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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
120 comments Add your comment
Around The Horn
December 15th, 2011
2:38 am
Interesting!
Mike S
December 15th, 2011
3:07 am
Wow, that’s a pretty cool interview DOB. Reason #5938 why you’ve got the best blog/twitter out there. I especially liked his take on living in America. Sounds like a smart dude.
Thanks again!
Thrashers fan
December 15th, 2011
3:07 am
I love DBT. I had no idea he had his own band now. I’m going to go check them out!
Thrashers fan
December 15th, 2011
3:09 am
Oh and….another great article, DOB. I LOVE the mixture of Braves baseball and music!
RHR
December 15th, 2011
3:50 am
Good stuff!
Sin-I-Cull
December 15th, 2011
5:37 am
Dave, you need to catch Yarn @ Smith’s Olde Bar, check them out, mighty fine!!!!
home & home
December 15th, 2011
5:44 am
“Here We Rest” may be #12 on the list you cited DOB but it’s my top 2-3 for the year. I like Jason’s work with the 400 Unit much better than the DBT.
Rob1855
December 15th, 2011
7:15 am
Thanks, Dave. Isbell’s always worth the time.
James Horne
December 15th, 2011
7:21 am
Nice post, Dave. I wondered when you’d get around to it.
Huddie Ledbetter
December 15th, 2011
8:08 am
Great stuff DOB.
dap01
December 15th, 2011
8:14 am
?????
Tree huggin' peace lovin' pot smokin' porn watchin' lazy ass hippie
December 15th, 2011
8:27 am
Thanks DOB. Don’t know if you follow Isbell on twitter but it’s a full time job. Dude tweets constantly. I happened upon him when he found his van stolen. One of his first tweets was something like “answers to stupid damn van but don’t try to pet her”. Sad but entertaining.
GangstaBilly
December 15th, 2011
8:27 am
Dave – awesome work…I assume this was done before the announcement that Shonna left DBT? Jason had some strange Twitter posts recently – curious if there’s any connection.
Great work as always.
chuck
December 15th, 2011
8:33 am
Been to see Jason a number of times here in the DC area, and it’s better each time….
In addition to Decoration Day, there is a favorite of mine with the Truckers called Outfit…anybody who loves a good daddy tune, that’s a great song.
Losing Jason has made my about 50% the DBT fan i was before, but this 400 unit project has some serious weight to it….
One of his songs also made a Sons of Anarchy montage….good year for Jason.
chuck
December 15th, 2011
8:34 am
Now, go talk to the boys for me, DOB….since they’re going on hiatus.
Jay
December 15th, 2011
8:40 am
Fantastic interview!
David O'Brien
December 15th, 2011
9:27 am
Much thanks for the nice comments on Isbell interview. He carried it — the guy is really sharp, really honest and interesting.
Sharkfinhat
December 15th, 2011
9:28 am
Really enjoyed this. Love that he and Amanda are on the new Todd Snider record, really hoping they’ll all end up touring together.
GangstaBilly
December 15th, 2011
9:29 am
at least we get some solo Cooley to fill the void for a while
dap01
December 15th, 2011
9:30 am
Any Braves news today?
TennesseePaul
December 15th, 2011
9:31 am
Thanks for the work DOB. So, was this your favorite blog ever?
TS
December 15th, 2011
9:40 am
DBT never been as good since Isbell left.
sleeze
December 15th, 2011
9:46 am
This was nice. So.. when do we go back to actually talking about baseball and who the Braves are going to add to the roster?
Bill
December 15th, 2011
10:31 am
Great stuff DOB….Rumor Ronny Cedeno is on Braves radar. Could be another Rafael Belliard. My Dad loved Rafael also. Keep us informed.
I just spent the last hour listen-in to Jason “Here We Rest” and Railbenders “The Outlaw Way”.
Have a great day.
Sir Stealth
December 15th, 2011
10:44 am
Great interview, DOB. Must’ve been fun to get to mix in a little music journalism with the offseason rumor mill.
BravesFanSince1982
December 15th, 2011
10:46 am
DOB, I’m really confused about the direction the Braves are taking. Do they want to contend for a championship in 2012, or are they just trying to build for the future? It seems like they have some $ to spend on upgrading the roster, but each day goes by and all we hear about are the Ronny Cedeno’s of the baseball world. If the Braves go into 2012 still lacking a legit power hitting LF and/or a decent SS, then to this fan of 30 years, it sends the message that competing for a championship in 2012 is not the primary goal. I know Frank is trying to be cautious, but this offseason’s been so dead, I’m not even sure if the guy still has a pulse.
David O'Brien
December 15th, 2011
10:54 am
DOB, I’m really confused about the direction the Braves are taking. Do they want to contend for a championship in 2012, or are they just trying to build for the future? It seems like they have some $ to spend on upgrading the roster, but each day goes by and all we hear about are the Ronny Cedeno’s of the baseball world. — BravesFanSince1982
It’s still too early to panic, BravesFan. Plenty of time to make moves before spring training, not to mention before Opening Day.
No, they are not approaching this as a rebuilding year. At all.
BravesFanSince1982
December 15th, 2011
11:13 am
Not really panicking. And I understand that Wren has to work under the constraints of the current ownership. I guess I just miss the days of Ted Turner and the 90’s where the Braves year-to-year would simply reload and would always seem to have a championship caliber team. I truly believe this team is on the cusp of that, but they are not quite there yet. There are still a couple of missing pieces and as each day goes by and other teams gobble up the best options, it is a little cause for concern.
hmmmmmmmm
December 15th, 2011
11:39 am
The frustration with the Braves isn’t not signing the big guys or trading for Kemp, etc. but instead that we feel like it is always Thanksgiving Day Dinner and we are the last to make a plate and thus get what no one else wants.
Largo
December 15th, 2011
11:44 am
Jason Isbell????????? Who the hell cares. . .unless of course he plays SS or LF.
efuzz
December 15th, 2011
11:46 am
Great piece! I know the “purists” won’t like it, but I’m a fan of Isbell and the temporary diversions you invite us to on your blog, which, to me, comes from it being YOUR blog. You are truly the Renaissance man of AJC bloggers. Thanks
Jon
December 15th, 2011
11:46 am
wait, wait, wait …. Turner Field has bleachers?
“he might be spotted in the bleachers in a Chipper Jones T-shirt.”
Enough with the song lyrics, this isn't Rolling Stone
December 15th, 2011
12:26 pm
…but I do think an article like this is an appropritae way for you to balance your obvious passion for music with your Braves coverage. Well done. (I still don’t see the need for the song lyrics after each post but…I’ll let that go since it’s the Christmas season.) I know Mike Mills of REM has appeared in Braves’ commercials in the past…any interivews with him on the horizon?
mountain_jim
December 15th, 2011
12:27 pm
I don’t always read the pages and pages of comments, but I always read your blog entries David. Great Braves and great music coverage all in one package!
CandyO
December 15th, 2011
12:28 pm
Great interview. I was lucky enough to catch one of the Ryan Adams/Jason Isbell shows while on a business trip out west. That was almost too much talent for one building to hold.
As a corollary to the musician/baseball connection you note, I’ve noticed that lots of baseball writers are fellow music geeks. I have picked up some good leads from you and Peter Gammons over the years.
Wharaway
December 15th, 2011
12:29 pm
Nice job David. Now if we can get Braves PR to book him for an aftergame concert…..
David O'Brien
December 15th, 2011
12:43 pm
Candy O, thanks. And where did you see Isbell and Ryan Adams out west? Jason said he loved doing those shows, said Adams was terrific.
son's who?
December 15th, 2011
12:51 pm
“When I was between 7 and 9 years old, the youth team I played on was the Dodgers, so I linked up with them. Even made my parents sit on the visitors side when we caught Atlanta-LA games at Fulton County Stadium. I passed out waiting on an autograph once — from the heat, of course — and Fernando Valenzuela’s mom (I think) carried me into the stands to locate my folks.”
A simple, yet terrific, story.
Ken Stallings
December 15th, 2011
1:36 pm
Dave,
I get the distinct impression that if you weren’t writing the column for the Braves, you’d love to be a music critic and writer!
dap01
December 15th, 2011
1:47 pm
Any Braves news on the Baltimore trade issue?
Scott
December 15th, 2011
1:55 pm
Great interview, and thanks for including “Decoration Day”. I go back and forth between that one and “Outfit” as my favorite Isbell-era DBT song.
Bill
December 15th, 2011
1:56 pm
Its a done deal with Josh Willingham going to Twins.
Punto going to Red Sox.
All Quiet on Atlanta front…….
BravesFanSince1982
December 15th, 2011
2:07 pm
Not true, Bill. We ARE linked to Ronny Cedeno.
Larry30
December 15th, 2011
2:38 pm
Might be a great article, but this is the kind of news a braves fan gets. Maybe wren can sign isbell to do a concert after one the games. It might be the best contract he negotiates this off season.
StingerSplash
December 15th, 2011
2:52 pm
Saw the DBTs close a show in Charleston one night with a 15-minute version of Decoration Day, with Isbell standing atop an amp, playing his Gretsch guitar off the edge of the drop ceiling.
Saw the DBTs a couple of months ago in Savannah. They do nada off that album and only played for about an hour and there was no beer sold at Trustees Theatre (thank God The Jayhawks played in Atlanta at the Buckhead Theatre) But they did do a rousing rendition of People Who Died at the end.
flange1
December 15th, 2011
2:52 pm
Great read DOB!
Jason is a heck of a talent and I still can’t get enough of his newest album. Can’t wait to see him again and to get some new music from him ad the band!
Curt
December 15th, 2011
3:37 pm
Great article, thank you Dave. Jason’s a poet, “I try hard to write
About what I know.” he gets it- and is very gifted. Not surprising he loves baseball – I love the line about the iPhone scores during a show!
D Fence
December 15th, 2011
3:51 pm
Nice work Dave. Isbell is a great musician and singer, and his latest albumn as you mentioned is beautifully written. While I still love the DBT’s, this guy is a piece that is sorely missed.
Another DBT Isbell beauty is “Outfit”…Dont call whatch a wearin an outfit, dont ever say you car is broke, dont worry about losin your accent, a southern man tells better jokes”…
kudzu
December 15th, 2011
4:05 pm
Dave, thanks for the article. You also need to check out Corey Crowder@ Smith’s Olde Bar.
AGTFan53
December 15th, 2011
4:10 pm
This was a great interview. It’s great to this kind of perspective. Of course, I’m really embarassed to admit that Jason played here in Bloomington, IL in a small converted theatre last year. The show was barely promoted at all. I glanced at the theatre’s website and noticed, but didn’t really know who Jason Isbell and the 400 is. I normally go and check out bands I haven’t heard of, but I had something else to do that night and missed it. Nowhere, did anyone mention the DBT connection. I feel like an idiot. My loss!
As far being disappointed by the Braves lack of moves, I’m not. I think we can be competitive next year just as we are. I also think some kind of move is going to happen that will make Braves fans happier. Don’t know why, just a feeling.
Bill
December 15th, 2011
4:33 pm
Ok 1982..I’ll take your word for it.
Stanley
December 15th, 2011
4:45 pm
Before she left me, my wife’s boyfriend, after he went on viagra, then got one of those penile implants… I never had a chance.
Mark in WR
December 15th, 2011
5:06 pm
Dave, great interview. I really enjoy your unique blend of good music and baseball. I have been a fan of Jason’s for years and he really outdid himself with his latest album, Hear We Rest.
“The AC hasn’t worked in twenty years, it probably never made a single person cold. I can’t say the same for me, I’ve done it many times”.
Pure brilliance.
Mark in WR
December 15th, 2011
5:07 pm
Here We Rest, sorry.
CSL
December 15th, 2011
5:27 pm
Thanks David! Excellent interview with one of my favorite musicians.
Ronald Millsaps
December 15th, 2011
5:57 pm
So, the Braves didn’t offer contracts to Peter Moylan or to Brooks Conrad, huh? Well, they’re 0-2 on 12/15/11, and with the way management has overused the bullpen in recent years, you’d think they’d want to keep a guy whose delivery is conducive to pitching multiple innings. He hasn’t been as impressive as he was in 2007, when he was extremely tough, but he’s a real asset, and Conrad’s bat needs to be kept, especially since he is reliable in the clutch.
Notice the pop-up ad with “buy now” at the “X” spot? Sniveling, sorry marketing technique, and yes, a lot of marketing itself is manipulation, or at least the attempt thereof.
Someone tell Michelle Obama that truth isn’t up to the individual.
rico43
December 15th, 2011
6:16 pm
Nice surprise interview. Discovered Truckers when Isbell-era band played Riverbend. No question those 3 albums (plus outtakes CD!) are DBT at its creative peak. Isbell’s solo albums have had 2-3 superlative songs, making me think it’s a shame those 2-3 were not replacing 2-3 Shonna Tucker filler songs. Ah, well. David Barbe is an upgrade, but I miss three singer/songwriter DBT lineup.
rico43
December 15th, 2011
6:18 pm
Oh! Baseball? Every move so far has made sense, but Braves are so boringly STABLE right now! At this point, just waiting to hear if Jamie Dismuke has been rehired in Gwinnett.
unbelievable
December 15th, 2011
6:36 pm
The Cedeno interest is baffling. He cant hit and his glove is hit or miss. He had a strong year defensively last year, but his defensive stats from 2005-2010 were pretty ugly across the board.
Bill
December 15th, 2011
7:30 pm
Don’t kill me but how would Coco Crisp do in LF? He has lifetime BA 275- LT 330 obp- 8 hrs last years but 49 sb’s..Bourn and CC stealing would be exciting…..for one year. Ok now shoot!
OklahomaBrave
December 15th, 2011
8:44 pm
This blog is the reason I bought my first dbt album “southern rock opera.” One of the greatest albums of all time! I’ve since bought all of their albums including isbells and p hoods. While Oklahoma red dirt with the great divide or ccr ( cross Canadian ragweed) is good music it lacks the soul of southern music. Thanks dob for the introduction!
ray
December 15th, 2011
9:06 pm
thanks for a very interesting and well-written blog. I don’t know the band and I still enjoyed the interview. an excellent piece of journalism.
PS no reflection on Dave, but this also shows how little Braves news he has to write about.
the MO remains: anyone earning over the major league minimum is too expensive.
David O'Brien
December 15th, 2011
9:25 pm
Ray: Thanks, I appreciate that.
OklahomaBrave: You’re more than welcome. I’m just glad to have steered you in the direction of Southern Rock Opera. Cool to hear you became such a big fan of DBT and the solo stuff by Jason and Patterson.
boots
December 15th, 2011
11:33 pm
Great write, Dave. Jason is one of the best guitarist around, and I’ve missed him at the Truckers shows. I still consider him part of the Athen’s music scene even though he never had as much as a PO Box there. I once sat next to Mike Mills for an 18-inning Braves game. My girlfriend’s accounting teacher took his summer class. For the 14th inning stretch, the stadium played “Stand.” A bunch of people around us danced with this song, not realizing who Mike was. Pretty funny.
McCann Fan
December 16th, 2011
7:23 am
Great blog DOB! I love gaining insight into a favorite musician. We love DBT and solo Isbell and catch both most every time they are within a couple hours of ATL. (Can’t wait for Sat Jan 14th at the 40 Watt!!!) Hood, Cooley, and Isbell have to be 3 of the best songwriters of my generation.
I wanted to second the notion of a couple earlier posters in saying that “Outfit” is clearly one of my top 5 DBT songs. It doesn’t get any better than my favorite line,
“Well I used to go out in a Mustang,
A 302 Mach 1 in Green,
Me and your mama made you in the back
And I sold it to buy her a ring”
Also everyone if you don’t own it or haven’t seen it, please check out DBT’s documentary “The Secret to a Happy Ending” playing this month on the Documentary Channel. It’s awesome. Thanks again Dave. You are the best
john
December 16th, 2011
8:30 am
GREAT article Dave !! I met him at a show. Super nice guy
Grand Slammer
December 16th, 2011
8:46 am
Never heard a song by the Drive By Truckers before. I like alternative rock.
Maybe the Braves will make a trade to solidify LF & SS. Need to be strong 1 thru 9 to compete with Philly & Fla.
Grand Slammer
December 16th, 2011
8:47 am
My wife likes Michael Buble & Celine Deion music. Sadly.
Grand Slammer
December 16th, 2011
8:49 am
Dave, I’d be curious to know that if playing the guitar came naturally to Dave or did he just work really hard at practicing before harnessing it ? Some people play “by ear” and some take lessons for life.
Grand Slammer
December 16th, 2011
8:50 am
I meant Jason not Dave.
Buford Pusser
December 16th, 2011
8:57 am
Jason Isbell is a whole better without DBT than DBT is without him!
Musica
December 16th, 2011
8:57 am
McCann Fan : “Well I used to go out in a Mustang,
A 302 Mach 1 in Green,
Me and your mama made you in the back
And I sold it to buy her a ring”
I could come up with this jargon in 1 minute.
“Me and your mom rode fast and long
We were listening to our favorite songs
That Mach 1 Mustang’s motor was strong
To get from Georgia to L.A. didn’t take long”
Musica
December 16th, 2011
9:00 am
McCann Fan : “(Can’t wait for Sat Jan 14th at the 40 Watt!!!) Hood, Cooley, and Isbell have to be 3 of the best songwriters of my generation.”
Best song writers of our generation ? Are you on drugs ?
Buford Pusser
December 16th, 2011
9:02 am
Youtube: Isbell singing Alabama Pines by himself at a radio statio. Wow.
Listen: DBT’s new album Gogo Boots. AWFUL.
Musica
December 16th, 2011
9:03 am
Ever heard of Prince ? The guy that has written about 25 # 1 hits that he sung and about 15 more # 1’s that other artists sung ? Ever heard of Eric Clapton ? Those 3 guys you listed wouldn’t make the top 100 best song writers of our generation.
Buford Pusser
December 16th, 2011
9:06 am
PRINCE!?!?!?!?!?
Gtfoh
Musica
December 16th, 2011
9:08 am
Here’s a link to the list of 200 ranked best song writers in rock.
http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_songwriters.html
Musica
December 16th, 2011
9:11 am
Here’s a link to the list of songs written by Prince that other artists sung.
http://prince.org/msg/7/239543
Musica
December 16th, 2011
9:12 am
Oh I forgot we were just allowed to like Hicksville type music here…
Buford Pusser
December 16th, 2011
9:17 am
OK, you do realize we are are about to be in the year 2012, right?
Jay Z? NWA? LL Cool J? Come on, get real.
Buford Pusser
December 16th, 2011
9:20 am
Oh yeah, Isbell can’t compeat with “Nasty Girl” or “The Sex of It” by Prince. Both your lists are full of popcrap BS.
Prince. Funny.
David O'Brien
December 16th, 2011
9:40 am
dp: Yes, I do think Braves and Orioles have continued their discussions. So far no leaks from either side as to whom is targeted from O’s. We’ve all been speculating on that part….
McCann Fan: There are so many great, economical lines in “Outfit.” Isbell wasted not a word in that gem…
Musica
December 16th, 2011
10:03 am
I figured our generation was longer than 2012. Like from the 1960’s to 2012 ? Prince is R&B by the way. The statement was on of best 3 song writers of our generation not musical taste or local favorites.
Buford Pusser
December 16th, 2011
10:19 am
Exactly. Three greatest song writers of our generation and you offered Prince, then you offered a list, which was heavy with artists from the 50’s and 60’s as evidence. Not a single listing past the 90’s.
Bottom line is this: 1. This is an article about Isbell. 2. The commenters are generally Isbell Fans. 3. You decide to butt in and run the man down.
So, we will agree to disagree. You keep rockin that Prince (lol) and I will keep believing that Isbell is one of the greatest CURRENT song writers and music artists around, but when the AJC has an article about Prince, you won’t see me logging in to post about how much better Jason Isbell is. And he is.
Chuck
December 16th, 2011
10:33 am
Hey DOB, I have been waiting nearly a year for the top 100 of 2011. You have steered me to into some great stuff over the past several years – Jamey Johnson, DBT, new classics by some of the classic artists. I think it might be okay to give yourself a pass on the “CD” requirement this time. Thanks for the great Braves and music stuff!!
bravesfaninNashville
December 16th, 2011
10:35 am
It’s not very exciting to be a Braves fan right now. Feels like we’re in the desert after totally blowing the Wild Card and then having our best move of the offseason so far to be dumping Derek Lowe to Cleveland while eating $10 Million of his salary. I sure hope the front office has some things in the slow cooker that are going to taste really good when they’re done because this offseason has been one of the worst I can remember in 20 years. I hope the O’s and Braves are truly working on a blockbuster . Who knows maybe theres even a third team involved to complete someone’s wish list for the deal..
David O'Brien
December 16th, 2011
11:06 am
Chuck, the top 50 — I’ve never done 100 — will be in next main blog, no later than Monday.
dap01
December 16th, 2011
11:52 am
Any baseball news today?
Bill
December 16th, 2011
11:56 am
Cuddyer to Rockies for 3 years…
jordan
December 16th, 2011
2:58 pm
Wow. An interview with some groovy musician who happens to like the Braves. Thanks for wasting my time, DOB.
Bill
December 16th, 2011
3:31 pm
Jordon, nothing on Braves front to report. Feel free to make up some crap.
David O'Brien
December 16th, 2011
3:50 pm
Wow. An interview with some groovy musician who happens to like the Braves. Thanks for wasting my time, DOB. — jordan
You’re more than welcome. And sorry about that disorder that forces you to read everything in its entirety, whether you’re interested or not. That’s rough.
Nick
December 16th, 2011
4:19 pm
I love DBT and it was fun to read about the cross-pollination between sports and music. I love Decoration Day and also the song “Cottonseed”, both tell powerful stories.
NC
December 16th, 2011
4:59 pm
Nice interview. Would love to see the DBTs and Isbell do a tour together someday. Decoration Day is one of the best rock albums of all time. Hated to see them split, but got two great bands now. Kind of like when Uncle Tupelo broke up.
As far as the Braves go, I know you would normally not make a move just to make a move, but in this case I think you almost have to. The way the season ended had to leave a pretty bad mental scare on the team (I know it did for me as a fan). I think a move of some merit would help get the bad taste of last season out of the organization’s mouth. If we start the season with the same team as last year it may be hard to get out of the rut we got stuck in last year. I’m sure they will do something before the season starts.
Appreciate this blog…makes the work day bearable.
Sammy
December 16th, 2011
7:05 pm
Wow! Don’t know what’s worse. The Braves or this blog.
J-MAN
December 16th, 2011
7:25 pm
Sarcasm is running amuck tonight
J-MAN
December 16th, 2011
7:30 pm
@ Sammy I think the Braves are far worse than this blog. At least D.O.B. is putting forth an effort with an interview wiht a musician. I mean the Braves haven’t gave him anything to write about since blowing that 10.5 game lead. Kudos D.O.B. for trying to make chicken salad out of chicken sh*t. I really give you credit for tryiung to make interesting colulms when the team has done nothing to give you to write about.
WE WANT THE TRUTH!!!!!!!
J-MAN
December 16th, 2011
7:37 pm
I can’t spell tonight dang 16 hour shifts
the truth...
December 16th, 2011
9:15 pm
If this Isbel dude can hit with power or play SS then I’m interested….otherwise I guess I’ll leave this one up to DOB and the boys to chew on.
BravesfaninWis
December 16th, 2011
11:07 pm
Another day passed, and another day without hearing a damn thing about the Braves. I don’t get this team one bit. They act like they were a great team last season that won it all and doesn’t need to do anything to their roster. Sure glad that I didn’t spend the money on this team again this year, I can watch them lose on free highlights.