Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Sunday March 25, 2018 :
Who goes to a Jason Isbell show? A 4-time Grammy Award winner that has been stuck with the “Alt-Country” label. Never fully accepted by the mainstream country scene, but plenty of southern drawl to turn off a few who insist they hate all Country music. As it turns out; Isbell is for everybody. There were mums with their daughters, men wearing cowboy hats indoors, and plaid-clad inner-city livers all mixing in together.
Deer Tick are really the perfect support choice for this show; another band that loves to walk the tightrope between Country music and full-blown Rock ‘n’ Roll. The band channelled The Replacements with a southern drawl.
The band would also set a second tone for the night – seriously impressive musicianship. Bassist Chris Ryan worked up and down the fretboard with ease, creating huge grooves that melded perfectly with Dennis Ryan on drums. The band ran through their set with confidence, including a brilliant cover of Ben Vaughn’s ‘Too Sensitive For This World’.
Jason Isbell has a commanding presence from the moment he steps out on this stage. Opening with ‘24 Frames’ followed by ‘Hope The High Road’. It was clear that The Enmore Theatre was locked in for a hell of a set. Songs covered the span of Isbell’s career; from the latest single to his days with Drive By Truckers.
With The 400 Unit in tow, the show rode waves of crushing intimacy and massive rock moments. One minute, the crowd is dead silent as Isbell and keys player Derry Deborja play ‘Elephant’ – then moments later, the full band is charging through ‘Codine’ with five-part harmonies in the chorus. The presence of Amanda Shires was missed, but the band more than made up for her abscess sonically.
It’s hard to understate just how good The 400 Unit are as a backing band. A tight-as-all-hell band that know exactly what to play and when. Several songs blew out into full on jams, with Isbell proving he is no chump on the guitar either; trading guitar solos with lead guirarist Sadler Vanden in ‘Never Gonna Change’.
The band played for around 90 minutes all up, before returning for a quick encore. Playing the oft-requested ‘New South Wales’ and a crushing rendition of ‘If We Were Vampires’. Isbell thanked everybody (something he did at every available opportunity throughout the night), and left the stage.
It was an immaculate performance by one of the greatest singer/songwriters around today. If you think you don’t like Country music, 90 minutes with Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit will change your mind.
Reviewer : Spencer Scott