Jason Isbell backstage at the Grey Eagle, Asheville, NC

This set of images of Jason Isbell taken long, long ago backstage at the Grey Eagle in Asheville has resonated with me over the years for a variety of reason. I was first attracted to photography for the sole purpose of documenting musicians. The idea of shooting studio photography or refining my photographic abilities didn't even cross my mind. In those early days before Instagram - before the gazillions of images flooded the internet on the gazillions of online platforms out there - the personal, off-stage lives of musicians weren't as omnipresent as they have become toda, and there seemed something poetic to me about the downtime and lives of touring musicians, and my intention was to document what I saw.

The inspiration for these images came from a Danny Clinch photo of Bruce Springsteen. I can't remember it now, but I believe it was Bruce with a guitar, maybe in a hotel room or dressing room, and he appeared to be writing a song, or maybe working out a set list. I thought the raw intimacy of the moment, not to mention the incredible luck of being Danny Clinch, presumably alone in a room with The Boss as he contemplated his work, seemed like the coolest thing in the world. Jason already had his guitar when I came into the green room, so I proposed that he make it look like he was writing a song so that I could snap off a few shots.

That book on the table was a backstage guest book in which visiting musicians could write, draw, or share anything they pleased, not an actual lyric book. I'd love to have a look inside now, some fifteen or sixteen years later. The stuff in there would be amazing to see!

And of course it should be noted that in the years after these photos were taken Jason stopped drinking and smoking, so Isbell fans are always quick to note the rarity of seeing him with the cig and Bud Lite.

I also love the roughness of it all - these days I would have removed the Bud Lite entirely, as well as the second bottle casting the shadow on the wall. But again, it's the honesty of the moment I intended to capture, and I'm pleased that I got exactly what I was aiming for.

Stay up to date on Jason Isbell at jasonisbell.com

I'm an Asheville based photographer and web designer with over twenty years of experience creating imagery for hundreds of clients in Western North Carolina and beyond. My studio photography specializes in headshots for business and corporations, law firms, artists, entrepreneurs, models, and actors, as well as stylized theme portrait sessions for personal branding, maternity, local and regional musicians. Photo services are available throughout the south, including Raleigh, Charlotte, Winston Salem, Greenville, Columbia, Spartanburg, Knoxville, and Johnson City. Photo sessions are always fun and mostly easy, and consultations are always free, so drop me a line and let's plan something amazing together!

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