JASON ISBELL OFFERS FANS A SECOND LOOK AT FORTHCOMING ALBUM WEATHERVANES; AVAILABLE JUNE 9
“Middle of the Morning” is Out Now: Listen HERE
Documentary Film Jason Isbell: Running with Our Eyes Closed Out April 7 on HBO Max
In anticipation of their eighth studio album Weathervanes, GRAMMY-Award winners Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit have released a second track from the project, “Middle of the Morning,” available now. Weathervanes, out June 9 via Southeastern Records/Thirty Tigers, is written and produced by Isbell.
Stream “Middle of the Morning” HERE
Watch Lyric Video HERE
“Middle of the Morning” is a song written during the pandemic lockdown. Melancholy and honest with those Isbell phrases that will sneak into your vocabulary, the narrator, who both is and is not Isbell himself, describes the feeling of being stuck in place, wheels and mind spinning, feeling like some essential part of yourself lives just outside of your reach.
“It was about trying to keep my mind from unraveling over the couple of years there,” said Isbell.
Well I’ve tried to open up my window and let the light come in
I step outside in the middle of the morning and in the evening again
Yes I’ve tried to be grateful for my devils and call them by their names
but I’m tired and by the middle of the morning I need someone to blame
Pre-save Weathervanes HERE
“Middle of the Morning” follows the lead track from Weathervanes, “Death Wish,” released last month to a fevered response:
“’Death Wish’ is a perfect example of the themes Weathervanes explores, unpacking the complicated conflicts of loving someone struggling to love themselves from the depths of depression…” – Consequence
“The 400 Unit makes a majestically clangy minor-key racket while Isbell, his voice raw and desperate, howls about taking a whole lot of medicine to feel like a little kid. When the song reaches its raging climax, it’s positively operatic. Sometimes, nothing feels better than a song about feeling so bad.” – Stereogum
“New Isbell tunes mean life is indeed whole again for many of his most devoted fans……A new single also arrives today, called ‘Death Wish.’ Isbell’s gruff, yet urgent vocals burst forth immediately, as he offers the jarring line, ‘Oh, did you ever love a woman with a death wish?’” – No Depression
“Jason Isbell has an author’s ability to capture life’s twists and truths in the form of darkly beautiful americana. In this single from next record Weathervanes, he marries Neil Young-infused balladry with a story about loving someone with depression – dropping quietly devastating lines like ‘It takes a whole lot of medicine to feel like a little kid’ as naturally as breathing.’” – Louder Sound
Weathervanes was recorded at Nashville’s Blackbird Studio and features Isbell’s GRAMMY-winning band, the 400 Unit: Derry deBorja (Acoustic Piano, Electric Piano, Organ, Accordion, Synthesizers, Therevox, TackPiano, Background Vocals), Chad Gamble (Drums, Percussion, Congas), Jimbo Hart (Electric Bass, Bass), and Sadler Vaden (Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Electric 12 String, Acoustic 12 String, Background Vocals). Special guests include GRAMMY winner Amanda Shires (Fiddle, Background Vocals) and acclaimed harmonicist Mickey Raphael (Harmonica on “Strawberry Woman”) with Background Vocals on “If You Insist“ by renowned producer and engineer Sylvia Massy & Ian Rickard and Strings on “Death Wish” by Morgan O’Shaughnessey.
Weathervanes Track Listing:
- “Death Wish”
- “King of Oklahoma”
- “Strawberry Woman”
- “Middle Of The Morning”
- “Save The World”
- “If You Insist”
- “Cast Iron Skillet”
- “When We Were Close”
- “Volunteer”
- “Vestavia Hills”
- “White Beretta”
- “This Ain’t It”
- “Miles”
*All songs written and produced by Jason Isbell. Additional production by Matt Pence on tracks 1, 3, 5, 8 and 10.
Additionally, it was announced last week that the new Sam Jones-directed documentary film, Jason Isbell: Running with Our Eyes Closed, will be released on HBO Max April 7. In his own words, Isbell takes fans on an unexpected journey through his musical evolution and creative process as he goes into the studio to record his new album Reunions with the 400 Unit. With striking candor and honesty, Isbell lays bare his difficult childhood, his struggles with addiction and relationships, and funneling all his pain and private battles into his music. When the COVID-19 pandemic arrives and forces him and his family into lockdown, Isbell must confront the self-doubt and fears that isolation brings to a recovering addict and artist, even as the album releases to rave reviews.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit are currently on the road for headlining and festival dates throughout the summer. They head down under to Australia next week before bringing their show back to the states. For dates and tickets, visit https://www.jasonisbell.com/shows.
4/5 – Sydney, AUS / Enmore Theatre (with Allison Russell)
4/6 – Melbourne, AUS / Palais Theatre (with Allison Russell)
4/8 – Tyagarah, NSW / Bluesfest **
4/22 – Miramar Beach, FL / Moon Crush: Seascape Beach Resort **
4/28 – Cincinnati, OH / Andrew J Brady Music Center ^
4/29 – Cincinnati, OH / Andrew J Brady Music Center ^
4/30 – Scaly Mountain, NC / Bear Shadow Music Festival **
5/2 – Omaha, NE / Orpheum Theater ^
5/3 – Morrison, CO / Red Rocks Amphitheatre #
5/4 – Morrison, CO / Red Rocks Amphitheatre #
5/6 – Salina, KS / Stiefel Theatre ^
5/7 – Lubbock, TX / Helen DeVitt Jones Theater at The Buddy Holly Hall ^
5/9 – Dallas, TX / The Factory in Deep Ellum ^
5/11 – Austin, TX / Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater ^
5/12 – Austin, TX / Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater ^
5/13 – Austin, TX / Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater ^
5/14 – Little Rock, AR / The Hall ^
6/15 – Fayetteville, AR / JJ’s Live (with Adeem The Artist)
6/16 – Kansas City, MO / Boulevardia **
6/17 – St. Louis, MO / Open Highway Music Festival **
6/18 – Indianapolis, IN / WonderRoad Festival **
6/22 – LaGrange, GA / Sweetland Amphitheatre ~
6/23 – Birmingham, AL / Avondale Brewing Company ~
6/24 – Birmingham, AL / Avondale Brewing Company ~
6/25 – Ann Arbor, MI / A2SF **
6/29 – Palo Alto, CA / Frost Amphitheater %
6/30 – Quincy, CA / High Sierra Music Festival **
7/1 – Bend, OR / Hayden Homes Amphitheater %
7/2 – Canby, OR / Clackamas County Fairgrounds %
7/4 – Bonner, MT / KettleHouse Amphitheater %
7/5 – Seattle, WA / Woodland Park Zoo %
7/6 – Spokane, WA / Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox %
7/9 – Dillon, CO / Dillon Amphitheater %
7/11 – Tempe, AZ / Marquee Theatre %
7/12 – San Diego, CA / Humphreys Concerts by the Bay %
7/14 – Los Angeles, CA / Greek Theatre %
7/15 – Paso Robles, CA / Vina Robles Amphitheatre %
7/16 – Las Vegas, NV / Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas %
7/26 – Harrisburg, PA / Riverfront Park ~
7/27 – Boston, MA / Roadrunner ~
7/28 – Port Chester, NY / The Capitol Theatre ~
7/31 – Huntington, NY / The Paramount ~
8/1 – New Brunswick, NJ / State Theatre New Jersey ~
8/2 – Washington, D.C. / Wolf Trap ~
8/4 – Toronto, ON / Massey Hall ~
8/5 – Lewiston, NY / Artpark Mainstage Theater ~
8/8 – Richmond, VA / Brown’s Island ~
8/9 – Salem, VA / Salem Civic Center ~
8/12 – St Augustine, FL / The St. Augustine Amphitheatre &
8/13 – North Myrtle Beach, SC / House of Blues &
10/7 – Raleigh, NC / Red Hat Amphitheater
*w/ Kathleen Edwards
+An Evening With
^w/ Amythyst Kiah
#w/ Angel Olsen
% w/ Deer Tick
~ w/ S.G. Goodman
& w/ The Baseball Project
**Festival date
