Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit return to The Salt Shed for two nights, with Jason also contributing an afternoon pop-up show.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit performing at The Salt Shed in Chicago has quickly become somewhat of a tradition, having been one of the first artists to grace the outdoor location, The Fairgrounds, before then coming back annually to perform two-nights per stop in the indoor venue. While Isbell has performed at a large number of the city’s venues, including The Chicago Theatre, The Auditorium Theatre, and Thalia Hall, The Salt Shed does now seem to be his new home when in the city.
Jason Isbell might truly be one of the hardest working musicians on the circuit at the moment. He tours relentlessly, whilst also continuing to write and release new music. Chicago always seems to be a popular stop on the touring agenda, whether it be for his solo endeavors or with the 400 Unit. This weekend, Chicago was honored with both. Friday afternoon saw a lucky select few who were able to secure tickets through a local radio station attend an intimate one-man pop-up show at The Salt Shed’s Tree Top Lounge. This was then followed by two nights packing out the main venue at The Salt Shed.
Each night on this current tour has a completely different setlist, which means a large number of fans are making sure to attend multiple nights. Mind you, we all know they’re likely to do that regardless! One thing you can definitely count on at a Jason Isbell show is seeing familiar faces in the audience and not just from local shows. The number of people at the Chicago shows who also attended Shoals Fest in Florence, AL, is impressive. There’s a strong community feel amongst the fans which is always a pleasure to experience.
With each night having unique setlists, they are delving into their hefty back catalog and pulling out some deep cuts and gems that you don’t get to see performed live very often. Night one at The Salt Shed was gifted with the rare appearance of “Yvette” from Southeastern.
Alongside the rarities came some songs that are always a pleasure to hear. Once you have heard them perform “Alabama Pines” at Shoals Fest surrounded by these very trees, you can’t help but be transported back there every time you hear it, regardless of where you are. A highlight of the set (of which there were many), was their performance of the epic “Miles.” This is one of those songs which truly comes to life when you see it live. It’s impossible not to be drawn in by the dramatic tone of the song, the harmonies, and the one-two punch of both Chad Gamble and Will Johnson pummeling their drum kits into submission.
Isbell also typically includes a cover song towards the end of the set, and this time the Chicago audience were treated to Wings’ “Let Me Roll It,” which is a new addition to this leg of the tour. It’s always fun to see which song they chose to put their spin on.
Jason has a habit of being able to put dark lyrics to upbeat music, often fooling the first-time listener into thinking it’s a joyful song and not initially realizing the gravity of the subject. “King of Oklahoma” is a great example of this, as people are often seen swaying and singing along to the massive, hooky chorus. It’s only when you stop to take stock of the lyrics that the dark undercurrent becomes clear. However, Fastball’s “The Way” may be a contender for the top spot in this category!
Isbell has tour dates scheduled through until the end of September, with some of them being solo shows and others with the 400 Unit. The majority of them are billed as “An Evening With….,” meaning there is no opening band, so be sure to get yourself there early. The Chicago crowd were treated to almost 2 and a half hours of showtime, so they were certainly not short-changed in any way.
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