Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit performing at the ACL Live Moody Theater in Austin, Texas on August 9, 2021, with Jason Isbell, Sadler Vaden, Jimbo Hart, Derry DeBorja, Chad Gamble, and Amanda Shires. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)
What happens after an artist has achieved his dreams? That was the major question Jason Isbell was asking himself leading up to the creation of his newest album, Reunions, recorded with the 400 Unit and produced by celebrated producer Dave Cobb. After all, four-time Grammy winner Isbell is at the top of his game. He is widely acclaimed as one of our best songwriters and possesses a devoted audience who have pushed his last two albums to the tops of the charts.
“Success is a very nice problem to have but I think ‘how do I get through it and not lose what made me good in the first place?’” he says. “A lot of these songs and the overall concept of this album is how do I progress as an artist and a human being and still keep that same hunger that I had when I wasn’t quite so far along in either respect.” Isbell’s solution: to go back in time with his hard-gained knowledge.
The result is a seamless collection of ten new songs that delve into relationships with lovers, friends, children, parents, and one’s self. There are rousing anthems that will have stadiums singing along, lyrical standouts that highlight some of Isbell’s best writing to date, moving looks at youth and childhood, a deep dive into the challenges of relationships, and deeply personal songs about alcoholism and parenthood. All of them offer us an artist at the height of his powers and a band fully charged with creativity and confidence.
Beautiful songs perfectly performed. We have seen Jason a few times before and have never been disappointed but this show went above and beyond. With his wife and sometime band mate Amanda Shires not making this show I wondered how it would affect the sound of the 400 Unit. The answer was that everyone else played with extra intensity and took the show to new heights. This was right up there with my all time favorite concerts. Jason writes wonderful songs, sings like an angel and plays guitar like he puts all his time into that. Go and see him.Setlist for the show at the ACL Live Moody Theater
Amazing. So happy to see Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. Excellent set. I would see him again in a heartbeat. Tight band, awesome musicians.
This is a must see concert for fans of rock or country music. Jason Isbell delighted fans by performing his new album "Something More Than Free" in its entirety, alongside his lovely and talented wife Amanda Shires, and his band the 400 Unit. He followed this up with many hits from his earlier solo albums and a couple of songs from his time with Drive By Truckers. In particular, "Cover Me Up", "Children of Children", "Danko/Manuel" and "Codeine" brought the crowd to their feet.
Fantastic and intimate show. Jason Isbell is a wonderful singer/songwriter.
Jason Isbell always plays an amazing show. The band played nonstop (with a short break before the encore).
- Overseas
- 24 Frames
- It Gets Easier
- Letting You Go
- Hope the High Road
- Something More Than Free
- Dreamsicle
- What've I Done to Help
- Be Afraid
- Elephant
- Alabama Pines
- Running With Our Eyes Closed
- Only Children
- Last of My Kind
- Stockholm
- Cover Me Up
- St. Peter's Autograph
- Driver 8
- If We Were Vampires
- Super 8
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit was the main act at the ACL Live Moody Theater with guests Lucinda Williams. They continue across the United States, Canada, and Europe with the last stop at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin, Ireland on November 19, 2022.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
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Photos by Ralph Arvesen
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