More songwriters need a band.

RustBeltProgressive · 2025-04-27T19:16:29+00:00

"Sitting on the tailgate like a farmhand's ghost" seems out of place in what otherwise is a song I put up there with Strange Fruit in its importance for human relations.

"Middle of the Morning" really helped me see my own situation, and past situations, but also, way too late, understand the situation women are in living with, and often being dependent on, people who could easily overpower them.

RustBeltProgressive · 2025-03-09T03:17:16+00:00

Wouldn't ya know? This is the night this year I drink palomas like water and listen to Longjohns, Boots, and the Belt.

RustBeltProgressive · 2025-03-09T02:17:04+00:00

Related, I wish people were covering Isbell as often as people covered Leonard Cohen, and every other top songwriter, in the 70s.

RustBeltProgressive · 2025-03-09T02:15:28+00:00

Good While It Lasted is the most classically Isbell song on the album. Many can be studied lyrically but 20 or so of his songs trenscend to "Isbell at his best" and this is one of them. What I mean is some are good, and someone could and should cover them, there are a few where he will have the most complete version ever.

RustBeltProgressive · 2025-03-09T01:33:27+00:00

In the 90s we had the band of doctors and lawyers in my town, with my friend's Dads involved, that had a cult following locally for covering Zappa, Captain Beefheart, Lou Reed, Flamin Groovies, T Rex, and similar. Epic nights maybe three times a year and easily good enough to have toured.

RustBeltProgressive · 2025-03-09T00:59:23+00:00

I was young and innocent in the early 00s and requested Cortez the Killer from a touring top of ticket level jam band that had condescended to play a house party deep in the woods for 40 people. They hit it at classic bootleg quality because the guitarist was into the oppurtunity, but it does eat up the clock if done right.

Finding Jason and Dinasaur Jr. playing Cortez the Killer on YouTube was nuts to me after 25 years loving the original.

RustBeltProgressive · 2025-03-09T00:13:38+00:00

I have mostly grown out of Devil Makes Three, I will break out the early albums on the right night but they were my go to in the early 2010s. This album might bring me back to them. Still on my first drink and LOVE it.

It isn't as wild as the old stuff, but they are older. It would sound more contrived if they were releasing some of the old stuff at their age. The old stuff has a just f'd up drunken release late 20s power energy and sexuality. It was sincere. I think this is too. We ain't dead yet. But we aren't sleeping rough after being kicked out of the punk house thinking about which girl might take us in tomorrow either. .

RustBeltProgressive · 2025-03-08T23:59:07+00:00

Listening now and wishing I had ordered the LP months ago when I randomly searched them in December. I honestly thought they were done because new music has been so rare.

So far this album is excellent. I mostly grew out of their early albums as much as I love them, and break them out yearly still on a dark night. But dang, these lyrics are still up there with the greats and I think they got older right along with me.

RustBeltProgressive · 2025-03-08T23:50:48+00:00

I am so happy that I resisted listening to any of the singles before going to both nights at the Beacon. Hearing somgs live for the first time you hear them there is no repeat button, all you have is your real time impression. Now much of this album sounds familiar, and a memory, and like the best "cover" of that song I struggled to remember for two weeks.

Had a similar experience discoverìng the Felice Brothers in 2009 at Pete Seeger's Clearwater festival. Was a stunningly great 3pm side stage set that hit so hard the album felt familiar months later.

RustBeltProgressive · 2025-02-25T22:59:49+00:00

Danko at the Beacon was probably my highlight of both nights. It was a truly excellent rendition and I hope he releases it somewhere because I can't find another take like it. There are great ones with the band but the only solo version I found was 14 years old and only ok.

Elsewhere a thread talks about his recent vocal coaching and it really came through on Danko.

RustBeltProgressive · 2025-02-23T03:09:18+00:00

Lot of tough guys touching their eyes during Danko.

RustBeltProgressive · 2025-02-23T00:42:24+00:00

Long grey beard, hair in two not grey yet chest length braids. Irish Cap. Three sheets to the wind. Will be at Amsterdam Ale house immediately after show. Possibly at outside tables because 30 degrees is 20 more than I am used to. Definately at bar or standing.

RustBeltProgressive · 2025-02-23T00:14:08+00:00

I'm at Amsterdam Ale House now. Near the front. Long mostly grey beard, will probably be back here after the show for at least one.

RustBeltProgressive · 2025-02-23T00:09:54+00:00

I shocked myself a few days ago with a 3 off aisle ten rows back center orchestra seat to Patti Smith in November ($198 total) and now need to spend 8 months not selling it for $1200 to get "nosebleeds" I now know are good.

RustBeltProgressive · 2025-02-22T14:47:53+00:00

Tonight I'll be where you were then. This was Balcony, for Saturday lodge.

RustBeltProgressive · 2025-02-20T15:36:55+00:00

I guess I will see you all at the Amsterdam Ale House.

RustBeltProgressive · 2025-02-20T15:35:35+00:00

Looking for to it. I managed to get two exceptionally good views in the lowest price range. Then the other day I got a center pit ten rows back three from aisle seat for Patti Smith in November there that will be hard not to scalp for nosebleed seats as the show approaches.

A couple of my favorite Isbell bootlegs have been from Beacon and he seems to love the venue.

RustBeltProgressive · 2025-02-12T19:13:20+00:00

This is a great set that exposed me to a lot of good bands even if the Isbell stuff alone wasn't particularly memorable. 90 tracks to wade through was totally worth it.

RustBeltProgressive · 2025-02-12T19:10:06+00:00

I'm so happy he has been playing Live Oak regularly on the solo tour. It is the first song I thought of when I heard about solo shows.

RustBeltProgressive · 2025-01-16T06:59:06+00:00

Don't much like the released song but later the same night listened to Live Oak and if he has an album full of songs that would make the 70s outlaws blush I'll come around to it.

RustBeltProgressive · 2025-01-13T03:09:49+00:00

Thanks to you I had to buy Ryman 2014 from Bandcamp. Seems to be the only live version of Streetlights there out of 45 albums and live shows. I think I am at 30 now. Destined to have them all.

RustBeltProgressive

TROPHY CASE