Four-time Grammy Award winner Jason Isbell will FINALLY get to play his COVID delayed show at the Akron Civic Theatre on Wednesday, December 8!
Isbell sings on his song “Hope the High Road”:
Last Year was a son of a bitch
For nearly everyone we know
But I ain’t fighting with you down in a ditch
I’ll meet you up here on the road
A son of a bitch, indeed. How true do these lyrics ring? Those in attendance will undoubtedly lose their collective minds (and voices from cheering so loud) when Isbell sings those lyrics.
The former Drive-By Truckers member recently released a covers album titled ‘Georgia Blue,’ featuring covers of artists that exclusively hail from the state of Georgia.
Back in November, Jason Isbell tweeted, “If Biden wins Georgia I’m gonna make a charity covers album of my favorite Georgia songs…. And damn is that gonna be fun.”
The album includes, TWO tunes from Athens natives R.E.M. “Nightswimming” [ft. Béla Fleck and Chris Thile] and “Driver 8″ [ft. John Paul White]. Other highlights include Indigo Girls’ “Kid Fears” (ft. Julien Baker and Brandi Carlile] and Gladys Knight’s “Midnight Train to Georgia” [ft. Brittney Spencer and John Paul White].
The covers album is the follow-up to ‘Reunions,’ recorded with his band, the 400 Unit, which finds Isbell at the top of his game. He is widely acclaimed as one of our best songwriters and possesses a devoted audience who have pushed his last two albums to the tops of the charts. ‘Reunions’ was produced by modern legend Dave Cobb.
“Success is a very nice problem to have but I think ‘how do I get through it and not lose what made me good in the first place?’” Isbell says. “A lot of these songs and the overall concept of this album is how do I progress as an artist and a human being and still keep that same hunger that I had when I wasn’t quite so far along in either respect.” Isbell’s solution: to go back in time with his hard-gained knowledge.
The result is a seamless collection of ten new songs that delve into relationships with lovers, friends, children, parents, and one’s self. There are rousing anthems that will have stadiums singing along, lyrical standouts that highlight some of Isbell’s best writing to date, moving looks at youth and childhood, a deep dive into the challenges of relationships, and deeply personal songs about alcoholism and parenthood. All of them offer us an artist at the height of his powers and a band fully charged with creativity and confidence.
Isbell is perhaps best known for hits such as “Cover Me Up” and “If We Were Vampires,” but the covers and new tunes will soon be equal favorites.
Ticket info
All seats are reserved and priced at $99.50, $79.50, $59.50 or $49.50. Prices are subject to additional fees. Tix can be purchased in person at the Akron Civic Theatre box office or online via the link below:
