Jason Isbell Named Honorary Texan at Austin Show
Americana songwriter and performer Jason Isbell is now an honorary Texan according to the office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Isbell received the distinction on Sunday night (7-16) during the 3rd night of a sold-out run at Austin’s Moody Theater, also known as the home of Austin City Limits. Isbell received the distinction via a signed proclamation from the Governor, presented by fiddle player and Director of the Texas Music Office, Brendon Anthony.
The certificate reads:
To all whom these presents shall come. Greetings: Know ye that Jason Isbell is hereby commissioned an Honorary Texan under the laws of the State of Texas, and emoluments appertaining to said office. In testimony whereof, I have signed my name, and caused the Seal of the State of Texas to be affixed at the City of Austin, this, the 9th Day of June, 2017.
–Greg Abbott
The 38-year-old Jason Isbell was born in Green Hill, Alabama, near Muscle Shoals, but already had some stake in Texas. His wife, Amanda Shires, is originally from Lubbock, TX, and also lived in Mineral Wells and other parts of the state early in her life and career, including playing as a 15-year-old fiddle prodigy as part of Bob Wills’ legendary backing band, the Texas Playboys.
Jason Isbell will be able to use his newly-minted Texas citizenry Monday evening when he makes a tour stop in Houston at the Revention Music Center. Then it’s into the deep south and Florida on the current leg of his tour in support of his recently-released album The Nashville Sound. The new album released on June 16th topped the Country, Rock, and Americana charts upon its release. Isbell’s previous album Something More Than Free won two Grammy Awards.
July 17, 2017 @ 8:14 am
As Lyle Lovett said, “That’s right, you’re not from Texas. But Texas wants you anyway.”
July 17, 2017 @ 8:52 am
Ha! Maybe he can do a duet with Ray Wylie on “Screw You, We’re From Texas” now, too. 😉
July 17, 2017 @ 9:29 am
He’s also a Kentucky Colonel according to himself at his Richmond, Kentucky show. Good to see one of the best ones out currently being recognized.
July 17, 2017 @ 1:05 pm
There is a chicken joke here somewhere.
July 17, 2017 @ 7:45 pm
I take fried chicken very seriously. It’s no joking matter… 😀
July 17, 2017 @ 9:42 am
That’s pretty cool. Now if we can just make sturgill and Tyler Childers Texans, we will have all the best artists out there again. Then we can continue talking loud, and bragging like we normally do.
July 17, 2017 @ 12:51 pm
Hahaha us Kentuckians are pretty proud of those two as well as laying claim to Stapleton, Justin Wells, and a few others. I think Texas can let us have our moment on this one 🙂
July 17, 2017 @ 2:27 pm
Fair enough, 63guild. I guess y’all can keep Sturgill and Tyler, but we have to at least share custody of Chris Knight.
July 17, 2017 @ 10:07 am
Life goal. But I am afraid my inability to understand TexMex cuisine disqualifies me (. . . but, but, it’s just bad Mexican food . . .)
July 17, 2017 @ 10:27 am
Hey Trigger how was his 1st night of the 3 ACL shows? Saw you were there on Instagram. I’m seeing him for the 4th time in St. Augustine on Saturday, pumped.
July 17, 2017 @ 2:50 pm
Saw him on sat, the 2nd night and they sounded great. I’ve seen Isbell with the 400 unit a handful of times and this is the best they have sounded. The setlist is heavy on the new album but he did a good job at filling in the rest with a best of.
It’s pretty clear Isbell is on top of his game and gaining momentum. You won’t be disappointed come Aug.
July 17, 2017 @ 2:58 pm
Thats great to hear! He has never disappointed.
July 17, 2017 @ 10:43 pm
I was kicked out after three songs. Long story. That’s why there was no review.
July 17, 2017 @ 11:09 pm
This story is gonna be good.
July 17, 2017 @ 11:50 pm
Also interested in this story.
July 18, 2017 @ 6:24 am
I am also interested in this story!!!
July 18, 2017 @ 8:36 am
Will we hear this story??
July 18, 2017 @ 12:23 pm
That sucks. I don’t know Trig personally but he doesn’t seem like he would be rowdy or inappropriate. There’s a time and place for that kind of fun but I don’t think he would choose a Jason Isbell show that he was planning on reviewing. I hope it wasn’t some ‘enemies of SCM’ that started anything.
July 17, 2017 @ 11:50 pm
Incredible. “Codeine” was the only pre-Southeastern song they played, but it was the best version I’ve ever heard. My wife remarked multiple times how they seemed even more energetic and better than usual (we’ve seen them five times in the past two years; sixth coming up in September) and she wasn’t wrong. I hope they recorded the weekend to make a live DVD/CD. All of The Nashville Sound songs sound better live (they played all but “Tupelo”) in my opinion, but “Chaos and Clothes,” “Something to Love,” and “Vampires” were the standouts to my ears.
And holy shit did they rock on “Whipping Post.” I was really torn on it being included, though… on one hand it was incredible, on the other hand it was one less of his songs we got to hear. Good problem to have, I guess.
I love his older stuff. Like, gun to my head, I’d probably choose his pre-Southeastern catalog if you’d let me keep “Cover Me Up,” too. He didn’t play “Outfit” in Tulsa last fall and I was pretty disappointed. He didn’t play anything old this time and now I’m reconsidering which era I’d take if that gun were to my head. They were that good.
July 18, 2017 @ 5:19 am
Saw him on 6/30. Was disappointed not to hear Outfit as well. It’s a great singalong crowd experience and I think it’s a stone classic. He didn’t play it when I saw him last June, but he was co-headlining with Stapleton and had the opening slot, so I thought maybe there was a time consideration.
The DBT songs are getting fewer and fewer as he puts out more albums. He did play Decoration Day and We Ain’t Never Gonna Change. Whipping Post was certainly a treat, especially the lead guitar duel between him and Sadler Vaden. It took balls to play that one, and he and band did an excellent job.
July 18, 2017 @ 11:34 am
Yeah, I agree with all of that. Don’t mind a different setlist from time to time but I hope he keeps mixing in the older songs most of the time.
He really needs to put out a 35+ track live album like DBT’s “It’s Great to Be Alive” before long.
July 18, 2017 @ 5:39 am
Man trig, that sucks. I know they requested no pictures or videos and saw security enforcing this throughout the show. Getting in was quite the pain as well, added security for that. Not saying this is what happened, but seemed like security heavier than normal.
I saw Friday’s setlist before I went sat. Sat. night he played quit a bit of older songs, which was pretty awesome. We got outfit, go it alone, dress blues, never gonna change, decoration day and codine.
July 17, 2017 @ 11:14 pm
Yeah, I’d like to hear this story. I heard the shows were great. I like to brag about Texas too, so this is cool.
July 18, 2017 @ 11:35 am
“Decoration Day” and “Dress Blues” are two more that I hope to hear at every show. Sounds like you got a great mix.
July 18, 2017 @ 11:36 am
Meant to be a reply to Whiseytown
July 22, 2017 @ 6:53 am
Amazing show in Miami. Best concert I’ve ever been to.
A rowdy group of 4 people over drank and were making a lot of noise during the slow songs and were dealt with by security. The no video was strictly enforced