Every note and word that John Prine ever wrote found it's way to the sky where they now sparkle amongst the stars. You can feel the light of those songs in even the darkest of nights. It's one of so many gifts he gave that will last us forever. Eternally grateful. ❤
To me, Kacey Musgraves winning AOFTY, Margo getting a nom, Brandi Carlisle celebrating at dinner w/ Queen Joni Mitchell & Erin Rae hitting the road w/ Father John Misty & Isbell is a reeeeally good sign of where music is headed. Shout out to real artists making real music! ❤
Whenever I see record-breaking numbers coming in from artists like Morgan Wallen, I'm reminded of how sometimes, commercially successful music and great music can be two different things.
Hello from Tennessee where they make it harder to exist as a Trans or Queer person just about every day. It's stormy and there are tornado warnings and I'm finishing the best album I've ever made. Thanks for being my friend. ❤️🌈
When Fox News reporters start weighing in on comments made by folks like Jason Isbell or Kacey Musgraves, it shows that what artists have to say outside of music has a poignant & important role in today's political discourse. They always have and always will.
@GovBillLee
Telling people how to grieve is not the right way to handle this either, Bill. If you don't want angry parents, teachers, and citizens, you could take action to acknowledge their voices and keep them safe. This attempt to control their expression of grief is in poor taste.
One quick story: when I lived in NYC I used to play all the time at 11th Street Bar. Mostly, it was for whoever was there. A few people & the staff most of the time. But Justin would stop by if he was off the road at the time & was so encouraging of my songs. It meant a lot. ❤
So I was complaining before I went to bed that the edible I had eaten wasn't working so great and then I awoke to someone pounding on my door at 815am and it was a guy delivering donuts to me that I ordered at some point last night.
It's a well known fact that
@JasonIsbell
and his band the 400 Unit are a shining light and an example what a band can do and mean to the community around it. It was an honor to be a part of his and their show tonight in Cleveland.
I've never gone viral, but I am a successful touring artist with a real fan base. Just putting it out into the universe that it is still possible to do what you love for folks who love it by making work that inspires you and always giving it your best.
I love listening to albums from start to finish. It's still how I listen almost exclusively. Grateful for artists who are still making great albums with stories, peaks and valleys, depth of emotion and the right sequence for the songs. Y'all are doing the Lord's work. 🙏
Yes
@JasonIsbell
does. He once came to watch me play at the now closed down Family Wash in 2014. Knowing someone like him was paying attention made me want to go further & do better. I'll never have the words to properly say "thank you" but am still so grateful for that moment.
If you're a small time band or singer just remember, those who play to the biggest crowd are not always singing the best songs. Believe in yourself and keep going!
#smallisbeautiful
#onyourownjourney
#keepgrinding
Country music has long been considered the music of the people in America. To that end, it makes me incredibly proud to see artists like Mickey Guyton leading needed change & Tyler Childers using his platform to share a vital message. That's my kind of Country music! ❤
Earlier this week, a big Nashville publisher passed on a brilliant friend of mine bc their songs "don't make enough money." As of today, a song they wrote is blowing up on the Americana radio charts. I am loving it!!! Perceptions are not reality. I love when great artists win.
Hahaha in a random restaraunt in Vegas and they're playing Up All Night. It's fun bc nobody here knows it's me but I look around the room and the few people paying attention are bobbing their heads yay!
Last night's gig...
Me: Here's a train song for ya
A guy in front: Folsom Prison Blues!
A lady behind him: No, they're gonna do a song by the band Train.
Artists: let's include each other. On shows, tours, recording projects, press. When journalists ask "what new artists do you like" take that question seriously and answer thoughtfully. Use every opportunity no matter how small to pull each other up.
Petty's Highway Companion is a secret masterpiece. A perfect album in a canon of work that includes a few perfect albums. Tom is on drums for this one, too. If you're a fan and haven't done a deep dive on Highway Companion, I highly suggest it. So so good. Jeff Lynn produced.
Tune in 5-6pm British Standard Time tomorrow to hear me chat with my hero
@eltonofficial
on his incredible show Rocket Hour! I am soooo excited!!!! Ah!!!
I really don't care how dorky I appear in the context of appreciating. I love to appreciate people, music, art, clothes, animals, nature, anything that moves me. Thanks to anyone who cut me slack when my enthusiasm was intense. ❤
It's 2022. I'm a successful artist. Please stop writing press on me that only talks about the week I played guitar in The NY Dolls in '09. Especially to promote my shows. There are many current things I've done/am doing that would interest people who read you. It's a new decade.
I too have lost my share of followers both here & on Instagram. I don't mourn the meaningless number ticks, but I'd love for us to talk to each other when we disagree. Especially other white folks. I'd even be willing to get on the phone with you. DM me if you ever want to talk.
Not my best day so far. Lost and found my wallet, ran out of gas as I pulled up to the pump, didn't shower (again) though it briefly rained on me...I'm barely able to function in these slimeball times but still getting it done somehow. Steady as she goes, friends. Love to u.
Well...they are all great but this latest
@JasonIsbell
album is possibly my favorite he and the band have done so far. It really is hard to even have a fave bc all of their albums are so good. Weathervanes is tremendous. Congrats to all who worked on it. You did a phenomenal job!
I so appreciate what Sturgill Simpson is doing on his new album. Moving forward, changing things up, fearless choices made and performed with conviction. ⚡⚡⚡
It's funny to me, that while I've rarely talked about my sexuality outside of my lyrics, now just posting about the laws that have passed here in TN is resulting in some of my "fans" saying it's a shame I have to keep bringing up my sexuality. A fascinating response.
Yep. I lost 218 in one post a few days ago. I will not be stopping bc it's more important to me that I show my friends, chosen family, and community that hateful laws and rhetoric against them will be condemned for what they are. I encourage others to do the same.
Each time I post about the fact that
#TransRightsAreHumanRights
I notice that I "lose" about 100 "followers" on each platform. Sometimes losing is winning!
#antibigotry
or bust ✊🏾🖤🖤🖤🌈🌈🌈✨🧚🏾
1 A thing I would like to say on behalf of hard working small singers and bands: after almost every show I play, someone says "I don't know why there weren't more people here" or "Don't quit" or "I feel bad for you that more people don't come." You should never feel bad for me.
Jason Isbell’s longtime bassist Jimbo Hart is leaving the 400 Unit.
"I’m grateful for all the years, all the faces I’ve played for in the course of the band’s history and proud of all we accomplished."
More:
Just saw an Instagram post that said "Somewhere in the world right now a child is discovering Tom Petty for the first time" and got a little choked up thinking about how his spirit is still everywhere.
#NationalComingOutDay
is a reminder that some of us have to fight to be who we are. If my love seems strange to you it's bc many more like me have been shamed into hiding by an unforgiving hateful mindset that deteriorates humanity. The coolest thing you can be is you. Luv yas!
I wish I could just nail it every single time. But I am human and get lots of anxiety when I play and sing. I do love to try try again though. So, in a lot of ways, for what I dig, I am nailing it haha. Shout out to anyone being kind to themselves today. Good job! ❤
My family talks about going to Church the same way I talk about going to hear a John Prine concert and I'm just really happy we've all found something we can believe in.
Watching a Prince concert from '85 on PBS. 24 minutes in and he just pretended to go to bed, but the applause from the audience was keeping him awake, so he threw off his blanket & slid down a giant chrome pole and did Little Red Corvette instead.
The amount of support I've received from other musicians today is making me feel teary eyed bc I know what we're all going through right now but we still try to help each other as much as we can. It's incredibly humbling.
Margo Price will always be a winner in my book. Big love and mad respect to you
@MissMargoPrice
We love you here in Nashville and are so proud of you! ❤
Wishing you all a moment of peace amidst the fear & distrust in our world at the moment. May you have a good laugh, eat a delicious meal or go for a relaxing walk. Whatever simple joys you find in life, I wish you a moment of peace to enjoy them. We'll get through this. ❤
There might be a gap somewhere but I believe between Tasjan Tasjan Tasjan, Traveling After Dark, Yola's Diamond Studded Shoes & The Whitmore Sister's Big Heart Sick Mind, I've had a single in the Americana charts top 30 for over a year. Either way, it was hard work I'm proud of!
I would say it's impossible to make a definitive best albums of the decade list. No matter what album you choose, you're wrong. It's music. There is no best.
Opening shows is always interesting. You just never know how the audience will respond to you. That said, of all the things going on in the world these days, this guy is furious about having to watch me hop around for 30/40 mins tops in a very nice ladies jacket 🤷♂️😂
6 I hope you keep finding new music that you love. And I hope it continues to have a meaningful impact on you. I know it does for me. If doesn't do that for me any more, I will stop. But please don't ask me not to quit anymore. I'm not going to anyhow. Thanks for listening. ❤
As of a few minutes ago, there's a bandaid on my arm and a little bit of peace in my heart. All we've been through weighs heavy on my mind. The loss has left me heartbroken. I still believe we are capable of love, empathy & respect and I want to show up for that every day.
The longer I live, the more I appreciate how truly special kind people are. When someone is kind to me for no reason, I feel good about it for days. You never know how much you can affect others. Hope you all has a lovely Sunday.
Being the opener can be challenging but believe me when I tell you the people that go to the Greta Van Fleet shows are truly some of the kindest & coolest folks I've ever encountered. I feel grateful to have gotten the chance to play for them. Thanks
@GretaVanFleet
for having me.
Sang a few queer anthems in small town America last night. Felt really good esp after the guy introducing us told me before we went on that Elton John supporting my music "wasn't going to help me down here." Fwiw I thought the people there loved what we did & I enjoyed the show.
Holed up at a Rodeway Inn outside of town quarantining until I'm absolutely sure I don't have Covid. If I test negative again today I can finally go home tomorrow. Lots of forethought required w/ every action right now. Hanging tough! Here's to staying positive/testing negative!
Stop silencing this man and his friends. They deserve to be heard. If only there was a way for them to be heard...like maybe if John could sing a song people could hear or had some sort of platform on social media or in the news media...I'm gonna keep thinking on it...
The list of country artists calling me is growing by the day who are saying they're being "muzzled" by the industry when it comes to them expressing their frustration and anger about the targeting of conservatives, and suppression of free speech by the powers that be.
#BlackBall
People say things to me like "Don't wear this or don't wear that or stop trying to look like John Lennon." It makes me smile bc I use what I wear to express how I feel not who I am. Clothes don't make the person, they tell us about the person. A lovely way to get to know someone.
Somebody staying at our hotel said he asked me if I was a rapper based on the way I was dressed and I've never felt more like I had on the right clothes in my life
When I sing "broke up w/ my boyfriend to go out w/ my girlfriend" & the crowd goes bananas I get emotional. I want to change the way men think of themselves & be an example of a man unafraid to embrace the parts of himself the patriarchy has tried to make us feel is unacceptable.
Quick shout out to all the musicians and artists who support each other. I have received so much kindness and love from friends and strangers who also make music. You guys turn my whole day around on a lot of days. Thank you so much!
Thinking about this today: if you can't find your place, create it. Being unique or different might initially cause people to respond w indifference or uncertainty but in the time it takes them to come around you will create a unique & special world for them to wander into.
My fear of failure can work against me and I have certainly let that happen in times past. Today, I am gonna chose love & kindness for myself. Sending radiant rays of joy to anyone making the choice to rock on and find your way through it. I am with you!
It feels like an incredibly strange moment to have a first listen to the master of my new album. That said, I am absolutely bouncing off the walls and am so proud of it. I can't even imagine the amount of gratitude I will feel when I get to play these songs live. Can't wait!
Been reading so many great words about John Prine this morning. Boy do I miss knowing he was walking around on this earth. His mere existence was proof that real magic existed. His songs always compell me to run to my guitar & find out what's in there...endless inspiration. ❤
I vote bc living in Tennessee, I worry about my Trans & Queer siblings & chosen fam. I support candidates I feel will be advocates for our community. I don't know what the reality is that things will ever be better for us down here, but I am showing up for my people.
#vote
I'm so excited to play
@theryman
tomorrow night opening for absolute legends the
@Indigo_Girls
Needless to say, this is the greatest Pride month of my life!
The Jayhawks were a crucial influence for me. Mixing British influenced rock'n'roll w/ Americana music is something I learned while listening to them. Gary's guitar playing, too. Tom Petty & the Beatles were certainly there, too, but combine those styles & we get the Jayhawks.
I can't wait to finish my new record...influences include XTC, 80s Queen and George Benson's pop stuff. It's wild af and I am over the moon about how much fun I'm having making it!
I am going to be filmed playing a 5 string banjo with a flat pick tomorrow and before it goes up on the internet where Bluegrass purists will see it, I just want to say that it's been great being alive and thank you all for the good times.
If you believe in art, freedom of expression & the rights we all have to live in a country of truth & liberty you should be vehemently opposed to the
#DragBan
here in
#Tennessee
. One thing we all agree on is the importance of freedom in America. We should all fight this. 🌈❤️✊️