The link between Jason Isbell and R.E.M. is pretty well known. He included his take on their “Nightswimming” and “Driver 8” on his cover album Georgia Blue. In June of this year, Isbell inducted R.E.M. into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Earlier this month, he performed with Michael Stipe at a Harris/Walz rally. And during his annual run of shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, the lovefest continued.
Each night of his recent eight-show run at the Ryman featured Isbell and his backing band, the 400 Unit, covering R.E.M. during the encore. The songs he covered were, in order: “Losing My Religion,” “Driver 8,” “It’s the End of the World as We Know It,” “The One I Love,” “Fall on Me,” “Losing My Religion” (again), “Man on the Moon,” and “Finest Worksong.” Most of those were songs he’d never played live before.
Find videos of all eight (well, seven, not counting the “Losing My Religion” reprise) below.
