Review: Jason Isbell, 02 Academy

There’s a particularly bizarre expression of musical appreciation when fans get awfully weird when acts they “discovered” break out in to the big wide world of the general public… These people start getting stroppy when “their” bands attract new fans, play bigger venues and join the big wide world; they get pissy when they can’t hang around with the band, and get another autograph or photo, which they feel entitled to simply because they happened to be in at the start of an artist’s career. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit’s first Bristol date was St.Bonaventure’s and he later played solo at the Thekla, and although the Bristol date on the current tour was originally scheduled for the Trinity, it was bounced up to the Academy. This illustrates the upward trajectory of Isbell’s career – critical acclaim, awards, increasing sales and bigger venues at home and abroad. All of which is fantastic – he’s too talented a writer, and the band are too talented to be playing small shows to a select few fans.

The night opened with John Moreland, an acoustic set that was very well received by a virtually sold out room. The songs are beautifully constructed vignettes of life in the southern states – and by his own admission full of “southern Baptist guilt”. Moreland has an exquisite voice, a deep cracked baritone that’s full of emotion & life, and his picking is excellent: plaintive and melodious, ideally suited to his deeply personal lyrics. Hard to believe he started out fronting hardcore bands, but their loss is our gain.

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit played a superbly paced near-two hour set, heavily weighted towards Southeastern & Something More Than Free yet with plenty of fan favourites from the back catalogue. Isbell cut his teeth as a writer / performer with Drive by Truckers and it was a real pleasure to hear Outfit, Decoration Day and Never Gonna Change from those days. The latter was a barnstormer with the 400 Unit managing to sound like Skynyrd jamming with Crazy Horse, whilst Decoration Day was punchy and spitting with emotion. Since leaving the Truckers Isbell has built up an admirable catalogue to select from, lyrically his songs challenging preconceptions about the South – preconceptions held by both its inhabitants and those who judge from afar; and also questioning what it means to be a son, a father and a husband. The 400 Unit have the versatility the tunes need – conjuring up country licks, rock crunch and folky Americana as required, with harmony vocals and plenty of grins to boot. Isbell and the band were clearly enjoying themselves, taking pleasure form the crowd reactions to each song and feeding it back in to the show.

Encoring with a solo / keys Elephant, arguably his finest lyric, and a swinging Codeine the band left the crowd smiling and satisfied. Twenty days in to the new year and all present would probably agree they’d witnessed a contender for gig of the year.

Photo Credit: David McClister