I didn't say he was a Karen. I said he makes Karen music.
― Paul Ponzi, Thursday, 21 May 2020 20:16 (three years ago) link
I wished I liked him more cuz he seems like a cool guy!the song Ronnie and Neil is like someone reading a Wikipedia page over a bar band
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 21 May 2020 20:17 (three years ago) link
Karen as a concept is at the point where it's losing any meaning
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 21 May 2020 20:18 (three years ago) link
otmplz elaborate on what him “being a Karen” actually means in this context
― terminators of endearment (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 21 May 2020 20:30 (three years ago) link
or “making Karen music”
I'm p sure a "Karen" would be the type telling Isbell to "shut up and sing" when he talks or tweets about politics, which he very specifically addresses on the new one.
― soaring skrrrtpeggios (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 21 May 2020 20:46 (three years ago) link
I view Karen Music as any bland, toothless NPR bullshit that makes John Mellencamp sound edgy. Alt country pumpkin spiced latte music.
― Paul Ponzi, Thursday, 21 May 2020 20:51 (three years ago) link
oh man you played the pumpkin spice card
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 21 May 2020 21:09 (three years ago) link
actual Karens listen to dude modern country singers who I've never heard of but they sellout hockey arenas
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 21 May 2020 21:15 (three years ago) link
I was reading some past interviews with him, and there are a few where he confesses his only real indulgence since hitting it big was buying Ed King's' famed '59 Les Paul "Red Eye." I don't remember if King's wife offered to sell it to him, or just care for it first, but apparently at some point it went up for sale and he called his accountant and asked if he could afford it and his accountant said "absolutely not." So he called his manager and explained the situation to her and then asked her to book him as many weirdo private parties as she possibly could to pay it off. I know the original asking price was $650k ...
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 21 May 2020 22:32 (three years ago) link
the song Ronnie and Neil is like someone reading a Wikipedia page over a bar band
I was confused for a second - that's not an Isbell song, I think that's Hood.
― Greta Van Show Feets BB (milo z), Thursday, 21 May 2020 22:42 (three years ago) link
Isbell has a few anthemic political songs that get heavy handed but mostly he just writes great short narratives IMO. I don't think Karens are lining up to hear songs about a guy's friend who's dying of cancer?
― Greta Van Show Feets BB (milo z), Thursday, 21 May 2020 22:44 (three years ago) link
huh, i really dig isbell doing stretched out marvin gaye jams
― Heez, Friday, 22 May 2020 04:29 (three years ago) link
every thread gets the troll it deserves
― Larry Elleison (rogermexico.), Friday, 22 May 2020 16:24 (three years ago) link
https://www.npr.org/2020/06/17/879393187/now-about-the-bad-name-i-gave-my-band
AFAICT there is not a single mention of the band's name, positive or negative, in the 16-year span of this thread
― k*r*n koltrane (Simon H.), Wednesday, 17 June 2020 20:27 (three years ago) link
Drive By Wokesters
― "...And the Gods Socially Distanced" (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 17 June 2020 20:53 (three years ago) link
dont really want to read that whole thing whats the gist if you dont mind?
― Spottie, Wednesday, 17 June 2020 20:54 (three years ago) link
It's actually a decent read, but pretty well summed up by the last paragraph:
Our name was a drunken joke that was never intended to be in rotation and reckoned with two-and-a-half decades later, and I sincerely apologize for its stupidity and any negative stereotypes it has propagated. I'm not sure changing it now serves any higher purpose, but I'm certainly open to suggestions. In the meantime, you're welcome to just call us Lady DBT.
― soaring skrrrtpeggios (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Wednesday, 17 June 2020 21:07 (three years ago) link
After all that I don't even understand what he's apologizing for. Or if it was worth taking up so many words if he's not changing it.
― k*r*n koltrane (Simon H.), Wednesday, 17 June 2020 21:56 (three years ago) link
Pat's been in Portland too long
― alpine static, Wednesday, 17 June 2020 22:24 (three years ago) link
yeah, it's a stupid name, but most band names are pretty stupid. I'm not sure what there is to apologize for.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 17 June 2020 22:34 (three years ago) link
sorry for having such a bad name for such a cool band?
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 17 June 2020 22:35 (three years ago) link
"I'm woke too!"
― Night of the Living Crustheads (PBKR), Wednesday, 17 June 2020 22:52 (three years ago) link
very weird
― Spottie, Wednesday, 17 June 2020 23:05 (three years ago) link
xpost Eh, this band has been in the woke zone for some time now. That Black Lives Matter sign has been a stage fixture for at least 4 years.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 17 June 2020 23:16 (three years ago) link
No one was asking them.
― Night of the Living Crustheads (PBKR), Wednesday, 17 June 2020 23:18 (three years ago) link
Maybe NPR asked them?
― "...And the Gods Socially Distanced" (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 17 June 2020 23:21 (three years ago) link
Sorry, these guys have always seemed like try-hards to me.
― Night of the Living Crustheads (PBKR), Wednesday, 17 June 2020 23:29 (three years ago) link
I like this band, but their stupid—stupid like “Goo Goo Dolls” is stupid, not stupid because I assumed anything malicious on their part—name kept me from paying any attention to them for years.
― A White, White Gay (cryptosicko), Wednesday, 17 June 2020 23:47 (three years ago) link
The more I think about this the funnier it seens
― k*r*n koltrane (Simon H.), Wednesday, 17 June 2020 23:50 (three years ago) link
I had always been under the impression (held by probably only me) that their name held a double-meaning: Firstly as Hood explains it in the piece, and secondly as a reference to some obscure trucking industry slang ("Oh, that guy's just a drive-by trucker..." or something).
― "...And the Gods Socially Distanced" (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 17 June 2020 23:59 (three years ago) link
next: David Byrne regrets abelist bandname
― k*r*n koltrane (Simon H.), Thursday, 18 June 2020 00:08 (three years ago) link
'Gangstabilly' is far more regrettable than the band name.
― Donald Trump Also Sucks, Of Course (milo z), Thursday, 18 June 2020 06:03 (three years ago) link
I had the same thought! I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned.
― k*r*n koltrane (Simon H.), Thursday, 18 June 2020 11:31 (three years ago) link
BTW, I'm not too up on slang, but what's a "try-hard?" Does that mean they ... try too hard? I don't know, if that's the accusation, I'd rather they try too hard than do what 99.9% of acts do, which is to say, next to nothing. Buncha white Alabama rock guys in their '50s trying hard to be allies and supporters to progressive people and causes? That's OK by me.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 18 June 2020 14:33 (three years ago) link
I uh, don't get what is 'offensive' about the name. Is it just using the term 'drive by'? who gives a fuck?
― akm, Thursday, 18 June 2020 14:41 (three years ago) link
Never in a million years would it have occurred to me that "drive-by shooting" was the intended reference. Maybe it would have been more salient in 1996? Idk. Agree that the essay feels try-hardy, but also that try-hard is preferable to do-nothing.
― handsome boy modelling software (bernard snowy), Thursday, 18 June 2020 14:50 (three years ago) link
I know I've read the name origin name a million times but I still always assumed a "drive-by trucker" was sort of a part-timer. Like, nota poseur or not the real deal.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 18 June 2020 14:52 (three years ago) link
Woowww... privileged much?? /s
― handsome boy modelling software (bernard snowy), Thursday, 18 June 2020 15:00 (three years ago) link
try-hard is preferable to do-nothing
normally I agree with this sentiment but this one is pretty ridiculous. I guess it must be nice to be able to call up NPR and publish the fart of your choice
― k*r*n koltrane (Simon H.), Thursday, 18 June 2020 15:03 (three years ago) link
I definitely assumed it was about drive-by shootings by truckers - a juxtaposition reinforced by debut album Gangstabilly.
― peace, man, Thursday, 18 June 2020 15:04 (three years ago) link
^^ same, peace.
What we should definitely be doing is shaming people for trying, even if it comes off a little misguided. Absolutely, that's the best course of action.
― soaring skrrrtpeggios (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 18 June 2020 15:11 (three years ago) link
He'll be fine.
― k*r*n koltrane (Simon H.), Thursday, 18 June 2020 15:14 (three years ago) link
I never thought of a different connotation for drive-by... but I also just thought it was a nonsense combo of words because '90s band name
― Donald Trump Also Sucks, Of Course (milo z), Thursday, 18 June 2020 20:59 (three years ago) link
Barenaked Truckers.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 18 June 2020 21:01 (three years ago) link
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51WIPXrqcML._SY445_.jpg
― "...And the Gods Socially Distanced" (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 18 June 2020 21:04 (three years ago) link
I don't know Jerry Joseph, but apparently the band backed him up on his new album? And Isbell adds slide to a track?
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 18 August 2020 23:15 (three years ago) link
Jerry Joseph is ... like, look up 'earnest grizzled veteran journeyman bar-rocker dude' in the dictionary and there'll be a picture of Jerry.
i think he's an OK songwriter who occasionally cranks out a pretty great song, but he has been such a sort of regional lifer in Portland for so long, i always dismissed him. that said, he is well-connected *and* he has been grinding it out long enough that i think i have no choice to come around to respecting him.
nice enough guy, though. takes his art real serious like. And I think he kicked a serious addiction somewhere along the way, too.
(short version: it's a coup for him to have DBTs and especially Isbell on his record)
― alpine static, Wednesday, 19 August 2020 11:03 (three years ago) link
New album (already) out in December, called "The New OK." Curious, because of course that will be post-election, which could provide two very different contexts to the songs. Maybe they will be more thematically general this time?
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 30 September 2020 14:37 (three years ago) link
There's a short piece on them on Rolling Stone. Apparently most of the songs were leftover from the last sessions, though some of the leftovers from the last sessions are being saved for their *next* album already. This one apparently has a Ramones cover, which I presume to be "The KKK Took My Baby Away," and a Cooley song about how Sarah Palin essentially did Trump before Trump. He jokes in the piece that the GOP can't even give a woman credit for *that.*
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 30 September 2020 17:10 (three years ago) link