Short version: perfunctory.
Basically this was the same material they were playing two years ago when they opened for Son Volt at Mr. Smalls, but without a lot of development in the performance since that time. It was not the best circumstances: small crowd on a school night during midterms. They did two hours after a local opener and Sons of Bill who are their tour support, starting at midnght. That's a tough sell under any circumstances, however it seems like the sale is harder when the material feels stale. Isbell is too young and too good, as well as too early in his frontman gig, to be mailing it in. The good news is that the band's other axeman held his own. At times the flash and swagger peeked through, most notably on the encore closer, but it was kind of too little too late.
And regarding the question of the DBT split that wrought this, I remain firmly in the camp tha it was great for them, as they emerged fresh and full of new material. Hopefully Jason and the Unit rediscover their spark soon.
Posted by binky at October 9, 2009 10:38 AM | TrackBack | Posted to