Got to see Jason Isbell tonight. I'm not more than a casual listener of his stuff, bit it was an incredible show and he's one of those artists I always ask myself why I don't listen to them more often. His songs are great but his singing and guitar playing make them even better. Even if you're not a fan, I recommend going to the show if you can swing it.

I was at an amp show at a hotel in Nashville probably back in 2010. One whole floor was taken up for it, and each amp manufacturer had their own room with their amp in it and you could go into the room, plug into the amp and try it out. Isbell came into a room I was in with a red Gibson ES-335, plugged into whatever amp it was, and just ripped. I knew who he was because he'd been in Drive-By Truckers, but I'd never really heard him play until that point. I sat right behind him and even his noodling sounded great. There was a difference between him and a lot of the other guys I heard at that show that was hard to put into words until I heard him again tonight. I think “when you know, you know” is probably the best way I can describe it.