Aug 23

Aug 23 Review: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at Rabbit Rabbit

The beating sun and insanely packed venue had little impact on the buzz of the crowd as we patiently awaited for Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit to grace the Rabbit Rabbit stage on Aug. 11. I was lucky enough to slip into the heart of the audience, getting a good view of the back of some guy's head while I silently regretted my choice of pants over shorts as my clothes fused to my skin with sweat.

Describing it now sounds dismal, but I could hardly contain my excitement. Isbell’s witty lyrics and Alabama twang were part of the soundtrack of my childhood — my dad made sure my sister and I knew every word to “Cover Me Up” and “Chaos and Clothes,” something that bothered eight-year-old me very much, but now I couldn’t appreciate it more.

Isbell’s set began slightly before 8 p.m., just as the unforgiving sun started to fall behind the mountains. Immediately, it was clear that this 400 Unit knew what they were doing. Launching into “Overseas,” off the band's 2020 album, Reunions, I was taken aback at the insane cohesion between the members. Even with the notable absence of bassist Jimbo Heart on this tour, the group carried on with Australia’s Anna Butterss ably filling in. As the crowd cheered a drunken welcome, my once-appealing spot in the middle of the audience became compromised by tall folk, turning me into a human Tetris piece as I sought free spaces over various shoulders. After a few rounds of that frustrating game, I took the treacherous maze to the back through the tightly packed fans.

When I finally made it to a breathable, seeable part in the crowd, I glanced around. The combination of the incredible heat, a capacity-filled space, and a significant amount of visitors who had spent their day familiarizing themselves with “Beer City” was forcing the attentive RR team to work overtime as they swerved in and out of the audience, catching people as they dropped like flies. Considering Isbell’s past struggles with alcoholism, that aspect of the show made for a bleak scene. Nevertheless, the show continued on with the majority of attendees remaining upright as they swayed to Isbell’s comforting drawl.

The set was mostly made up of tracks off the band’s most recent release, Weathervanes. Despite the album being less than two months old, every song was backed by audience sing-a-longs — save for a cover of Drivin’ and Cryin’s “HoneySuckle Blue,” but the performance was so intoxicating that Drivin’ And Cryin’ almost certainly gained some new fans that night.

The closing song was a beautiful rendition of Isbell’s most popular hit, 2013’s “Cover Me Up.” The ballad is popular for a reason: the signature achingly honest lyricism and somber subject matter brings up something so incredibly human that precious few songs manage to capture. The song felt like a reflection of the night, the lines “I sobered up, and swore off that stuff, forever this time” provoking a cheer from the packed audience.

Jason then said goodnight, giving a wave to the audience as the lights remained on stage, a clear presumptive indicator of an encore that was sure to come. Sure enough, the band returned to the stage less than a few minutes later with smiles on their faces as they looked out at the adoring crowd.

The three closing songs captivated the whole venue, and at that moment it felt like we as an audience were taking a moment to recognize the impact of this group. The realization that these legendary figures of Americana music were standing before us in a glorious flurry of sound hit me hard. Seeing this integral part of my childhood become more than just a CD in my dad’s old truck transformed it into a newfound adult appreciation for the incredibly beautiful part Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit has in the world of music.

(Photos by Bryce LaFoon)