Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit provided not just one, but two nights of entertainment at the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet.
Still reeling from the fact that Jason Isbell’s festival Shoals Fest is not going to take place this year, we needed to get our fix in when we could. It was an impressive feat seeing people traveling from far and wide to pack the theatre to the gunnels for two nights in a row.
Both nights were “An Evening with Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit,” meaning there were no openers, and just an unadulterated and uninterrupted hour and 45 minutes of music for the soul. Each night had a different setlist so if anyone did venture out to both nights, they would have had two very different experiences. The second night engagement saw them perform “Outfit,” a song from his days with Drive-By Truckers that is very popular with the fans and is rarely performed live. The evening also saw an impressive six songs performed from Isbell’s solo album Southeastern. 2023 sees the tenth anniversary of Southeastern, and Isbell teased there’s something special lined up to mark the celebration, perhaps a live album.
It was a treat to hear the new song “Death Wish” from the upcoming album Weathervanes performed live. The song stands shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the catalog performed on the night, and the fans have obviously been giving it a good listen to as the theatre was filled with their voices as they sang along. Weathervanes is set for release on June 9 and we’re looking forward to hearing what it has in store for us,
The night included some setlist staples such as “24 Frames,” “Last of my Kind,” and “Super 8.” They also performed “Alabama Pines,” a song that will forever remind of us standing on the banks of the Tennessee River and surrounded by the tall Alabama pine trees at Shoals Fest. “Cover Me Up” is always such a treat to hear live as it builds and builds as each member joins in one by one with the crescendo of Chad booming on the drums. A beautifully written song and even more beautifully performed live. The imagery that song provokes is so vivid, it transports you to an isolated cabin with a roaring fire.
This is a band who are truly in sync with each other. The bond and the chemistry between these long-time friends are palpable. It’s something beautiful to behold watching Jason and Sadler Vaden trading licks and adding intricate flourishes to the songs with seemly no effort but with excellent execution. While Isbell’s lyrics and vocals are such a huge part of their appeal, each member of the 400 Unit brings something special to the table, culminating in a sound that clicks perfectly together.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit have tour dates scheduled through to August so you have plenty of opportunity to catch them.
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