Isbell allows songs to breathe, and a performance and the audience reception to choose when the conclusion comes. That’s what made “Decoration Day,” “Ride to Robert’s,” and the one song where the recorded version does stretch its legs a bit—“This Ain’t It”—so epic on the legendary Telluride stage.
Isbell wasn’t going to cater his set to the bluegrass crowd. That’s not what’s expected in Telluride anyway. He remarked about having to follow up Gillian Welch and David Rawlings who played right before him, “I gave up a long time ago trying to follow up that.” But he did play a more bluegrass-style version of his song “Bury Me,” which is probably his most country/bluegrass song in his catalog.
As the world implodes outside, and irrespective of any polarizing aspect to Isbell and his music, his nearly 2-hour set at Telluride was music sublimity. It concluded with an incredible version of the Saving Country Music 2023 Song of the Year “King of Oklahoma.” And for a couple of choice hours in the mountains of Colorado, all was right in the world, no matter how wrong things are otherwise.
All photos by Kyle “Trigger” Coroneos. For more photos/videos from Telluride and other live events, follow Saving Country Music on Instagram.
Setlist:
1. 24 Frames
2. Crimson and Clay
3. The Life You Chose
4. Stockholm
5. Ride To Robert’s
6. Live Oak
7. Alabama Pines
8. Good While It Lasted
9. Decoration Day
10. If We Were Vampires
11. Dreamsickle
12. Children of Children
13. Eileen
14. Bury Me
15. This Ain’t It
16. True Believer
17. King of Oklahoma
June 20, 2025 @ 6:43 pm
Long time fan of his work, seen no less than ten of his shows. I have no issue with his politics, but thought Reunions was weak and really can’t get into “Foxes in the Snow.” Dude is very talented…I am just not liking his latest shit all that much.
June 21, 2025 @ 12:06 am
You’re skipping “Weathervanes” here, which might be his best album aside from “Southeastern.” “Foxes in the Snow” is an acoustic album, and I don’t think is meant to define this era of his career, but more tide him over post divorce.
June 21, 2025 @ 5:46 am
I agree Weathervanes was a strong album. “Foxes” is a divorce album, and that’s fine if it’s his outlet, I personally don’t like it. Again I’ve been a fan since his DBT days and like most of his solo work..seen him in NYC, Vegas, Monterey, Bend and multiple times in PDX. Saw him in small venues and unattended shows…”Monterey Americana Festival” where they rocked a nearly empty “park”, and in very well attended large rooms. I’m finding myself losing interest as I get bored with his output, and have missed the last couple times through my area. I’m nobody, but personally don’t need every album to be “his most personal and intimate.” Don’t get me started on the abortion of a documentary they put out. Suspected then that there would be a divorce album…and here we are.
June 21, 2025 @ 7:48 am
Perhaps the Telluride set was rare. Like I said, I tend to witness the most inspired sets from performers at Telluride. That is why I trek out here. But there was nothing about the set that was boring, off putting, or even political. It was just a strong, ful-tilt set of Southern rock. I can only just what I see in front of me. I reviewed “Foxes in the Snow,” and that was my opinion on that. That documentary probably should have never been made. The whole “Reunions” cycle was just weird.
June 23, 2025 @ 11:18 am
Just saw Isbell last month. The set was heavy on Foxes but was mostly electric which gave a whole new feel to the songs in a good way.
June 25, 2025 @ 1:33 pm
You should hear the live versions of the new album with full band. I get why he felt the need to make the intimate album version, but the live versions completely reinvent the songs. I can’t wait to hear these re-released in at least a live set, or even as a follow up studio version of the same songs with the full band.
June 21, 2025 @ 8:36 am
Why I put myself in the middle not caring of their politics or sexuality. I come to expect Telluride as being woke. I will say being in Telluride for the show, he was the only one with Welch that did not drop their woke card. Which I respect. I play in a band with libs and conservatives and we don’t talk politics. As for the show and seeing him for the first time, that band was magic. In my top 10. Like seeing Stevie Ray at the fairgrounds in ABQ early 80s better than I expected. People need to get over themselves, and appreciate great artists. Klug spent more time talking woke than playing music. Isbell just kicked but, and stroked his band. Sadler was a standout. What a player. Highly recommended.
June 21, 2025 @ 9:09 am
That’s the irony of seeing Jason Isbell live. I’ve never seen him get political from the stage. I’m sure its happened, but it’s almost like he doesn’t see that as the right forum, and respects the audience in those moments.
What’s frustrating about trying to convey how great Isbell’s Teuulride set was is so many people want to argue against you because they didn’t like such and such album, or they don’t like his politics. These are two entirely different matters. The dude put on a killer show. I had no intention of writing a dedicated article about it. I walked away feeling like it would be irresponsible not to.
June 23, 2025 @ 1:59 pm
I’ve seen Isbell 3 times: The Ryman (2016), Joy Theater (NOLA, 2016), and Alabama Theatre (B’ham, 2018). All great concerts. He was political and insulting in Birmingham. Perhaps he thought the audience was more conservative, so he took a shot. I saw Jackson Browne, who didn’t get political, at the Alabama Theatre in 2023. He was terrific.
June 27, 2025 @ 1:31 pm
Yeah I’ve seen Isbell around a dozen times and can’t think of any times he has been political on stage. Hell, I can’t really even remember him talking all that much. Just the off-hand jokes/remarks between songs. His shows are always very music-focused.
June 21, 2025 @ 9:00 am
Can’t stand Foxes in the Snow. Thought it was a huge step back for him, particularly from the high water mark that was Weathervanes.
June 20, 2025 @ 9:22 pm
Glad you can see past the politics and appreciate the good music. Saw him at the Moody Theatre back in April and was blown away. Loved his renditions from the new album. Such great songs and such a great band.
June 21, 2025 @ 6:42 am
Any performer’s album marketed as his or her “most personal and intimate to date” is one I’ll be passing by, relieved that I didn’t purchase it by accident. Who cares? It’s the sort of self-absorbed waste of aural space that gets marketed when the artist runs out of more interesting inspiration. I am reminded of the sage words of the Church Lady: “Fond of ourselves, aren’t we?”
June 21, 2025 @ 7:51 am
Every album that has ever been released has claimed to be the “most personal and intimate to date.” It’s a music publicity bromide and lazy copy, but really has nothing to do with anything. I wouldn’t NOT listen to an album because I saw that claim. I would just say they don’t know what else to say about the album.
June 21, 2025 @ 8:50 am
Surely anyone who writes their own songs is going to write about personal stuff isnt that why we listen too singer songwriters rather than a manufactured chart song? We want music that says something but we may not approve of the opinion they are making, its the risk a songwriter takes. If I wanted songs that had no subject matter id be listening too pop music.
June 27, 2025 @ 1:32 pm
What a weird reason to not listen to an album
June 21, 2025 @ 8:23 am
It’s not his politics it’s i’m the “”””greatest artist”””” to ever walk holier than thought pretentious attitude.
Just look at Willie liberal views but doesn’t act like he’s so much better than everyone else Artists or regular people.
June 21, 2025 @ 11:53 am
Totally agree! I was a huge fan and saw him every chance I got… until he started the big egomaniac crap. I dunno, his attitude totally turned me off. The last show I saw him, a show in tulsa at Cain’s ballroom, he berated some fans for yelling out (how much they loved him, no less). Then he went on about respecting the space and his brilliance. I was pretty much done after that.
June 20, 2025 @ 9:52 pm
I’ll defend Springsteen against the political divide. Harder with Isbell because he did that to himself.
June 21, 2025 @ 8:25 am
I respect your superior knowledge of how the music industry works. I hope you’re right. But I did not invent the concept of “navel-gazing songs.”
June 20, 2025 @ 10:23 pm
I am a strong believer in not letting the person behind the music stop you from listening to said music when it’s good enough. The thing is with Isbell, and I say this with full honesty, I find his voice to be below average and his sound unimaginative. The guy is a talented musician and songwriter, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying he sucks. To be completely honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if I would end up adding a decent amount of his stuff if I gave his albums a few more listens. But my overall point is that he has made himself so distasteful and nauseating that I have basically zero motivation to do so.
June 21, 2025 @ 12:11 am
I’ve put it in print multiple times that Jason Isbell is cutting off his nose to spite his face when it comes to how he handles his political business (not his political stances specifically). I was at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival anyway, so I might as well see what he had in store. I was half expecting to leave halfway through the set, and didn’t intend to write about it at all aside from the general festival coverage. But it was incredible, and I stayed around for the very last note.
This isn’t a review of Jason Isbell, his politics, or his recorded music. It’s a review of what I saw Thursday night in Telluride, which was an incredible live show that I felt was important to share the experience of.
June 20, 2025 @ 11:25 pm
I saw Isbell and the 400 Unit for the first time last summer opening up for Turnpike. I find it crazy that they were an opening act. I’m a huge Turnpike fan, but I definitely would have felt I got my money’s worth even without them on the bill. Isbell was incredible. (Charles Wesley Godwin was the opener for the opener that night. It was an amazing night.)
June 27, 2025 @ 1:34 pm
The concept of Jason Isbell as an opener is absolutely wild to me. Combine that with CWG and you have one hell of a bill, regardless of headliner!
June 20, 2025 @ 11:41 pm
First comment I’ve made on this site to say that Isbell is the greatest songwriter of this generation. Politics can be left on the table when you can write like him. Do yourself a favor and listen to his Live at the Ryman albums too, the guy can play. From a technical standpoint his acoustic work is very hard to duplicate (Streetlights took forever to nail down for me).
June 21, 2025 @ 4:48 am
Live From Alabama is my favorite live album of all time…and absolutely contains the best versions of the songs from his first two albums.
And yeah, Isbell shreds while making it sound simple – he may not quite be Mark Knopfler on that front…but no one is.
June 23, 2025 @ 9:22 am
All of this.
June 21, 2025 @ 2:07 am
Sadler Vaden is a monster. That is all.
June 27, 2025 @ 1:36 pm
Absolutely. I actually prefer his playing to Isbell’s…it feels more melodic. I love watching their “guitar duels” live.
June 21, 2025 @ 4:44 am
Some folks place their values and convictions above ticket sales. It’s a sad thing that Americans are so brainwashed on the virtues of commerce and capitalism that such moraled stances are met with a shake of the head instead of full-throated cheers.
Some of us are more likely to support artists who stand confidently on the right side of history.
June 21, 2025 @ 9:38 am
In a truly just world Jason Isbell would be a multi-millionaire for standing on the right side of history.
June 21, 2025 @ 5:06 pm
He campaigned for the people committing genocide in Gaza. He’s hardly on the right side of history. I’m actually liberal and find all of his bloviating performative and exhausting.
June 23, 2025 @ 11:46 am
Gonna need a citation on Isbell supporting Netanyahu or Itamar Ben-Givr.
It’s hard to look at how much worse things have gotten last 5 months and take anyone equivocating seriously.
June 21, 2025 @ 5:03 am
If you can’t like him and his writing because he’s not down with facism, I really don’t care for your opinion. JFC.
June 21, 2025 @ 5:07 pm
Yeah. I remember him taking a stance against fascism when he played at the DNC while the same people were dropping bombs in children in Gaza.
June 21, 2025 @ 5:42 am
I have long believed that artists with a strong social-political bent in their music do themselves and their audience a disservice by overt political preaching. Not because I think they should keep their politics out of their music, but because their politics should be left IN their music. Springsteen, Steve Earle, Isbell — they can convey a message in song that pulls people in and makes us see the world through the eyes of their characters. Sermonizing pushes people away. Anybody can serve up a political rant — they’re everywhere. Only a few can write “The River” or “King of Oklahoma.”
June 21, 2025 @ 6:12 am
While I would basically agree with your stance , I don’t see it applied evenly across the board. If the MAGA Country performers can perform songs threatening people who differ from themselves, without getting called out on it , wouldn’t one afford Jason Isbell the same right?
June 21, 2025 @ 9:42 am
Please name a MAGA country performer who “performs songs threatening people who differ from themselves.”
And hop to it, or I’ll send Lee Greenwood over to rough you up.
June 21, 2025 @ 8:14 pm
Sorry I couldn’t get back to you quickly with your info but was making a semi honest living today…Feel free to come over and rough me up but please check in with Police Department here since I am over 60 and in my state that constitutes assault on the Elderly…Don’t want you to get in trouble while you’re here…Try that in a small town
June 23, 2025 @ 2:48 pm
Lee Greenwood is coming over to wallop the tar out of you.
He is 82 years old, so it ain’t elder abuse unless you hit him back.
June 25, 2025 @ 6:35 pm
Try That in a Small Town is a ridiculous song, but it’s in no way threatening.
June 21, 2025 @ 7:45 am
This 100%. Musicians have a unique capability to change the world. Interacting in polarizing back and forths on social media is not the way to do that. Synthesizing their beliefs in songs that can reach hardened hearts is the way to change the world. I have said this about Isbell specifically for years, and for it, been called ugly names by himself and many others.
The polarization surrounding him is incredible. I can’t even write a live review for him without it popping up. But I also think it’s important to present this issue as a two-way street. You’re missing out too if you cast off the contributions of Jason Isbell.
June 21, 2025 @ 10:32 pm
Name one musician who changed the world? As in; without said musician this world/society would be a different place to live etc….
June 21, 2025 @ 10:35 pm
Bob Dylan.
June 21, 2025 @ 11:49 pm
And how did he change the world, outside of the music business?
June 21, 2025 @ 11:58 pm
Jimmy Carter famously said that Bob Dylan did more for the world than he ever did.
I have personally witnessed the transformative power songs can have on people’s lives.
If your cynical perspective can’t even be open to the idea of a song or artist changing the world, why even come to a website like this? That’s the ultimate point.
June 22, 2025 @ 9:09 am
Bob Marley. The Wolfe Tones. Bill Monroe.
June 22, 2025 @ 8:03 am
I would put Woody Guthrie in that category
June 27, 2025 @ 1:38 pm
I agree except for any suggestion that Isbell is doing much, if any, “political preaching” at his shows (Twitter obviously is a different story). If anyone if skipping his live performances because they don’t want a lecture, don’t! His shows have never felt political to me. Just fantastic music.
June 21, 2025 @ 6:33 am
I still don’t get why people feel the need to push this enjoy the art, ignore the artist argument. It’s ridiculous. And it’s always two sided as the people who tell you to ignore one artist, will completely vilify an artist with the opposite opinion. It’s disingenuous.
I think most fans realize that not every artist they listen to will share similar political values to them. They realize that some songs have different points of view, and they can overlook that and still find the music enjoyable. But when artists use their celebrity bully pulpit to become unbearable assholes, they intentionally make themselves unlikable to a portion of their audience. Several have out right said don’t buy my music if you disagree with me. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus being the latest. Why should fans not take head to the artist saying they are not wanted? No matter how well they play a guitar, sing, or write a song, people are going to not like them, and they are not going to want to listen. And that’s fair.
You don’t have to pretend to like the music from someone who you find distasteful. The artist chose to make themselves political spokespersons. It’s not the fans responsibility to look the other way, or pretend that the artist has not attacked their views. They are free as consumers to support or not support anyone putting their art for sale.
June 21, 2025 @ 7:29 am
Completely agree that this argument to ignore the politics and just listen to the music only goes in one direction. It’s whatever logical fallacy is: “This idea wouldn’t work on me but maybe it will work on you.” What does makes this point harder to drive home is that most objectively superior talented musicians and artists who hold Republican or Pro-Trump views aren’t openly espousing those views – we don’t even know where they are, so I can’t draw a direct opposite comparison here. Imagine if Charley Crockett played did the same thing as Isbell but with the Republican/Trump side and told people who didn’t agree with him that they are essentially evil, morally bankrupt and that he doesn’t want them at his shows. Would you feel the same was as you do with Isbell here?
I believe that most artists should just shut up about politics as a ‘my team vs your team’ argument and only wade into individual issues and topics.
June 23, 2025 @ 11:52 am
The issue is that people with the empathy and insight necessary to write good songs tend to accept reality’s well-known liberal bias.
But, since we’re on some relentless DARVO whataboutism right now, no one tried to cancel Hank Jr after he compared Obama to Hitler.
If only the Dixie Chicks were so lucky.
June 21, 2025 @ 7:45 am
Everything you say is true, but it still doesn’t change the fact that the music itself that someone decides to, or just can’t help but, not like might still actually be great music that would otherwise strike that listener exactly as they want music to do.
You said: You don’t have to pretend to like the music from someone who you find distasteful.
But I think Trigger’s point is that there are circumstances where the person wouldn’t be pretending to like the music from someone they find distasteful. The point is that the music is exactly something they would, or even DO, like but twist their outlook to not like it due to the artist’s political stuff. Well, that doesn’t harm anyone but yourself, to deny liking something – actively trying to not like something – because the person who created it chastises your political leanings and your political/social point of view. None of that changes that a certain flow of words together, with a certain meaning, cleverness, insight, inventiveness, catchiness, melded with the perfect melody and musical accompaniment is exactly all of those things and the sum of all those parts, and more than the sum of all of those parts. Everything involved in a song, or a performance…. GONE, NON-EXISTANT to me because the person who wrote the song that is incredible in a way that I would normally love says things about my president!
It’s not an exact 1:1 comparison, but if someone decides not to eat the cooking of their former previous chef or restaurant due to that entity’s political beliefs, it doesn’t change the fact that the actual food itself is something that the now-avoidant person DOES enjoy and, in the case of a chef/restaurant that is particularly renowned, the avoidant person is now actively choosing to not enjoy something that is elevated above the norm in quality, and is something that can make their enjoyment of life better – if they could just let themselves enjoy what they’d normally enjoy instead of letting themselves be controlled by the fact that they can’t stand people not agreeing with them. And, yes, that’s what they’re doing just as much as what Jason Isbell is doing.
As Trigger says, Isbell is cutting off his nose to spite his face in terms of his political messaging, but so are fans who WOULD and DO like his music, his type of music, his level of performance, his level of writing and creating. The fans that just cannot go along with what they WOULD otherwise consider good or great music and thoroughly enjoy, and find meaningful connections within, are cutting off their nose to spite their face because they have an issue with Isbell reacting strongly to some of the most horrible human beings that could possibly be in charge of a nation.
To top it all off is that there are people who would be fans of Isbell’s music who have ruled his music out because of how he treats and speaks of the right-leaning faction of the population, meanwhile Trump treats and speaks of half the nation with the same type of disrespect that Isbell does towards the right-leaning population. But with the folks who swear off anything to do with Isbell because of how much of an asshole he is towards a segment of the possible audience, they have no trouble with Trump being an asshole towards a segment of the nation in the same way that Isbell is. Oh, but Trump is being shitty towards the same people that these audience members also look down on, whom they don’t mind treating poorly, so it’s all good.
The president of the USA should not hesitate at all to demean, disrespect, and treat horribly a huge percentage of the population – anyone who doesn’t think like he does – but a musician is not allowed to do the same thing. When Trump does it, it’s right. A musician does it (from the opposite angle), and that musician is an unbearable asshole for it! Totally reasonable!
June 21, 2025 @ 8:07 am
Well said Gerard.
June 21, 2025 @ 8:45 am
If I was an american surely id applaud someone for coming out and saying Trump sucks, I talk to a lot of americans mainly about music and if it gets to politics Ive never met an american online who actually voted for him or approves of what hes doing to the country. And that was first time round as well, Springsteen touring the UK at the moment slagged off Trump at a gig last night to rapturous applause saying that with Trump in charge these are dangerous times. So Jason isnt the only musician expressing a dislike for his presidency.
June 21, 2025 @ 11:20 am
Musicians having a disdain for a Republican president isn’t anything new. Going after Republican fans and telling them not to come to shows is new. Also you must be on Bluesky or some echo chamber to not encounter people who support Trump. I still like Springsteen’s music but he’s not moral leader. He shut the hell up as soon as Obama got into office and continued Bush’s policies, deported 9 million, and droned kids all over the middle east.
June 21, 2025 @ 1:25 pm
Arguably Springsteen’s angriest album ever – Wrecking Ball – was released in the middle of Obama’s presidency and included songs that questioned the handling of immigration policy, bank bailouts, disaster relief and a host of other issues. It’s hard for me to listen to “Death to My Hometown” or “American Land” and not hear any critique of Obama’s administration, given the record’s release date of 2012.
June 22, 2025 @ 8:48 am
Yeah but Springsteen campaigned for Obama again in 2012
June 21, 2025 @ 9:54 am
People who have an issue with him “aren’t a monolith.”
I’ve read every article here about this guy and probably most or all of the comments. For sure there are people who like the bad orange man but not Isbell. Is there some degree of “hypocrisy” there? Probably. I’ve also read MANY comments from more centrist people who can’t stand him. There’s also been quite a few commenters who say they agree with him politically but can’t stand his attitude. From memory, “insufferable” has been the word they most used to describe him. He has his defenders as well, obviously, but I wouldn’t write off the general concern with this guy so easily, and definitely not so stereotypically.
But as per usual, all roads and conversations have to come back to Trump. Also, if you’re saying that Trump is such an asshole, Isabell’s behavior being compared to Tump in a whataboutist argument comparing the 2 is…telling?
June 21, 2025 @ 11:10 am
Yeah, and I didn’t say that Isbell is NOT an asshole. So, what you say is “telling” is indeed. No argument. Once again, the point of Trigger’s post that we are commenting on, and the point of my earlier response, is that the music itself (and the performance) isn’t bad or worse because Isbell is, in some forums, an asshole like Trump is.
June 21, 2025 @ 10:04 am
Patience friend, Jason Isbell is being groomed to become Governor of Kentucky.
June 21, 2025 @ 8:28 pm
Governor of Kentucky??? I thought he was The King Of Oklahoma!
June 21, 2025 @ 10:23 am
Just a couple things. First, I’m a vet and support free speech and the right of everyone to express themselves as they see fit. Artists such as Isbell are free to express their opinions, and I support their right to do so. I also support the right of others to disagree.
Second, I like your comparison of a chef who makes great food. Because there seems to be some sort of fantasy opinion that art is some sort of entity that is separate from the artist. I may enjoy a restaurant and think the food is great. But when the chef starts putting signs on the door that certain political groups are not welcome, then I’ll gladly accept his wishes and eat elsewhere.
My whole point is that art is a consumable that people spend their hard earned dollars on, and which the artists sells to make a living. I have no problem with anyone who decides they agree with the artist, or disagrees, and decide to purchase the art. I just don’t agree with the incessant need every time these artists are mentioned to try and paint those that choose not to support the artist as somehow narrow minded.
Again, art is a consumable product. Even Michelangelo was paid for the Sistine Chapel. I wonder if the pope would have commissioned him if he had stood outside on his pulpit preaching against the church? Regardless of his unmistakable talent. Consumers have every right to take in all considerations in spending their money without being continually judged. Especially from those who conveniently forget about the art when the artist has opposing views.
Enjoy who you want to enjoy. Let others do the same.
June 21, 2025 @ 11:25 am
I don’t disagree with anything you’ve said. My point is that the pizza or filet Mignon or tuna tartar or whatever else a person enjoyed the taste/flavours of on Saturday, before the chef or restaurant owner came out against that person’s political leanings or principles, does not taste any worse* the day after the owner comes out with the offending stance.
Isbell has created songs that people who hate him due to his stances would in many cases enjoy, but because of those stances, they won’t allow themselves to enjoy them – nevermind that if he hadn’t said any of it, they’d be none the wiser of the views he actually holds and allow themselves to enjoy things that they actually do enjoy. Ignorance would be bliss, I guess. But that very notion that due to something unrelated to the quality songs (as long as they are not overtly political) one must not even consider allowing themselves to enjoy those songs, while they would indeed enjoy the songs if they simply didn’t know something that they know about the artist is just purely illogical. Knowing Isbell’s POV doesn’t change what the song is, what it can mean to a person, and how much one could enjoy it if Isbell’s POV wasn’t something to get hung up on.
Purely going back to the song, is the song, is the song. But let’s not enjoy the song that we would/do actually enjoy because the person who wrote it and performs it says things unrelated to the song that I don’t like.
I mean, he’s an asshole, but it’s not like he’s been convicted of sexual assault, or accused of stiffing tons of businesses by not paying for services rendered, or mocking war veterans, or any other in a long line of actual morally reprehensible actions up to and including assault, murder, etc., that would actually be solid grounds to fully dismiss his songs as something that cannot be enjoyed.
* = barring an actual negative change to the recipe and/or preparation, of course
June 23, 2025 @ 11:57 am
Hear me out, Gerard:
It’s very triggering for people who burn records to be told “Go ahead. Do it. I don’t need your fucking money.”
This manifests in a lot of hyperventilating and lashing out, because music’s supposed to be a safe space for them.
(These people also tend to loudly proclaim that they pay athletes’ salaries)
June 21, 2025 @ 11:16 am
Gerard, the view that Trump is outright demeaning half the population is because his political opponents are sending that message to their supporters. Left-wing supporters tend to ignore political rhetoric from their side that widely demeans the other side – which is why I think this comparison to Isbell falls flat.
This whole argument for ignoring politics in relation to Isbell relies on ignoring or forgetting that he openly went after fans and individuals on the other side and told them not to come to his shows – something that Springsteen and others haven’t done. Isbell crossed a line that others haven’t. It’s one-sided to ask that someone ignore the politics and rantings of such a person to enjoy their music when they went after individuals simply for voting for a certain political party when he isn’t extending that same grace and understand to his fans – you know that maybe they have a list of reasons for why they voted how they voted and that the truth isn’t that they made that choice because of all the pejoratives and insults he threw at them.
June 21, 2025 @ 3:03 pm
The same Donald Trump who chastises & dismisses woke people due to their beliefs? The same DJT who threatens or attempts to negatively affect cities/states/regions that have Democratic leaders, due to their differing political beliefs, with the intent to cause domino effect of negative outcomes on a populace that voted in the majority for Democratic candidates?
And so on.
June 21, 2025 @ 3:29 pm
Folks, I know there is a political element to this story, but let’s please try to keep the conversation on the music and Jason Isbell specifically. We’re not going to solve American politics in this comments section. Thanks!
June 21, 2025 @ 5:12 pm
Yeah. Weird how much Isbell and Trump have in common. Both are insufferably arrogant and their “beliefs” are performative.
June 21, 2025 @ 3:24 pm
@strait–No need to gaslight. “the view that Trump is outright demeaning half the population” comes from him being the first insult comic to ascend to the Presidency. Other politicians were held responsible for their words and if they said something wrong–Hilary and the “deplorables,” Obama and the “clinging to guns and religion”–they had to apologize.
Trump doesn’t apologize for anything. If he said something wrong, it was either a “retweet” (someone else is to blame) or it was “sarcastic” or he was”joking.” Trying to hold Trump accountable for his words would be like trying to hold Don Rickles or Triumph the sock dog accountalble for things they said.
Most Trump supporters accept that. Heck, I voted for the guy–once (because I thought he was better than the alternative),
June 21, 2025 @ 7:23 am
Dude is way overated
June 21, 2025 @ 8:09 am
Good songwriter. Weeny voice.
June 21, 2025 @ 3:48 pm
Nothing more to be said.
June 21, 2025 @ 8:34 pm
Trump or Isbell?
June 21, 2025 @ 10:06 am
I like Isbell’s music. I think he’s a bit off when it comes to some of his views and the way he interacts on social media, but he’s one hell of a songwriter. It’s okay to have different opinions, butthere’s no need to attack your own followers or others for thinking differently than you.
Despite what people on both sides of the fence (who believe they are so much more enlightened than everyone else) think, there are a lot of bad actors on both sides. The truth is, we all have more in common than we think. And I hate to be the bearer or bad news, but we’re all biased and wrong about a lot of things a times.
As far as seeing Isbell live, I’d love to catch a show, but I’m drained from the politicization of everything. I’m not interested in someone standing on stage rambling about their personal views, as some else said elsewhere. Tell me about it a song, don’t preach at me like I don’t have my own mind and opinions (some right, some wrong). I wonder how political he gets at his shows?
I remember seeing Steve Earle once and he let loose a silly political rant, one you could tell was well-rehearsed, that left the audience flat. He didn’t get the reaction he was hoping for. Afterward my older brother said to me, “I just came to hear his music, I don’t care about his politics.” Earle has toned it down a lot since then.
As far as Isbell as a guitar player goes, I produced a project at Sound Emporium in Nashville years ago, not long after Isbell had recorded an album there, and one of the engineers I worked with talked about working on the Isbell album and how skilled Jason is as a guitar player.
Oh, and I love Foxes In The Snow. There is nothing better than one guitar and one voice.
June 21, 2025 @ 10:50 am
“As far as seeing Isbell live, I’d love to catch a show, but I’m drained from the politicization of everything. I’m not interested in someone standing on stage rambling about their personal views, as some else said elsewhere.”
That didn’t happen Thursday night in Telluride, and I have never seen that at a Jason Isbell show. Once again, that’s the problem between perception and reality. As another Telluride attendee commented, there have been political speeches from the stage this weekend. Isbell was not one of them. It’s not fair to impose this upon him as part of his live shows. I’m sure it’s happened at some point, but I’ve never experienced it like I have with Steve Earle, etc.
June 22, 2025 @ 7:45 am
I’ve seen Isbell 10-12 times and I have never heard him be political from the stage. And even though he gets a lot of write up on this site, he usually says “welcome to our rock n roll show” whenever he does talk, which is pretty rare quite honestly.
June 22, 2025 @ 9:04 am
I saw Isbell live once in 2018’ish at the Ryman and it was all music and no talking. What makes him stand out from his peers is that his music and shows doesn’t need gimmicks and stage theatrics to sell the music.
June 25, 2025 @ 1:47 pm
Next time he comes your way, go see him. There won’t be any politics & both he and his band absolutely jam!
June 21, 2025 @ 10:34 am
Man I hope there’s some video out there of that “Ride to Robert’s” performance. Acoustic jamming within the confines of the song is the best kind of jamming. The only version of Dave Matthews that I can stomach is his acoustic stuff with Tim Reynolds and from your description this sounds to be on that kind of level. Jamming to extend the song and let it breathe but remaining in the context of the song is incredible. Sturgill and his band are masters at it. DMB just seems to go into outer space imo and it’s just not my thing. Comes across as self indulgent to me. Great write up Trigger.
June 21, 2025 @ 10:51 am
I have some video of it. I might post it at some point.
June 21, 2025 @ 1:51 pm
I hope to see him live at some point. I’ve missed 2 outdoor shows in my metro area in recent years but it couldn’t be helped. His politics don’t bother me–it’s the demonizing of those of us who think differently from him as bad people.
I do think he’s a great songwriter, but I’m more inclined toward songwriting that’s more direct and easier to understand. He has some lyrics that, quite frankly, don’t make any damn sense. Not in the Van Morrison way where it’s intentional, but in the too vague, too specific to the individual to have a universal impact kind of way. If I can’t follow it, that puts a ceiling on how great it is, in my opinion.
June 21, 2025 @ 2:23 pm
Nice review of his live show. I wanted to add that it’s not just Telluride. Isbell and the 400 unit are absolutely on fire right now. I saw him a month ago in Oregon and it was just an epic live music experience. I also saw the Nugs live stream of Telluride, and it was just as good as you say in your review. Making those new songs electric with the band gives his shows such an element of surprise this tour, like a bluegrass Bury Me or a full on rock version of Crimson and Clay. Pair that with extended rock epics like King of Oklahoma, Decoration Day etc. and the all around amazing song writing and it makes for a special music event. Missing this live tour is truly missing out.
June 21, 2025 @ 6:57 pm
Must be a lot of young people here. A musician speaking his/her mind. I think Isbell is great and am probably aligned with most of his politics. I also grew up in the 80s and can enjoy stranglehold knowing Nugent is an asshole.
Please, lets not compare a guy with a guitar to the president.
June 22, 2025 @ 11:52 am
It isn’t just young folks. Boomers who mainline Fox News all day seem to complain the most loudly when artists and athletes speak their mind. Yet never say a peep about Nugent, Kid Rock, Lee Greenwood, etc.
This complaining about Isbell’s politics or what Lebron James things about politics cuts across generations.
June 22, 2025 @ 12:59 pm
You should probably look at the recent statistics suggesting diversity of ideas is a barren desert on Bluesky – the chosen platform for liberal boomers.
June 21, 2025 @ 7:25 pm
PLEASE stop feeling the need to comment in some fashion on every Isbell article written – “his music is incredible/great/good/mediocre/bad/vanilla dad rock, but his politics are ____ and he is pretentious ____.” That concept is so tired.
To be clear, I agree with much of the above, but those comments clog up a thread devoted to something specific.
I truly wish he was more country. Interesting that he took a main performance position in a bluegrass fest.
I wouldn’t want him to open for me if I was Turnpike because Turnpike’s shows are them reenacting the albums!
June 21, 2025 @ 8:03 pm
For the record, Telluride regularly features some artists from the country/Americana realm. I’ve seen the Turnpike Troubadours play here, as well as Charley Crockett, Sierra Ferrell, Charles Wesley Godwin, etc.
June 21, 2025 @ 8:39 pm
Hope it’s a Great Time Trigger…Looking forward to hearing about other artists that move you as well…Something about those incredible mountains surrounding the town seems to bring out some Amazing performances…
June 22, 2025 @ 11:13 am
Pretty sure he played Gravelweed
June 22, 2025 @ 11:19 am
He very well might have. I might have missed one or two songs as I was moving around taking photos.
June 22, 2025 @ 11:51 am
I’m glad to see Isbell is playing Eileen, the highlight track from Foxes in the Snow.
My Isbell favorites are all absent from this show—Anxiety, Cover Me Up, Elephant, Death Wish, and Volunteer—but this is still a very good setlist, and your point about the depth of his catalogue is spot on.
June 22, 2025 @ 1:28 pm
Why is it that you can’t review a Jason Isbell album or show without mentioning his politics? You talk about his politics far more than he does.
June 22, 2025 @ 1:46 pm
Read the comments. See the comments beneath the link I posted to this on X/Twitter. I didn’t even post a link on Facebook, because it would have been a train wreck. I’m simply addressing the “Elephant” in the room, because I know the takes will all involve politics. Specifically, this article was my attempt to break through that political noise, and encourage folks to see Jason Isbell when they can.
June 23, 2025 @ 9:02 am
If Isbell reprised Foxes with the full band arrangements he’s playing now, it would be at the top of many AOTY lists.
IMO, they’re one of the best live acts out there if you’re a guitar guy. They replaced Amanda’s spot in the band with another rhythm backup so that Jason and Sadler can just take turns ripping leads – from the obscenely rich guitar collection they tour with – whenever they feel like it.
I just caught them Saturday night in Cincy. They killed as they always do. The full band arrangement of “Gravelweed” and “True Believer” are absolutely awesome. Anyone who thought Foxes was boring would need to find another argument.
Regardless of his politics and personal life, Isbell and his band are undeniable.
June 23, 2025 @ 12:47 pm
Gravelweed might be his best song since Cover Me Up.
I adore Foxes, but I can’t wait to hear them with the full band.
June 23, 2025 @ 2:19 pm
If you enjoyed the acoustic versions, you’ll love it. “Eileen” he kept fairly true to the original cut, but they added big, punchy choruses to “Gravelweed” and “True Believer”. I was pretty blown away, just not really expecting it.
Trig didn’t mention it above – assuming they kept it the same – but they had Vaden break out a mandolin for “Bury Me”. The full band really opens that track up, which is great because I was pretty lukewarm on that as a single from Foxes.
June 24, 2025 @ 4:57 am
I’d caught his solo tour a month or two before Foxes came out – even alone, the chorus of True Believer was so much bigger than on the album.
Just a roar of pain in the best possible way.
June 23, 2025 @ 9:25 am
🐐
June 23, 2025 @ 10:01 am
I’ve seen him close to a dozen times and he never really shares political opinions. Mostly thanking the audience, occasional stories about venues / songs and banter with the band.
June 25, 2025 @ 5:17 pm
Closest I ever saw was they covered Ohio for their encore at a show in Athens, GA. I think it was right after Trump was elected in ‘16.
They fucking killed it.
June 24, 2025 @ 6:38 pm
Lol, Jason Isbell (or his peeps) did a takedown notice on the maybe 2-minte video I made of his “Decoration Day” guitar solo. It wasn’t even the whole solo, or the whole song. And he doesn’t have copyright rights on a live performance. I guess no good deed doesn’t go unpunished.
June 25, 2025 @ 5:13 pm
The last time I saw them was at Mile 0 in 2020 right before the world stopped. That capped off a 3-4 year period where we saw them probably 10 times across the southeast. We subsequently moved to south Florida where none of the artists we followed then ever come and have moved on in our listening habits. Kind of bittersweet in a way. I miss following them, Sturgill, Jason Eady, etc., etc.
Anyway, great review. Brought back some great memories. Can’t say the set list knocked my socks off, but I guess you had to be there.