Jason Isbell has left Drive-By Truckers. This is sad news to me. I have only seen one show by DBT at this point, but I was mezmerized by the three-guitar attack and the band’s turn-taking singer-songwriter left-middle-right exchange.
Stereogum picked up on Patterson Hood’s MySpace blog post:
It’s with a wide range of emotions and feelings that I’m announcing that we have parted ways with Jason. The split, which I consider extremely amicable is the result of a period of personal and artistic growth from all sides which has left us with differing dreams and goals.
It is my sincere and and adamant hope that everyone will support all of us, and by that I mean our band and Jason’s, as we deal with this transition. Jason’s tenure in this band has been one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me on a personal and musical level and our love for him and his music is in no way changed or endangered by our collective decision to move into different directions.
Blogger and DBT fan, The Weight, looks at it like this:
He (Jason) has been a part of this band since 2001 and has joined them on their ride from obscurity to critic favorites. He is a big reason for their recent success. His writing credits include what has become my favorite DBT lyrics in “Outfit”. Whereas the Truckers will be a different band without him, even with all he has provided to them, I am certain that they will be able to carry on without missing a beat. And Jason will be better off in the long run. He was the third guitar in that three guitar attack and he is much too talented in playing and writing to be the third wheel. He deserves this opportunity to advance his solo career, where he can get the attention and respect his talents warrant.
Further complicating this situation is the fact that Jason is married to Shonna Tucker, DBT’s bass player, who remains in the band. Jason is currently on tour with his own band. He’s playing Iowa City tomorrow night. I wish I could be there to support the man because he fucking rips.
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Pretty sure he and Shonna are divorced.
I’ve watched the Truckers since 1995, when they were mocking what became their fanbase. They were pretty much a novelty act (one could argue they still are). Anyway, they really weren’t shit until Isbell came along. Patterson ain’t much on the guitar, and if he’s not screaming or speaking and greatly exaggerating a Southern accent, he ain’t much on vocals either. Cooley ain’t much on guitar either, and flat out sux on vocals. That’s why they got in the habit of playing so damn loud. Then Isbell came on board with some fucking awesome guitar and, well, let’s just say “improved” vocals (he ain’t that great either) and the Truckers had a little more mainstream success. Anybody who saw the Truckers pre-Isbell, and post-Isbell knows that Patterson and Mike and the gang of “pseudo-rednecks” (they ain’t really one of us, folks) owe more to Jason Isbell for their success than any of their made up bullshit stories.
Wow. I thought he was good and he wrote some great songs and does have a sweet voice. There are songs that I hope the current DBT will cover. I would really hate to take anything away from Patterson and Mike, though. Patterson may not be Derek Trucks but I would never call him phony. He is second generation professional musician of the finest pedigree. And I don’t think Jason was fired he chose to leave. No they are not rednecks they are a hell of alot smarter than rednecks. I would say they owe Jason only as much as Jason owes them. And I’m positive 99% of their stories aren’t made up. They tell folk legends but. Hopefully they will continue to work together
Sounds like somebody peed in David’s cornflakes….
If you don’t like the DBT or even Isbell for that matter (since his vocals suck), don’t comment on them!
Saying “ain’t” a lot doesn’t make you a redneck David, rednecks usually aren’t as bitter as you.
They’ve got nothing to be bitter about.
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