I would have to agree with you on this. My wife passed in 2018, while in home hospice. Isbell captures so much of that experience. My condolences to you, sir.
To me grief seems like it is the love that was meant to be spent on our loved one but gets lost once the focus of its affections is not tangible there for its outlet. It's not that the love is trapped but confused and befuddled as to where it's meant to go. I hope the stage you're now in is softer.
Saw Jason Last time he was in Denmark ,and sitting beside my wife her being hairless and undergoing chemo treatment was a very special moment, happy to say she's on the other side, and we're going back to here him in November in Copenhagen
@@smarroy oh shoot yes I can why now , but no she's had been taken off chemotherapy and declared cancer free after have surgery, but she's got the brca gen so is set for a couple more surgeries before she can relax ,
I've been a fan of his since he was in Drive By Truckers. I've seen him play in a coffee shop and I've seen him in front of over 25,000 people in Chicago and I've seen him twice at the Ryman. My wife and I plan vacations around his shows. If this is your first time seeing him, you are in for a treat. He just commands a stage and has a presence like no one I've seen live. His guitar chops are second to none and his songs are, too. Have a good time tonight, you will not regret it.
my ex said to me the other day you're going to love the next Isbell record. He and Amanda are getting divorced, and while that in itself hit me like a truck, I can't imagine what the next album will be like.💔❤️
My secret romantic cries at this line from 24 Frames, every time: “This is how you talk to her when no one else is listening, And this is how you help her when the muse goes missing You vanish so she can go drowning in a dream again” Whew…
I love watching someone's face as that one line hits. If it doesn't make your eyes go glassy, you aren't a human being. I start to tear up every single time and who knows how many times I've heard the song. That F-bomb is just so incongruous and real-sounding.
My wife passed away in 2021 from metastatic breast cancer and this song… it completely captures what it was. Jason Isbell is so damn good. I’m glad I got to see him at the Salt Shed last week.
Jason put out a video for this song. He asked fans to send in pictures of their loved ones that lost their battle to cancer or those that were impacted by it. Enough sent pics in for 6 versions of the video. If you want to see the pain of loss check them out, I'm in one as a survivor. Cancer Sucks.
This one was a gut punch when I first heard it. I remember it going a bit like this: First verse: Hmm, what's this about now? Second part: Oh. Third: Son of a *****. Jason's great. Enjoy the show!
Was lucky enough to catch the first night of his Ryman residency this past year. The first night he played Southeastern front to back to celebrate ten years since it’s release, then he did a second set of newer songs. To hear those songs in that room was just such an incredible privilege. He got to Elephant and it was one of a handful of times I was moved to tears that evening. The show was just so incredible and so emotional. It was practically transcendent. That night is a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life. I’m so happy you get to experience his music live tonight. I know you’ll be blown away and I can’t wait to hear your take on it. Cheers!
Andy you're better than your past.... Surrounded by her family I saw that she was dying alone..... No one dies with dignity, just try to ignore the elephant.... What lyrics. I discovered Southeastern through Elephant about 11 years ago while driving to a jam. Cover Me Up. Traveling Alone. It's just so much, hard to keep the tears at bay, and knowing what they're going through now doesn't make that easier. Enjoy the show. Say hi to Baltimore and tell her that I miss her almost every day. O!
I hope you enjoyed the concert! Another amazing lyric from Traveling Alone. "I know every town worth passing through, What good does knowing do? No one to show it to." The poetic rhythm there is amazing.
"sometimes time running out is a gift" I can't even describe to me how much this lyric has stuck with me over the years. I think about it often and I'd like to think I'm a better person for it.
Pour a stiff drink, throw Isbell on the headphones, pause between verses, and think about what you just heard. It's easy to glaze over his writing craft given how powerfully comforting the melodies, but the study of his lyrical brilliance will astound the most astute songwriter. John Mayer is case-in-point to this. Cancer rings true more times than I like to count in my family, and I consider this song almost anthemic. God Bless Jason and his creativity.
Saw Jason in concert, as a blind invitation, several years ago. I had not heard of him. I didn't understand why I had these gut punches during so many songs. I had goosebumps and tears throughout the concert . It had never happened before, or since.
Mayer is right. Not only is he of the best songwriters alive today he is a monster guitar player. You're in for a treat tonite. I've seen em 3 times and they do not disappoint. They are a helluva tight band.
I heard this song maybe three or four times before I really HEARD this song. And then I never forgot it. I would say Jason is "clever" to sing about personal little habits and quirks to hit home how human the song is, but we all know he probably just wrote from the heart and landed right where he needed to.
Jason Isbell broke me with King of Oklahoma, what an amazing song. Chasing this chain farther, one of his favorite lyricists is James McMurtry, whom I'm also a big fan of and really seems to be overlooked a lot. Jason covers Rachel's Song now and then. Check out James' song Lights of Cheyenne, or No More Buffalo sometime.
He crushed it too! Had a scene with maybe one of the greatest actors of this generation - Leo - and just did his thing. Thought he’d be an extra on a porch somewhere but he brought his A game as a major character. Respect.
Ive got tickets for Radio City Music Hall on Saturday. I got to see him in a 1,500 seat place last year, now he is playing to sold out 6,000 seats, amazing. Glad to see him get the recognition he deserves.
It's no wonder I have always loved John Mayer and Jason Isbell from the moment I heard their music. I lost my Uncle to cancer 3 years ago today and I've cried to Isbell's Elephant more than I can count. But music truly heals the moments until time finally passes.
Never heard this artist, or this song before. Thank you Mike sharing as it hit hard and touched me in a way I can't explain. John was right. Just amazing
Saw him last August in Richmond, VA as part of the Weathervanes tour. Absolutely spectacular show and would 10/10 recommend anyone go see him if they're given the chance.
Isbell is my absolute favorite artist. His lyrics are incredible, I haven’t found another artist who transports you into the songs quite like he does. Elephant is one of the best examples. The 400 unit put on a great show! I was lucky enough to see them at red rocks last year and it was awesome! I’m Sure it was a good one tonight! Anyone who hasn’t seen them live definitely needs to.
My exwife die of cancer a few years ago. She call me 2 weeks before she pass.. we cry for 15 minutes in the phone without saying a word. This song always make me cry.
Your observations are spot-on. I just discovered Jason Isbell last year and Elephant epitomizes his storytelling and song writing skills. March 10th will be the fourth anniversary of my former wife’s death. April 3rd will be the third anniversary of my best friend’s death. This song honors them and always brings a tear to my eye….
A few months ago, I started radiation treatments for breast cancer (I'm fine now). The technician asked if had a favorite artist to listen to during treatment, so I asked for Jason Isbell. This was the first song that came on! lol Doesn't matter where you are. The song is perfect.
I remember another YT channel recommending the abum that Elephant was taken from so, I bought it and listened to it in the car.... and it started at "...mmm. Thats good. Thats clever" and quicky progressed to "... oh thats really good, I like that...." through ".... jeezus thats brilliant"....to ...."now, thats really really clever"..... just got better and better and better. And that album is ten years old. He's an exceptional lyrical talent, of that I have no doubt.
Isbell is not only the greatest living songwriter..I truly believe he will be considered amongst the greateat who ever lived once all is said and done. His last six albums are all stone cold classics and he wrote at least a dozen brilliant songs with the Drive By Truckers. Hes also one of the best rock guitarists on the planet and leads one of the best rock bands on the planet. Hes a true living legend...and his music will change your life for the better.
I knew Isbell was different when I saw him back in 2010, 50 people in a small venue, amazing. We both were smoking outside the venue before the show, he introduced himself to me like a true southern gentleman. Cool moment.
FINALLY got to see Jason and the 400 Unit in Chicago a few nights ago. I only had to wait 10 years! Elephant and Yvette are still my 2 most favorite. He’s just such an incredible storyteller. Elephant makes me cry EVERY time I hear it, and it was no different at the concert, standing there singing along, wiping away the tears. Needless to say, I wasn’t the only one.
Elephant is so fucking well written, it is so descriptive, real and raw, i know people who cant even listen to it because it takes them someplace they dont wanna visit
Can't wait to hear your review of the show. I hope Sadler is back for you. I always liked his songs but also thought they had a second life when played live that I liked more. To me, Weathervanes is the first studio album that captures what his live shows sound like ... without the live guitar duels in songs like This Ain't It ...
Thanks for this Michael really discovered Jason late last year, after being very well aware of him forever it seems. But you are right life is shit unless you share it and that's what makes it beautiful... I also just turned 54 I have two teenage daughters and I realized that my life is just starting because I realized how much I'm working against the clock✌️
How amazing was that LIVE? You got to hear THE dream set from Isbell. Myh wife walked away saying, "I knew he was good, but I didn't know he could play the guitar like that!!!" What a show. I get to see Isbell and Zach Bryan together in June. Have you seen Zach Bryan's 9-Ball video with Matthew McConaughey!?!?!? Unreal. Isbell is a legend though.
I’m so glad you made this video. Jason Isbell is been a staple of my music listening since I was in Kindergarten. Currently a sophomore in college. I love this❤️
Saw Jason at the Ryman in Fall of 22. We stumbled on the show while visiting Nashville for a recording. Blew my mind away. An experience I’ll never forget. John Mayer is speaking facts 💯
In November he visit the Netherlands with 3 concerts. He’s getting noticed here as well. Of course I got tickets, will be the second time I see him live. He is so at ease on stage, amazing to watch.
Great take on a such a deep song. I'm sure you'll enjoy the show a lot! I've only seen Jason a few times with DBT, but hope to see him again some time in the future.
Dude. I have been preaching this gospel about Isbell forever. It's funny that Mayer and Isbell are my top two favorite Artist. I love your videos always as a player...but lyrics and honest writing has always been what pulls me to music. I love that as a teacher and musician you are hip to this. And it solidifies my belief in what I'm hearing when I listen to Jasons music.
Dude it's great to see a musician that can talk the color of music, Subscribed! You are spot on with your analysis and how you described the chords was perfect. Hey I saw Jason back in the fall in Birmingham at an outdoor stage, and brother I was blown away! Jason is a legend and a hero down here in Bama and it was an incredible show. He whipped out Red Eye and plugged it straight into the amp........ it took two days to get my hearing back. You are gonna love the experience you're gonna have at his show!
I had a songwriting conversation with a coworker today and made the comment “Jason Isbell is the best songwriter of his generation”, and then a couple hours later open RU-vid to find your video titled almost the same thing. Wow. Mayer and Isbell have been my favorite two artists before I even understood why. Now Chris Stapleton has joined their company.
Couldn’t agree with John Mayer more. I don’t know how he is not crazy popular in the same circles as Dylan fans. Seeing him next week in Rochester. Love love love him.
Beautiful discussion on one of the more heart-wrenching and thought provoking songs in the modern American songbook. Kudos Michael. You've done it yet again.
Wow Michael, I was thinking of you last night while at the Lyric, also my first time seeing Jason live. Hadn't seen this vid yesterday so I was simply hoping you were there last night. Always wowed by Jason's lyrics, and then there's Jason and Sadler's dueling guitars. Brilliant concert, hope you loved it too!
I’ve seen Isbell and band 4 times in London, and solo twice, including a couple of weeks back (the rare solo shows are something else!). And will back at Hammersmith in November for the seventh gig. Mayer is spot on.
Thank you Michael Palmisano for continuing to introduce me to amazing music that algorithms on streaming platforms would never suggest. Some of your selections have become the soundtrack to my 30's (nearly 40's) and have helped me to navigate life and all its unpredictabilities.
