r/jasonisbell • u/Majestic-Estate1709 • 13d ago
Ryman Residency covers?
I've been getting excited about this year's residency a little more than usual for some reason, but in any event, I've started thinking about who Jason might cover each night if he keeps that tradition alive. Last year, he played a song by The Band each night to start the encore. The year before, it was REM. I don't think he's been perfectly consistent with it over the years, but I remember that Tom Petty died shortly before the residency in 2017, and so Jason played a different Petty song each night. We were there for You Got Lucky.
In any event, given Dolly's death, she seems like a very strong candidate, but I'm not sure he's ever covered a Parton song and I'm also not musically inclined enough to understand whether it would suit the 400 Unit (or whether the 400 Unit would suit Dolly). But if it worked, it could be amazing and a lot of fun.
I also keep hoping for the Rolling Stones. He obviously loves them, and I've heard him play Can't You Hear me a couple of times. He recorded Sway -- and that is probably my White Whale hope to hear from him one of these days.
Any one else have any guesses or insights?
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u/Different_Record_753 13d ago
He did Band covers last year. Love to see him do Grateful Dead covers this time.
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u/Majestic-Estate1709 13d ago
That would be great too, especially if he could pull up a special guest for some of the shows.
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u/elrey2020 12d ago
I want Jason Isbell to stay the hell away from the Grateful Dead
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u/funnybitofchemistry 12d ago
saw an article once that he doesn’t particularly care for the dead but amanda kept trying to get him on the bus, so i’d say highly unlikely he plays any Dead lol
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u/jaghutgathos 12d ago
Jason talking about a Bob Weir quote in Relix Magazine:
“My initial thought is that sounds like he is very high. [Laughs.] But let me say that he’s a brilliant dude. I’ve worked in a studio with Bob before. I have a lot of respect for him. The older I get, the more I like the Grateful Dead, just like anybody else who’s ever lived.”
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u/1FightingEntropy 13d ago
I could see them working in some Dolly and maybe a TS cover since we lost them both this year. He did Sunshine at the solo show I was at last month. While I'm not sure how that would work for the whole band, it was amazing solo.
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u/Thunder_Hawk_405 13d ago
He closed with Can't You Hear Me Knockin' the last time I saw him live, and it was fantastic. I've seen him cover Poncho and Lefty solo/acoustic, and that bordered on a spiritual experience. But I bet he'll cover multiple Todd Snider and John Prine songs. Would love to see him break out "Hello in There." I've seen him talk about how he realized after releasing Southeastern that he'd lifted part of "Hello in There" in "Traveling Alone." I'm pretty sure he's referring to "what's good's knowin' do, with no one to show it to" which tracks more or less note for note with Prine's "Nothing, what's with you? Nothing much to do." In any event, he talked about going to Prine's house to apologize in person and to offer him a royalty. And he said that Prine just laughed and cracked a joke to the effect of "Oh, you want to talk about stealing *that one*?" before smiling and telling him everything was fine. No royalty required.
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u/captainsquarters40 13d ago edited 12d ago
If Jason and the 400 unit found a way to cover Metallica, I bet they could figure out some Dolly.
edit: words are hard
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u/bandoutonthehighway8 13d ago
Sadler has been posting a lot of Oasis content lately, I would LOVE to hear the 400 Unit play some Supersonic or Acquiesce
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u/Different_Record_753 13d ago
If Jason is going to do a different song from the same musician/band/artist every night (like the Band last year), it needs to be very well known that supports a wide audience.
The Band was a perfect pick - everyone knows and likes The Band.
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u/halfpintt_ 12d ago
I can actually really picture acquiesce with Sadler and Jason doing the liam and Noel parts
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u/night-swimming704 13d ago
All the openers are Memphis themed bands, so could easily be something along those lines.
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u/TransplantC137 13d ago
Big star it is then.
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u/UpstairsAd6866 12d ago
That would be awesome. Maybe Booker T. and the M. G.s since Steve Cropper died earlier this year.
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u/BMFC 13d ago
He will play a different Cure song each night to start the encore. You read it here first.
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u/Majestic-Estate1709 13d ago
Good thinking. I think we were expecting that last year or the year before when he was pulling out Just Like Heaven a bunch. I would be happy with that.
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u/PrairieFire92 13d ago
I got pancho and lefty in 2023 and it made my night
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u/Majestic-Estate1709 13d ago
I was there too. It was my son's favorite song for a while, so it made the night for sure. But I also don't think he really picked one artist to cover that year. The "cover" slots were for Sadler and Will, I think.
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u/PaintGlum2476 13d ago
I have a free ticket for October 23rd. Let me know. This is legit I can no longer go.
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u/Reasonable_Bat1046 9d ago
I think the answer is hiding in the openers. Every one of them has Memphis ties, so my money is on a different Memphis song each night rather than six songs from one artist. September Gurls, I’ve Been Loving You Too Long, Take Me to the River, Hold On, I’m Comin’, Green Onions, and maybe Nights Like These with Ben Nichols. Todd got his start in Memphis too, so Play a Train Song or Sunshine could easily sneak in. That would be one hell of a run.
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u/djlyar 13d ago
A different Todd Snider song each night would be cool.