The Chart Show: Jason Isbell soars to No.1 ahead of Northrop show
by Mark Wheat
February 11, 2016
Jason Isbell turned 37 on Feb. 1 and perhaps it was his happiest yet! Even though
Something More Than Free is his fifth solo album since leaving the Drive By Truckers in 2007, it's the first to elevate his profile significantly. It went to the top of the Country Album music charts and has reviewers calling him "The New King of Americana," resulting in a string of sold out shows across the U.S., including Feb. 22 at Northrop, hence the huge influx of listeners voting him to the No.1 spot, trying to get in the door. Where will he land on the chart next week?! Well, if he wins one of the Grammy's he's nominated for (Best Americana Album & Best American Roots Song) he might still be near the top. Tune in on Monday night when we'll be keeping an eye on the live Grammy Awards, with Mac Wilson in the house to live tweet the whole shebang!
Submit your Chart Show ballot this week for a chance to win passes to a private show featuring Marian Hill at the Red Stag Supper Club on Sunday, Feb. 21!
Buoyed by her sold out show at First Avenue last weekend, Lizzo bounces back to No.2 and helps us celebrate Black History Month with an appreciative essay on Ella Fitzgerald.
Cloud Cult are inducted to our Hall of Fame this week for the sixth time, putting them at No.7 on the All-Time Hall of Fame chart. They're playing a few more local shows than usual before touring Milwaukee, Madison, Rochester, Viroqua, WI, Duluth and then Minneapolis' State Theater on March 12. Watch the On Being website for the results of a special show they recorded at their studios in Loring Park, too.
Josh Ritter crashed in as the highest new entry (No.12) perhaps because he got a big high profile TV gig last weekend on CBS This Morning, filmed in San Francisco over Super Bowl weekend.
Back on at No.18, Nathaniel Rateliff also scored a high profile TV gig last week, getting a rave introduction from Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show.
Ray LaMontagne is new at No.19 with the first song released from his forthcoming album
Ouroboros, out March 4. It's produced by Jim James of My Morning Jacket, who will tour as Ray's backing band during his summer tour, but it looks like Twin Cities fans will have to go to Chicago on Aug. 6 if they want to see the live show.
Gary Clark Jr. is another artist who has a sold out show coming to First Avenue on April 2. Maybe we can get some tickets for that and have him go to the top?!
Don't forget to have a love filled weekend! If you care to have The Current as your soundtrack on Saturday night, I'm doing our annual all-request Love Songs show. That usually sells out, too! So get your requests in quickly and check out this goofy picture of me and a teddy bear!