Jason Isbell Teases TWO New Albums & Releases New Tour Dates

Last week the current King of Americana Music Jason Isbell got fans jazzed by releasing a 30-second teaser video (see below) for his upcoming, but still-unannounced Dave Cobb-produced album that promises to feature a bit more of a rock vibe than previous efforts. Though we have no hard release date or title yet, we have both for a live studio album that will be part of Record Store Day 2017 releases on April 22nd featuring Isbell and his backing band, The 400 Unit.
Live from Welcome To 1979 will feature six songs including five covers performed live at Welcome To 1979 studio in Nashville and recorded directly onto lacquer. The cover songs are said to be The Rolling Stones’ “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” and ‘Sway”, John Prine’s “Storm Windows”, Candi Staton’s “Heart On A String”, and Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City.” Many of these can be regularly heard at Isbell’s live shows. Jason’s own “Never Gonna Change” also made it on the record.
And if that isn’t enough Jason Isbell news to get you excited, the Alabama songwriter has also released a slew of new live dates in the United States and Europe, including multi-day stints in New York and Austin, and support by Amanda Shires, Tift Merritt, Iron & Wine, and others. 2017 is shaping up to be a big year for Isbell, so stay tuned.
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit Tour Dates:
June 17 – Asheville, NC – Thomas Wolfe Auditorium #
June 18 – Raleigh, NC – North Carolina Museum of Art #
June 19 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore Philadelphia #
June 22 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre #
June 23 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre +
June 24 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre +
June 26 – New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall +
June 27 – Boston, MA – Blue Hills Bank Pavilion +
June 29 – Canandaigua, NY – Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center >
June 30 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion +
July 1 – Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music +
July 2 – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center at the Heights +
July 5 – Omaha, NE – Sumtur Amphitheatre +
July 7 – St. Paul, MN – The Palace Theatre +
July 11 – Sioux Falls, SD – The Washington Pavilion +
July 12 – St. Louis, MO – Peabody Opera House +
July 14 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater +
July 15 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater #
July 16 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater #
July 18 – Houston, TX – Revention Music Center #
July 19 – Jackson, MS – Thalia Mara Hall #
July 21 – Miami Beach, FL – The Fillmore *
July 22 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre *
July 23 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Coliseum *
September 7 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Support: # Amanda Shires / + Mountain Goats / > Iron & Wine / * Strand of Oaks
2017 European Dates
October 25 – Manchester, UK – Albert Hall
October 26 – Glasgow, UK – O2 ABC
October 27 – Dublin, Ireland – Olympia Theatre
October 29 – Brighton, UK – Brighton Dome
October 30 – London, UK – Roundhouse
October 31 – Birmingham, UK – Symphony Hall
November 2 – Paris, France – Le Café de la Danse
November 3 – Brussels, Belgium – Ancienne Belgique
November 6 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
November 7 – Hamburg, Germany – Uebel & Gefährlich
November 8 – Berlin, Germany – Columbia Theater
November 10 – Oslo, Norway – Sentrum Scene
November 12 – Stockholm, Sweden – Münchenbryggeriet
November 14 – Copenhagen, Denmark – DR Concert Hall
Tift Merritt supports all European dates
February 14, 2017 @ 10:37 am
Will someone besides Jason Aldean come to Arkansas already?! I mean, there’s no guarantee your car won’t get stolen and traded for meth, but still…
February 14, 2017 @ 4:26 pm
I recently moved to Arkansas and it’s frustrating how so few artists come through. Have to drive to Louisiana or Texas to see anyone.
February 16, 2017 @ 3:05 pm
Dude, don’t y’all have the Holiday Hangout? That’s better than any festival…
Just once a year, though.
February 17, 2017 @ 4:38 pm
Jason Boland will be in Fayetteville 3/24 and Little Rock 3/25. Sounds like you’re set, as long as you don’t fall victim to grand theft methamphetamine.
February 14, 2017 @ 10:46 am
So he’s headlining Merriweather Post Pavilion, just like Sturgill. Ticket prices are about the same. Sturgill tickets go on sale on Thursday and Isbell tickets go on sale on Friday. I know where I’ll be at 10:00 am on both days.
February 14, 2017 @ 1:23 pm
Seriously that’s just a little odd considering Isbell & Stapleton together didn’t sell it out last year….good for me though!
February 14, 2017 @ 1:57 pm
Same thing with Boston.. I be at both.
February 14, 2017 @ 10:53 am
Besides the dozen roses my husband just delivered to me (he reads SCM), a new Jason Isbell release is the best Valentine’s Day present ever.
February 14, 2017 @ 10:59 am
Looking forward to hearing the new sounds and seeing him in Glasgow. It’s great that artists like Jason,Sturgill,Hayes Carl, Ryan Bingham and many others come over to Europe regularly it really makes us feel part of the scene.
Cody Jinks come on over please !
February 14, 2017 @ 12:31 pm
Atlantic city is my favorite song, though I prefer the band’s version to Springsteen. I’ve seen poor video quality isbell versions, his is more like Springsteen. Kinda odd, with him being such a big fan of the band, but i can’t wait for a quality version to come out. Don’t leave out the mandolin intro, hopefully.
This is great news, anxious as he’ll. I am gonna search this teaser video promptly.
Devil Anse, you gotta have some kind of guarantee like, “If your car does get traded for meth, I’ll personally reimburse you in oxycontin”, just kidding,in Houston we can’t guarantee your instruments wont get stolen, but if you participate in a sting operation we’ll expedite the process of returning your stolen goods once the theif is caught.
February 14, 2017 @ 2:15 pm
Levon!
February 15, 2017 @ 3:30 pm
Thanks for mentioning the Band’s version. I had never heard it and it is great. I am not sure that it is better than Springsteen’s but man it is neck and neck.
February 14, 2017 @ 12:59 pm
Damn , and Isbell snubbing Salt Lake City this year. Traveling to see this guys is killing me. Maybe Wheeler Walker Jr. will come through town at least.
February 14, 2017 @ 1:09 pm
I’ve seen him do Can’t You Hear Me Knocking. I haven’t see him Sway which is just a great song. Both from Sticky Fingers.
He covered Heart on a String on his studio album Here We Rest and the Live in Alabama album.
Never Gonna Change is a fucking barnburner. The 400 Unit does a great job on that DBT song (Obviously, an Isbell write).
Interesting that he’s going with Atlantic City from the Nebraska album. He’s a big fan of the The Ghost of Tom Joad album. His favorite of Bruce’s, I think. Would think maybe he’d go with something from that album.
February 14, 2017 @ 1:28 pm
Is it sacrilege to say I’m looking just as forward to this record as I am his new, original one? “Skicky Fingers” is one of my musical compass points.
February 14, 2017 @ 1:58 pm
Sticky Fingers and Let It Bleed are neck and neck for me.
February 14, 2017 @ 6:12 pm
do not go to sleep on black n blue
February 14, 2017 @ 2:23 pm
There was a podcast – didn’t you link it, Trig? – about his love of Sticky Fingers (esp Sway).
Hank 3 intoducrd me to Atlantic City. I remember playing LB&D in 2002 and a friend saying something about it being a cool version of Springsteen’s. I played it cool like I knew that, but I didn’t.
February 14, 2017 @ 2:26 pm
Jeremy Dylan, right? The guy that made the Jim Lauderdale documentary. His podcast is My Favorite Album or something like that.
February 14, 2017 @ 2:30 pm
Jack Williams for the win! Thanks!
I’ll have to check out the Lauderdale doc,
February 15, 2017 @ 6:26 pm
Ha ha. Glad to hear thats happened to someone else. Back when i was to cool to admit i dont much bout bruce other than an old born on the usa cassette i had. 3 rocked it out!!!!
February 14, 2017 @ 3:03 pm
Live From Alabama is my second favorite of his albums (after Southeastern).
So I’d say you’re safe.
February 14, 2017 @ 1:24 pm
I prefer Isbell with Drive by Truckers to his solo stuff……so I’m really hoping that the more promised rock vibe comes through.
February 14, 2017 @ 1:26 pm
Speaking of tours, I saw on Facebook that Jason’s buddy and SCM fave Justin Townes Earle is going out on tour with the Sadies backing him up. The Sadies will be doing an opening set on the tour dates.
I have the new Sadies album Northern Passages. I think it’s another good Sadies album. Nothing particularly different except maybe a little less country than some of the others I have.
February 14, 2017 @ 4:45 pm
Listening to Nothern Passages right now actually. Like it a lot. The song with Kurt Vile is a winner.
February 15, 2017 @ 8:59 am
Oh, it’s definitely a good album. I listened to it again last night. Just that it pretty much sounds like the others I have. First impression and not necessarily a bad thing. God Bless the Infidels is pretty country sounding.
The JTE/Sadies match-up is intriguing. Wonder if that means they’ll be backing him up on his next album. They’ve done that sort of thing before, with John Doe’s Country Club album being an excellent example.
February 14, 2017 @ 1:42 pm
I’m calling it now. There’s a couple of holes in his early July schedule with other midwest dates, so I’d put money on him playing both Taste of Chicago and Milwaukee Summerfest.
February 14, 2017 @ 2:32 pm
I’m hoping those holes are for Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic.
February 14, 2017 @ 3:02 pm
YES!
To both albums, and to the Boston tour dates!!!!
He’s also providing a decent excuse to get back to Dublin…
February 14, 2017 @ 3:36 pm
So you are telling me I need watch him in Omaha and then drive up to St. Paul and watch him again?!?!
OK! I’ll do it.
February 14, 2017 @ 5:20 pm
ok, I’m new, what’s the best song he’s written? elephant?
February 14, 2017 @ 5:45 pm
Start with “Alabama Pines” and “Codeine” on “Here We Rest,” work your way forward from there, then work your way backward to the Drive-By Truckers.
February 15, 2017 @ 8:09 am
I’m not a fan of the new DBT album… I got lost in the social message that they are pushing forward. Anyone singing the praises of Mike Brown needs to seriously look at that situation rather than listening to the media as to what happened there.
Honestly, after listening to that, I put the album down… without a want of picking it back up.
February 15, 2017 @ 2:11 pm
Mike Brown of Ferguson fame? Please tell me no…
February 15, 2017 @ 3:07 pm
YEs… that Mike Brown, painting MB as a victim…
Even though 9 of the 13 witnesses backed up the officers story, the video of him committing strong armed robbery prior to the incident and of course his lengthy arrest record.
Somehow the DBT have ignored all of the facts and sing about him being a victim.
Needless to say, I’m done
February 16, 2017 @ 6:32 am
That’s just wrong on their part. Being socially aware is one thing, being on the wrong end of the truth is another. Screw them…
February 14, 2017 @ 9:09 pm
Cover me up deserves hard consideration for that title. They’re all fucking great though.
February 14, 2017 @ 9:44 pm
Don’t forget about Flying Over Water!
Cover Me Up and Dress Blues are my top two, though.
February 14, 2017 @ 10:41 pm
Outfit, Decoration Day, Live Oak, In A Razor Town, Children of Children, Speed Trap Town, Dress Blues (pick one)
I don’t know if I’ve ever skipped a Jason Isbell song (okay, maybe The Ballad of Nobeard) . They’re all fantastic.
February 15, 2017 @ 8:36 am
Thanks for the tips. I listened to and liked a lot of it.
February 14, 2017 @ 5:55 pm
That is a great question, seak, for me it’s a three way tie.
Goddamn Lonely Love, Decoration Day, and live oak. Umm, well maybe its a 30 way tie, Im not sure he has ever even wrote a mediocre song before.
February 15, 2017 @ 4:37 am
I don’t think he could write a shitty if he tried.
February 15, 2017 @ 8:06 am
Are these all new songs (with the exception of the covers)???
I believe that Something more than Free is his best album… it is absolutely brilliant from beginning to end.
February 15, 2017 @ 6:36 pm
I’m really hoping for an album full of “Super 8s”. That would kick so much ass. I’ve been needing more rock n roll in my life.
God willing, Isbell will do for Rock what he and Sturgill did for country, bring it back to its roots away from this weak hipster 21 pilots bullshit we have now.
Anyone on here know any good contemporary rock bands I should check out? Outside of country I’m pretty clueless musically.
February 15, 2017 @ 7:21 pm
The Record Company
February 15, 2017 @ 10:11 pm
JD McPherson plays straight-up 40s and 50s Rock and Roll.
February 15, 2017 @ 11:56 pm
For contemporary rock and roll, they maybe a bit dated now, but The Hold Steady had three great albums in a row in the 2000’s – “Separation Sunday,” “Boys and Girls in America” and “Stay Positive.” The vocal delivery style may not be for everyone, but I like it (and good lyrics) and the band feels like Bruce Springsteen with a punk edge to me.
February 16, 2017 @ 12:57 am
Gov’t Mule has been my favorite “new” rock band for 22 years now!
I’m digging the Record Company and the London Souls right now. I’m also partial to Kaleo. Nothing is really blowing my mind from the young folks, but these guys I mentioned are cool. Oh, and check out Alabama Shakes.
February 16, 2017 @ 6:44 am
Was wondering if that’s what Mule meant. Been a fan since album one.
February 16, 2017 @ 6:52 am
Others not yet mentioned, all with albums out within the last couple of years:
Drive-By Truckers
Los Lobos (still killing it)
Chuck Prophet
Alejandro Escovedo
Hard Working Americans
Bottle Rockets
Lydia Loveless
February 16, 2017 @ 7:52 am
Band of Heathens
Jamestown Revival
The Bellfuries
Wild Feathers
The Virginmarys
The Menzingers
Brian Fallon/Gaslight Anthem
February 16, 2017 @ 6:50 pm
Best news ever!! Just ordered my Philly tickets. We saw him in Red Bank NJ last year and it was an amazing time. Josh Ritter opened for him. Really happy that Amanda’s at out date.