Trips to North London are a bit special, it's so cosmopolitan, compared to home. I get off the Underground at Highgate, and I'm surrounded by shops that you sadly don't see in my part of Essex. I look at a vegetarian cafe that doubles as a bar and music venue, and I think I'm in paradise. Actually I'm heading across the road to the Boogaloo. In fairness it's a pub,a small bar, a collection of small tables and stools and a small stage. At 9pm, onto the stage walks Jason Isbell, for the next 1 hour 40 minutes we are transported from London to Alabama.
I've had the pleasure of seeing Jason Isbell in concert twice before, but this is the first time I've seen him play a solo acoustic set. I'm familiar with all the material, he chooses songs from his three solo albums plus a sprinkling of his tracks from DBT albums.
His latest album, Here we rest" was released last year, and it's been a firm favourite of him since it's release. I voted it's opening tracks Alabama Pines as my song of 2011. It's that good. Jason opens up with " Tour of Duty", it's clear that war has made an impact on both the songwriter and the community where he lives. He focuses upon the personal impact and it touches base.
He's quickly establishes easy communication with the audience of around 150 who are silent through each number. The Truckers numbers are clearly his Decoration Day, Goddam lonely love and especially Outfit, that so perfectly explores the relationship of father and son.
After 90 minutes, he returns for an encore and to my delight plays Alabama Pines , finally he leaves with a song that he dedicates to Levon Helm , its Danko/Manuel from the Dirty South. Jason Isbell , is just a fantastic songwriter,with a voice that brings emotion to his songs, this was one of the best solo sets I've seen. The small venue, the audience, only added to the occasion.
No comments:
Post a Comment