Jason Isbell to Release “Live at Austin City Limits” DVD
Near the end of 2013, Saving Country Music rewarded Jason Isbell’s live streaming set on August 13th from the Austin City Limit’s stage as the #2 live event in all of 2013. “I admit, it seems strange to put a streaming event such as this on this list, and so high up no less,” was said at the time. “But if you witnessed it, you would know why…It was Jason Isbell’s songs and his songwriting that made so many online watchers walk away with one of those feelings you get after watching a stellar movie where your mind gets so immersed in the experience it is hard to return to the real world.”
Now Jason Isbell’s entire Austin City Limits set will be released to DVD on November 25th via Isbell’s Southeastern Records, and will include his entire 15-song performance, not just the abbreviated 6-song version that aired with Neko Case during the ACL episode on PBS. The new DVD includes two of the most important moments from the performance left off the broadcast—the 9-minute version of “Danko/Manuel” and the cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking.”
The DVD also includes many songs from Jason Isbell’s award-winning Southeastern album that was recently crowed Album of the Year by the Americana Music Association, including the Americana Song of the Year “Cover Me Up.” Songs from earlier in Isbell’s career, like the Drive By Truckers staple “Outfit” and “Decoration Day” are also included. Isbell’s had one stellar run lately, including selling out three consecutive shows at Nashville’s acclaimed Ryman Auditorium in October with his backing band The 400 Unit.
Jason Isbell: Live at Austin City Limits is available for pre-order, and has to be considered an essential for most any roots fan.
Purchase Jason Isbell: Live at Austin City Limits
Flying Over Water
Go It Alone
Alabama Pines
Decoration Day
Outfit
Cover Me Up
Different Days
Live Oak
Codeine
Traveling Alone
Elephant
Stockholm
Super 8
Danko Manuel
Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
November 10, 2014 @ 6:21 pm
I can’t wait.
November 10, 2014 @ 7:56 pm
I can’t get his new live album fast enough.
November 10, 2014 @ 8:18 pm
I’ve loved Isbell ever since the DBT days…I wish the Drive-By Truckers were covered a little more on this website. With that being said I understand they aren’t by any means the most country group, but neither is Jason’s solo career
November 11, 2014 @ 7:20 am
I agree. Mike Cooley is one of America’s most under appreciated writers. He may not be as prolific as Patterson, but his lyrics are unbelievably profound. He taps into simple, but generally overlooked situations that human beings face a regular basis. Someone once said to me: If Cooley wanted to, he could be one of the greatest country musicians of all time. I agreed as it’s clearly evident on his more country-tinged songs.
As for this Isbell DVD, I’ll definitely be picking up a copy. I’ve had the entire performance in my iTunes since it aired and it’s magnificent.
November 11, 2014 @ 7:32 am
Agreed, “Pulaski”, “Cartoon Gold”, “Lisa’s Birthday”, “Loaded Gun in the Closet”, even “Uncle Frank” are all songs that anyone longing for the days of great country songwriting need to hear!
November 12, 2014 @ 8:07 am
I’ve always thought that Cooley was the best part of the DBT. Patterson Hood’s voice is unbearable on most songs, and I don’t think he is the lyrical genius that many make him out to be. I like every Cooley song from every DBT album.
November 11, 2014 @ 8:02 am
Here’s hoping that Cooley can continue write as prolifically as he did for English Oceans. For my money, that is the first great DBT album since The Dirty South (Brighter Than Creation’s Dark comes close, if you lose the Shonna songs and maybe a couple of Patterson’s. Keep all seven Cooley songs!). I’m very happy to say that It’s my favorite album this year. I’ve heard/read Patterson say at least a couple of times that he thinks the band is at their best when the songwriting is more evenly split between him and Cooley. I agree.
November 11, 2014 @ 8:24 am
Yep. English Oceans is probably in my top 3 albums of the year. It contains some of Hood’s and Cooley’s best work to date (Primer Coat, Made Up English Oceans, Grand Canyon, Pauline Hawkins, Shit Shots Count). And I agree about Brighter Than Creations Dark ”“ That has some of my favorite Cooley tunes (A Ghost To Most, Self Destructive Zones and Checkout Time In Vegas).
November 11, 2014 @ 7:53 am
The first time I became aware of Jason Isbell was by sight only. I saw DBT touring on Southern Opera in maybe 2002 at a small club (capacity ~200) in Arlington, VA. He was this sloppy, very pudgy country boy with bushy hair, wearing a trucker hat and flannel shirt. He looked so much younger than the rest of the band (of course, he WAS, but he looked even more so). My impression was that maybe he was a local guitarslinger that they picked up because maybe they needed one in a pinch. The only impression he made on made was that he was a very good player. Then, about a year later, Decoration Day comes out. There were two amazing songs written by this pudgy kid (title track and Outfit) and he sang his heart out on both of them. Shit. I became a Jason Isbell fan right then.
November 11, 2014 @ 8:17 am
“Southern Rock Opera”, that is.
November 11, 2014 @ 11:31 am
I’ve mentioned the Drive By Truckers here often, and I’m sure more coverage for them will happen eventually. There’s so many bands, so many artists, and I also try to find the bands and artists people DON’T know about yet and give them preference.
November 11, 2014 @ 2:19 pm
Understandable. I’ve discovered many unknown artist through this site and my appreciation for what you do is immeasurable.
November 10, 2014 @ 8:55 pm
I was fortunate enough to be at The Ryman for the first two concerts of his sold out series. Both were stellar shows, but Friday night was very special as he performed the entire “Southeastern” album…beginning to end, every song in order. It’s a powerful enough album to listen to; to hear him do it live was simply extraordinary.
November 10, 2014 @ 10:23 pm
Has anyone happened to have watched any of the youtube vids of one of Isbell’s performances at the Ryman recently? The one of Cover Me Up is none chilling good. Really wish I could have seen him and Sturgill there.
November 10, 2014 @ 10:24 pm
“bone chilling good” of course….damn typo.
November 11, 2014 @ 12:56 am
I can’t be the only one who finds Amanda Shires and the violin immensely distracting. She has a great amount of talent, but I’m no sure she needs to be put in as part of his band, and I’m not sure exposure like this helps forward her career either.
November 11, 2014 @ 12:59 am
I don’t mean on the stuff from “Southeastern” where you’re used to it, and expect it, and it’s good. But on the DBT songs, I don’t think a fiddle is a good addition, and if it is, it should be a bit less obvious. But he’s the artist…
November 11, 2014 @ 7:19 am
This is a good point, Spoony, but I have to make the case that Jimmy Mattingly did the same when he fiddled for Garth Brooks, and Howdy Forrester did the same under Roy Acuff, and Don Rich did the same fiddling for Buck Owens. This is even more true in bluegrass that the band’s finest practitioner routinely is “obvious” as you put it. This is usually evidence of a friendship between “artist” and “musician” but also is a display of a special kind of musician that the “artist” is proud to have playing.
November 11, 2014 @ 11:08 am
No disrespect to Isbell or Shires but I really feel like I don’t need to get hit over the head with it. Just because you married a talented fiddler, doesn’t mean Danko/Manuel now needs a fiddle playing loud & proud. The drums and guitar drive that song, and I don’t like the diversion. I guess I should just be happy he didn’t marry someone who plays the accordion.
November 11, 2014 @ 12:17 pm
I can’t imagine how ridiculous that would sound
November 11, 2014 @ 12:49 pm
I don’t think I have it in me to object to fiddle.
November 13, 2014 @ 1:23 am
And I’m sorry I have it in me, I just think it changes the direction of the particular song. And probably several others, but I bet I spend the money anyway.
November 11, 2014 @ 5:51 am
This live stuff is almost assuredly even better than the studio stuff. I was very underwhelmed by the overall production on Southeastern. It fits the ‘main’ tracks very well, but on the rest of the material I feel they left a lot of gas in the tank.
There probably aren’t 5 better live acts in the world right now than Jason Isbell.
November 11, 2014 @ 6:29 am
Couldn’t agree more. Stage presence, musicianship, and the voice(!) make the live shows so much better than the recording. When you can hear a pin drop in a crowd of 2300 (Ryman) during Cover Me Up or Elephant, it’s pretty much the definition of respect and rapt attention that Isbell has earned.
Nothing personal, Dave Cobb, if you’re reading!
November 11, 2014 @ 10:13 am
I was lucky enough to see Isbell and Sturgill the last night at the Ryman. Both killed it, of course. Both were so genuinely appreciative of the crowd and the honor to play the Ryman. I’m sure it will happen someday, but right now I can’t imagine seeing a better show than those two guys absolutely on the top of their games performing their hearts out.
November 11, 2014 @ 11:33 am
Drove down from Chicago just to be there too. My dream concert come true…
Though I wish Sturgill had been given an hour instead of 45 minutes.
November 11, 2014 @ 3:02 pm
I, too, was at The Ryman Auditorium on that last night of the Isbell/Simpson shows. To say my mind was blown would be an understatement in the extreme. I’ve been fortunate to have seen both artists once before, in separate settings. To see them BOTH in the same night, and on that Hallowed stage? I’ve never found it more fitting that The Ryman Auditorium is an old church. That show was nothing short if a religious experience.
November 11, 2014 @ 4:08 pm
Amen.
November 12, 2014 @ 1:17 pm
So maybe I missed it above, but is there going to be an audio/album release of this as well or just DVD?
November 12, 2014 @ 3:02 pm
Have not seen anything about an audio release yet.
November 12, 2014 @ 3:47 pm
Jason confirmed via Facebook that there will be no CD and no Blu Ray.
November 13, 2014 @ 6:56 am
Thanks guys.
November 12, 2014 @ 3:43 pm
I was at the acl show about 3 people deep from the keyboard player, was an amazing show.
November 13, 2014 @ 4:40 pm
I really wish Songs That She Sang In the Shower was included here. Such an incredible song.
November 16, 2014 @ 4:37 am
Been a big fan of Jason ever since I saw the man live. He puts on a great soulful performance and tells a lot of stories in between his songs as well, making for a lively and sincere show. 10/10 will buy this DVD, especially because I’ve never seen anything of his ACL-set apart from the videos mentioned above.