Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit to Release “Live From The Ryman Vol. 2”
Jason Isbell’s extended residencies at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville every October have become an annual tradition in Music City. Now he looks to commemorate some of the best performances over the last few years, and offer fans live versions of some of his most iconic songs from his last few studio releases with Live From The Ryman Vol. 2. The album will be released on October 4th, ahead of Isbell’s 2024 eight day residency at the Mother Church starting on October 10th.
The new 15-track album mostly features music from Isbell’s recent albums Reunions (2020) and Weathervanes (2023). But it also includes the song “The Last Song I Will Write” from Isbell’s 2009 self-titled album, as well as a cover of Tom Petty’s “Room At The Top.”
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit released Live From The Ryman Vol. 1 in 2018. Though the performances were all good, the sound and engineering of the album left much to be desired, and didn’t live up to the standards set by other albums recorded live in a venue renown for its excellent acoustics. The recordings felt like they were pulled mostly from the sound board, which muted the drums and resulted in other less-than-ideal live tracks.
The good news is that listening through the debut track from the new live album “King of Oklahoma (which is also Saving Country Music’s reigning Song of the Year) the music was captured with much more clarity and depth this time. Hopefully the other 14 tracks from the album hold up. Ryman Vol. 1 was produced by Dave Cobb. Ryman Vol. 2 was co-produced by Isbell and longtime front-of-house engineer Cain Hogsed. Mixing was handled by Todd Tidwell.
Jason Isbell’s 2024 Ryman Auditorium openers include Alice Randall (10/10), Garrison Starr (10/11), Mary Gauthier (10/12), Caitlin & Liz Rose (10/13), Matraca Berg (10/17), Iris DeMent (10/18), Gretchen Peters (10/19), and Kim Richey (10/20).
Live From The Ryman Vol. 2 is now available for pre-save and pre-order.
Track List:
1. Save The World
2. King Of Oklahoma
3. Only Children
4. Overseas
5. Dreamsicle
6. Running With Our Eyes Closed
7. Middle Of The Morning
8. The Last Song I Will Write
9. Strawberry Woman
10. Cast Iron Skillet
11. Miles
12. River
13. When We Were Close
14. Room At The Top
15. This Ain’t It
August 8, 2024 @ 7:18 pm
On the one hand I wouldn’t be thrilled to see him in concert and this be the setlist. On the other there’s already multiple live versions of outfit, decoration day, and cover me up. So this is live songs you haven’t heard yet.
August 9, 2024 @ 2:02 am
This is not a setlist from one show. It’s a compilation of songs from many Ryman shows over the last 4-6 years.
August 8, 2024 @ 7:23 pm
More interested in eddie veddars version of room at the top but all good.
August 8, 2024 @ 7:24 pm
1st
August 9, 2024 @ 12:43 am
…what a year for releases from bands this is turning out to be. new albums from silverada, 49 winchester, the red clay strays, american aquarium, shane smith & the saints. not to forget the latest from the jeff crosby band, cody jinks’ “change the game” or horray for the riff raff’s or waxahatchee’s fine efforts. 2024 is possibly the strongest year for band releases in the country realm for quite some time. they almost deserve a separate year end ranking this time.
August 9, 2024 @ 4:46 am
Also a new Reckless Kelly album coming 9/13.
August 9, 2024 @ 12:49 pm
Yaayy!!!! I thought these guys had announced they were hanging it up. Just checked and saw they have shows scheduled. One band I’ve never seen that I would love to see. So you’re saying there’s a chance…
August 12, 2024 @ 4:24 am
So, they are retiring from the road, but it’s kind of like “George Strait retiring.” They’ll still do shows, but the regular touring isn’t going to be going on. They will still do Braun Brothers Reunion every year.
August 9, 2024 @ 6:52 am
Couldn’t agree more – struggling right now to find enough time to spin them all. I’ll throw in Blackberry Smoke’s offering too – competing with time from some serious solos – Zach B, Zach T, K Bitter and that bomb by Kaitlyn Butts. I’ll leave it to Trig to render the final verdict, but could this be the year that the jury returned and said, “saved”!
August 9, 2024 @ 8:28 am
Nice. Catching them on this Weathervanes run next month, so that timing is about perfect.
Can’t wait to hear some of these new tracks live. I’m sure him and Vaden are going to have some wicked takes on those punchy guitar tracks like “When We Were Close”, “King of Oklahoma”, and “This Ain’t It”.
August 9, 2024 @ 9:08 am
Saw them in February (Chicago) and the guitar playing from both of them was outstanding. They even played “Honeysuckle Blue” and it was so much fun to hear them trade off solos on this, and all night long. Enjoy!
August 10, 2024 @ 5:17 pm
Just thought i would follow up on the vedder room at the top cover. Its not bad. While its not as good as pettys its still pretty good. While both versions amp up in parts paeticularly the middle, i think vedders is a bit too much though maybe im just too old. I do prefer pearl jams more melancholly stuff to their harder stuff even though i did like the harder stuff back in the day.
August 15, 2024 @ 10:51 am
Great, seeing him in November. I love how he embraces politics in his music too and says things that need to be said. Amazing artist.