Jason Isbell plays “Something More Than Free” at DNC

Jason Isbell appeared at night one of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday to perform his song “Something More Than Free.”

Originally appearing as the title track for Isbell’s 2015 album, “Something More Than Free” is a working class anthem that showcases the alt-country singer’s evocative songwriting. “I don’t think on why I’m here or where it hurts/ I’m just lucky to have the work,” Isbell sings in the chorus, expressing gratitude for having work despite it being debilitating.

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Speaking about the song selection in an interview with the New York Times, Isbell explained: “I remember when Bush was running, Jr., I remember seeing back home in Alabama, people would have trailers with cars on blocks, and clearly, people that weren’t doing very well financially, and they had signs in their yard for Bush. And I remember thinking, a lot of these folks don’t even realize that they’re acting against their own best interests. And if we could just convince Americans of what their own best interests are, we wouldn’t have to ask them to be anything other than selfish. It’s like, please vote selfishly, because you’re going to wind up voting for a Democrat, unless you’re part of the top 1 percent of earners. And so I chose this song really sort of with those folks in mind. The fact that, where I grew up, I was surrounded by people who worked and worked and worked, and somebody else saw the benefits of that, and I think that’s not what the American way should be.”

Isbell has long been vocal about his left-wing views, often advocating for gun control, women’s reproductive freedom, and LGBTQ+ rights. In his 2023 cover story with Consequence, Isbell discussed his activism and political origins, including feeling alienated by the Republican party in his native Alabama.

After a shooting in Dayton, Ohio in 2019, Isbell publicly called for a ban on assault rifles, which spawned the viral “30-50 feral hogs” meme. And last year, Isbell teamed up with Allison Russell to host the Love Rising concert, a fundraiser pushing back against a Tennessee law that targeted some members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Isbell has been out on the road with his band the 400 Unit this summer in support of his excellent 2023 album Weathervanes, and just completed a slew of stadium dates opening for Zach Bryan. He has a handful of North American dates left on his 2024 tour before heading to Europe. Take a look at Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit’s tour dates below, and get tickets here.

Jason Isbell 2024-2025 Tour Dates:
09/05 — Charlotte, NC @ Ovens Auditorium #
09/06 — Lexington, KY @ Rupp Arena #
09/07 — Huber Heights, OH @ Rose Music Center at The Heights #
09/08 — Highland Park, IL @ Ravinia Festival #
09/10 — Cleveland, OH @ Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica #
09/11 — Vienna, VA @ Wolf Trap #
09/13 — Fredericton, NB @ Harvest Music Festival
09/14 — Montreal, QC @ MTELUS #
09/15 — Ottawa, ON @ City Folk Fest
09/17 — Red Bank, NJ @ Count Basie Center for the Arts #
09/19 — Norfolk, VA @ Chartway Arena #
09/20 — Durham, NC @ Durham Performing Arts Center #
09/21 — Durham, NC @ Durham Performing Arts Center #
10/10 — Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium @
10/11 — Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium ^
10/12 — Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium &
10/13 — Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium *
10/17 — Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium %
10/18 — Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium ~
10/19 — Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium +
10/20 — Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium !
11/01 — Miramar Beach, FL @ Moon Crush: Cowboy Moon ~
11/05 — Oslo, NO @ Sentrum Scene ~
11/06 — Oslo, NO @ Sentrum Scene ~
11/08 — Stockholm, SE @ Annexet ~
11/09 — Frederiksberg, DK @ Falkoner Center
11/11 — Groningen, NL @ De Oosterpoort ~
11/12 — Utrecht, NL @ TivoliVredenburg ~
11/13 — Utrecht, NL @ TivoliVredenburg ~
11/15 — Wangels, DE @ Rolling Stone Beach
11/16 — Antwerp, BE @ De Roma ~
11/18 — Brighton, UK @ Brighton Dome ~
11/19 — Manchester, UK @ O2 Apollo Manchester ~
11/20 — Edinburgh, UK @ Usher Hall ~
11/22 — Bristol, UK @ Bristol Beacon ~
11/23 — Wolverhampton, UK @ University of Wolverhampton at the Civic Hall ~
11/24 — Stockton-on-Tees, UK @ Stockton Globe ~
11/25 — London, UK @ Eventim Apollo ~
01/16 – 01/20/25 — Mexico City, MX @ Súper Ocho **
03/14/25 — Los Angeles, CA @ Walt Disney Concert Hall
04/13/25 — Greenville, SC @ Peace Center Concert Hall

# = w/ Alejandro Escovedo
@ = w/ Alice Randall
^ = w/ Garrison Starr
& = w/ Mary Gauthier
* = w/ Caitlin and Liz Rose
% = w/ Matraca Berg
[ = w/ Iris Dement
+ = w/ Gretchen Peters
! = w/ Kim Richey
~ = w/ SG Goodman
** = w/ Centromatic