Jason Isbell January 19, 2008

Guartist Jason Isbell is from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and was breaking into the studio scene there when Truckers frontman Patterson Hood came calling in the spring of 2002 following the departure of former guitarist Rob Malone. In a more traditional singer/songwriter vein, Will Hoge is a standout. More like Pete Yorn than John Mayer, Hoge's songs don't get mired in the maudlin. His major label debut is 'Blackbird On A Lonely Wire.'