Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Outfit (Live on KEXP)

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit perform "Outfit" live in the KEXP studio. Recorded 6/14/2011
Host: Cheryl Waters
Audio: Kevin Suggs
Cameras: Jim Beckmann, Shelly Corbett & Scott Holpainen
Edits: Ellen Wixted
www.kexp.org
www.jasonisbell...
www.lightningro...

[@robertmoore517]

I just hit 30 years old. This song means more to me than ever. Timeless ageless classic. "Quit fuckin around and play 'Outfit'"

[@scottdenney6475]

play outfit!

[@robbiebaker7876]

Of all of his songs, this one is the most relatable for me. I'm sure a lot of people have fathers like his, but it seems like he wrote this song about mine. I even lived in a trailer in my grandparent's yard as a child. My dad was a modest, quiet, reserved man and I love playing this song to remember him...Btw, for those who don't know, you don't say your car is broke because you should know what's wrong with it...and unless you're a female you're not going to call what you're wearing an outfit.

[@thekurse]

Very nicely put, Robbie.

[@TheEDZEPPELINBAND]

you gotta fix it ,man-lol. I LOVE the regular version from the album....the solo reminds me of Allen Collins from Skynyrd.... 'Have fun and stay CLEAR of the needle"

[@GreenGaslight]

that explained a couple of bits thanks!

[@michaeledwards1664]

I can't count how many times someone in the family would say "It's broke," after which pawpaw would say "No it AIN'T! Come on" *waves everyone out to the yard*

[@timhanson8556]

Allen Collins was masterful when it came to leads, Gary learning to play slide in standard tuning really makes some of his solo's almost un-repayable.. it was because they were poorer teens who couldn't fathom a guitar "Just to play Slide On !!!" such luxury. Bring all my Mules down here, kick em' one time !!!

[@christsatanatl]

Jason is a true master and an national treasure.

[@belindaJmay]

Jason Isbell, you are a lyrical genius and your voice is like strawberries in the garden and puffy white clouds and warm rain overflowing the creek banks. I love you.

[@joenorton2070]

This might be the finest song ever wrote

[@9ramthebuffs9]

Its too bad he's now ashamed of its "problematic" ideas.

[@jsb2277b]

​@@9ramthebuffs9can you elaborate on this?

[@jmmacb03]

I came here to find out who wrote "Maybe It's Time" for "A Star is Born". What a talent! He is heading towards Grammy #5. Thank you from Toronto. ♥

[@davestewart2021]

Hes a legend in the making.

[@daveb673]

Jason Isbell is the real deal!! Great songwriter, great singer, and AWESOME LIVE!! GO SEE HIM IF YOU GET A CHANCE!!!!

[@likeag6fohfivesix]

+David Watkins I will cry.

[@deborahkauffman09]

+David Watkins seen him with James Mcmurtry top that

[@daveb673]

The last time I saw him was at The Ryman Auditorium and he brought John Prine out to sing one with him and his wife Amanda Shires... My head almost exploded!!

[@chadriddle1085]

David Watkins yup good advice

[@artnowandhere]

Rocked Foxwoods Resort Casino tonight co-headlining with Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. Both bands were great.

[@iamthemovie11]

Saw him open for Ryan Adams last night in St. Louis and he was great. They played a really great song together for his birthday. Very nice.

[@rustbeltprogressive3968]

I could be seeing him live tonight a hundred miles away. Instead I bought a dozen albums and live shows off bandcamp and gave my father a USB in one of our rare visits at a local diner. You will live forever if you keep finding new favorites.

[@calebhartley1243]

Best songwriter of my generation. Even the "bigs" say it. He even has a Bob Dylan quote on the arm. He sobered up and swore off that stuff...and he is untouchable. I really think he can't make a bad song...I wasn't a fan of Super 8 but it's still better than any shit out there...

[@rogerfish2585]

You are going to get hit by a fungo bat in the baby fat for saying that one.

[@yammmit]

super 8 is how I found Jason. I love that song

[@nickstevensonband]

this band deserves to be famous. not lil wayne, not one direction. Jason, you fucking rock dude. never stop

[@JetLagRecords]

KEXP, amazing content keep up the fantastic work

[@4x4dually]

Cool song. I like it. Sounds like a good one to add to the acoustic set. ;)

[@megallen585]

WTF? Great great song. Never disappoints

[@garydupuis]

Another great song by a great artist!!

[@johndeville]

"....don't let me catch you in Kendale with a bucket of wealthy-man's paint...."

[@mattgibbons740]

For a painter, this means "you got the job."

[@kirbykeller4405]

One of the great lines in country music

[@MelBesher]

Saw Jason open for John Prine last night in St Louis. He gets better and smoother each time I see him or hear him, l look forward to his next project. " Don't give it away "

[@PaiMeiJac]

Songs like this you don't just hear, you feel them.

[@CarolineColeman-dy7by]

I love this song!!

[@drewcherry2794]

I love this damn song!!

[@jgraves919]

Keep it up KEXP. All my favorite bands seem to make it to your studios.

[@neverthink04]

have to be from the south to "get it"? really? buried my dad, WWII vet (Omah Beach to be exact) summer of 2011, he was 95 years old, i was born and raised in NE pennsylvania. i can cry hearing this song, cause it is about what he told his 7 sons as he raised us. Isbell must have come from some proud parents, as i did. any a-hole can have a decal that says "support our troops" but Isbell, Hood and Cooley really care for our VETERANS. that's what really counts here.

[@tadasvankevicius]

OMG... so perfect. Thank you so so so much.

[@dwinkle99]

Goddamn....just doesn't get better than JI. UNBELIEVABLE TALENT!

[@timf312]

Not bragging, but I got to see the DBT's way back, in 02' or so, in a club in Northampton Ma. Place was packed and like me, the crowd knew all the words. Yankees! And there is as no smoking of course but that didn't stop Cooley, which is great!

[@kwpowell0412]

Kudos from South Carolina!

[@AdamoMoreno]

More neo-country! A++++++++ Great artist, will listen to again.

[@Mrx-ux4nu]

Damn, that's good stuff

[@frostkilledjack]

I like that he is semi-casual, in that he wears a "trucker" hat and a jacket. He has great music, and I hope he can make it to KEXP again sometime.

[@JayDogg76]

Loved the little outro.

[@andrewkling9530]

Happy father's day

[@anthonycampbell5322]

Yes it is, Jason Isbell was in the drive-by truckers for several albums and wrote some of their songs such as this one.

[@wittyscreenname335]

I only listen to Jason Isbell when I want to feel something

[@seanconnor4251]

My Da is my absolute Hero. My Grandad is His. My Mam's my saviour, by the way

[@hippieSL4Y3R]

Great song. Just wish i could hear it with DBT live.

[@1970351c]

F-N awesome...

[@RexVanRyn]

I'm a father. This fucking hits.

[@firegod54321]

That guitar solo.....my gah

[@kimworley9488]

yes, its like you can 'see' every note as it was written -- Sandler Vaden kills!

[@bigtimmuh6651]

Amen

[@yermamma5]

So, the big question is... Why are guys (bands) like this on the CMA's I guess the people who actually write great music don't get credit! Ugg... I hate the machine... Thank God for guys like this who are true their craft...

[@gypsy4460]

Jason does not have one " bad song!!!!!!!!

[@jmmacb03]

I just "discovered" him because of his writing Bradley Cooper's song in "A Star is Born". I am 61 and I thought singer-songwriters were extinct… ♥

[@davestewart2021]

#Facts

[@davestewart2021]

@@jmmacb03 welcome!

[@lfish21.]

If you dont get this song you are not from the south. Its just the mentality of the generation that his father would have been a part of and even the mentality of some of the people around here now.

[@johnnytruant8820]

happygilmore06 yeah it has to do with a sense of noblige, that the southern common gentry had after the boom of the 50s

[@douglasmoffat1538]

Recognized universally as genius...though Isbell has ambivalence about popularity.

[@TheCascadeSurf]

check out Corey Smith's "if that's country" ...he nails that issue and all those artists to the wall.

[@TheVCRTimeMachine]

I hear a hint of "Something More Than Free" in this tune.

[@sometimesthomas]

If you've never seen Jason Isbell, or the Drive-By Truckers,l live you don't know what you're missing.

[@kemsorrell546]

I here you talkin' there hoss

[@MikeDel76]

Nice outfit.

[@mashdownbandit]

holy shit

[@Bobbo63]

I love this song... first time i heard it i damn near cried.

[@wtboyd]

you godamn right.

[@MartinMora-ts7rl]

Verdad que todos estos años e estado fura de it y de cuentas de Google

[@alhhuck]

Does anyone know what the brand of this guitar is?!?

[@jeb4hand]

They can still get it up north. They just can't tell jokes as good.

[@cjbonney8202]

" cause a southern man tells better jokes " :D

[@muzikmind77]

THANK GOD FOR ALABAMA!

[@MartinMora-ts7rl]

Verdad que nunca miento

[@Madhatter603]

Yea shlitz hat!!!

[@Synazedplati]

What happenned to ya brother? And who are these people your playing with?

[@MartinMora-ts7rl]

Verdad que nunca vas a powder engañar Andie ni al gobierno

[@Mcseeker86]

I don't understand the reason the character in the song says "don't ever call what you're wearing an oufit" and "don't ever say your car is broke".... What is so wrong with saying those things???

[@magadic123]

Isn't this a drive by truckers song

[@andrewkling9530]

And don't let me catch you in Kendale with a bucket of wealthy-man's paint Can someone explain that line to me?

[@sethanderson1019]

He's telling his son he better not end up like him.

[@thetruthisoutthere5672]

+Andrew Kling Kendale is a rich part of town... So his father is saying he never wants to see his son painting rich men's houses.

[@lindateitelbaum1334]

+ManarGate I think he's saying don't forget your humble roots, and also don't make me feel bad about myself for using cheap paint

[@redpatcher]

+Andrew Kling Well I figured he was painting for his dad ("painting for my ol' man"), and it referred more to loyalty to his family and class roots than the actual paint.

[@jeffreysveiven6723]

+Seth Anderson you're right. his dad is telling him to go make his own life and do what he loves and not just get stuck doing what his father did for a living

[@dannyphillips3311]

Not a bad song one dose this brother of the rd have

[@PeeJayEU]

yeah schlitz

[@allisoncleary9552]

"Don't tell 'em you're bigger than jesus" ... Is this a reference to John Lennon?

[@richardhowenstein1207]

To the Beatles yes

[@rmzzz76]

"Don't tell'em you're bigger than jesus... don't give it away". Yep, one of the best lines in the song that makes song-writers go "damn, he's good". He's telling his son not to talk in metaphor by using a reference to a historically misunderstood metaphor (Lennon stating "we're bigger than Jesus") and using a metaphor to express that, but then Jason Isbell follows that line with the line"don't give it away" like giving away a secret. A lot of room for interpretation but I take it to mean that even if you have a big vocabulary, big ideas and a gift for abstract discussion know when to keep it to yourself as to not offend certain people.... Likely a problem Jason Isbell could relate to growing up as he was probably one of the sharper tools int he shed.

[@matt4051]

John Lennon's "bigger than jesus" comment had a big impact to people in the south. In fact it had most of it's impact on people in the south, bible belters as you might say. Listeners and fans in Alabama and the rest of the south burned Beatles records and radio stations refused to play them.

[@bvaljalo]

@@rmzzz76 Always loved the ambiguity of 'don't give it away' right there ... is it just another good piece of fatherly advice, meant to stand on its own? Which makes sense ... "Don't give it away" ... is standard 'advice' ... OR ... is it continuation of the line before, about being 'Bigger Than Jesus' ... and telling him to not 'let on' how great he is? Not entirely sure it's intentional, but if it was ... that's seriously brilliant. And Jason has done enough since to make me think ... it could very well have been.

[@donalddingler1263]

I think Justin Beiber said it also.

[@mdr1013]

I love Cooley, but he isn't near Jason's skill level on the guitar. Not even close.

[@tomtraynor5384]

These are the ones Kid Rock should be ripping off. Not rappers and Seger.

[@Mcseeker86]

so saying your car is "broke" is a yankee thing?

[@morfeeene]

Disagree with your first sentence but agree with the rest of your comment. It's a divisive mentality.

[@ugarea]

It'd be better if Cooley were playing it...

[@wtboyd]

blue bellied yankee

[@BigNickDigger801]

I wonder if he was an authoritarian coward back then too...

[@loganfisher3431]

Please explain to me, oh enlightened one, how Jason Isbell of all people is an authoritarian?