In its 64th year, the 2023 Newport Folk Festival boasts the longest and most distinguished history of any currently running music festival dating back to 1959. With all that history, the festival has stayed relevant with its place as one of the most trusted venues for Americana, folk, rock, singer/songwriter, and everything in between. With four different stages, Newport includes collaborations of all types in a beautiful setting overlooking the beautiful harbor.
Jason Isbell, in his third appearance at Newport, had the chance to showcase tracks from his new classic album “Weathervanes.” He started with an older favorite from his breakout album “Southeastern,” “Cover Me Up.” He quipped something like “I love Newport. If I played this one first in other places, half the audience would leave.” After that, Isbell proceeded to run through nine of the thirteen tracks on his most recent release.
“Strawberry Woman” was a particular highlight. It included Jason’s heartfelt vocals and the tight guitar work of Sadler Vaden bringing the song to life. In addition, the yearning “King of Oklahoma” with the lyrics “She used to wake me up with coffee ever morning / And I’d hear her homemade house shoes slide across the floor / She used to make me feel like the king of Oklahoma / But nothing makes me feel like much of nothing anymore” brought the heartbreaking story to life. It’s vintage Jason Isbell and includes the type of narrative songwriting that make Jason such a respected songwriter.
Isbell’s new classic “Cast Iron Skillet” was a highlight. The song includes devastating lyrics from drawn partially from growing up in Florence, Alabama. The lyrics cut deep: “Don’t wash the cast iron skillet / That dog bites my kid, I’ll kill it / Don’t walk where you can’t see your feet / Don’t ask questions, just believe it / Jamie found a boyfriend / With smiling eyes and dark skin / And her daddy never spoke another word to her again.” Isbell has never shied away from tough subjects; if anything, this album has gone even further into the emotional depths that Jason has ventured before (which is saying a lot for an artist who put out “Elephant” on “Southeastern” in 2013). On the Newport stage, Jason Isbell’s wife and fiddle player Amanda Shires’ was definitely missed.
In addition, Saturday featured The Hold Steady, John Oates, and Goose. Craig Finn’s deadpan delivery on hilarious tracks like “Sequestered in Memphis” stood out from the set. The hilarious story was delivered merging storytelling in a rock band setting: “It started when we were dancing / It got heavy when we got to the bathroom / We didn’t go back to her place / We went to some place where she cat-sits / She said, “I know I look tired / But every thing’s fried here in Memphis / Now they want to know exactly which bathroom / Dude, does it make any difference? It can’t be important / Yeah, sure I’ll tell my story again / In bar light she looked alright / In daylight she looked desperate / That’s alright, I was desperate too / I’m getting pretty sick of this interview.” The Hold Steady’s debut performance as a long established band brought the crowd to their feet. Also, John Oates paid homage to Mississippi John Hurt in his acoustic set.
Fan favorite Goose featured bluesy guitar and songwriting from Rick Mitarotonda. The vibe was laid back and like the name “California Magic” suggests. The band jammed with the best of them.
https://goosetheband.bandcamp.com/track/california-magic-27
Saturday at Newport built slowly until Jason Isbell truly pulled it all together. Roots, literate songwriting, and expert musicianship. Isbell is the best the a first day at Newport could offer.
About the author: Jeff is a teacher in the Boston area. When not buried correcting papers, Jeff can be found plucking various stringed instruments and listening to all types of americana music.