Cracker and Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit November 13, 2007

Cracker and Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - $15
Doors open at 7:00pm

Cracker may be considered a somewhat traditional rock band (almost comparable to roots rock at times), yet singer/guitarist David Lowery's roots were anything but traditional since he fronted the '80s alternative outfit Camper Van Beethoven. Shortly after Camper Van Beethoven called it quits in 1990, Lowery began demoing material along with guitarist Johnny Hickman and bassist Davey Faragher, eventually going by the name Cracker (several of these early demos would eventually surface under the title of David Lowery Demo Mixes).

By the end of the decade, Cracker seemed to have settled on a somewhat permanent lineup as drummer Frank Funaro and keyboardist/accordion player Kenny Margolis joined up with Lowery, Hickman, and Rupe, issuing 1998's Gentleman's Blues. During the early 21st century, Cracker continued to tour and even enlisted the help of several of Lowery's former Camper Van Beethoven members on select dates (bassist Victor Krummenacher, guitarist/violinist Jonathan Segel, and guitarist Greg Lisher). They issued a live set in 2001, Traveling Apothecary Show & Revue, while a year later, Cracker issued their fifth studio album overall, Forever. Forever completed the bands slow progression back to the eclecticism of Lowery's former group CVB.

Jason Isbell may still be young, but he’s packed an enormous amount of musical experience into his 28 years. Growing up in a family of musicians, he absorbed everything he heard and began channeling it into guitar at age six and piano at 12. For the past six years, Isbell was one of three frontmen for the critically acclaimed Drive-By Truckers (DBT)—and although fans may have been shocked by his leaving the band in April, once you hear his solo debut Sirens Of The Ditch (which was co-produced by Isbell and DBT’s Patterson Hood) it will only confirm that Isbell has his own unique voice. Musicians joining Isbell on the album include DBT’s Shonna Tucker (bass) and Brad Morgan (drums) with cameos from Patterson Hood, his father David Hood, Spooner Oldham, John Neff and more.

www.crackersoul.com
www.jasonisbell.com

Official Website: http://www.thebluenote.com