Live Review: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit with Kyshona at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, 3/30/24

It’s not a stretch to claim that Jason Isbell is at the top of this game right now. Since his work with Drive-By Truckers, the artist has slowly built a fanbase first with his solo work, then with his band the 400 Unit. Critical praise and Grammys aside, his live shows are an emotional experience for his fans. If you missed him in his role in Killers of the Flower Moon, rewatch it. His onscreen presence is that of a veteran. His world has also taken a hit, as his divorce was recently finalized with his wife of 11 years Amanda Shires. Songs such as “Cover Me Up” and “If We Were Vampires” take on an even more heartbreaking tone.

On this third night of Isbell’s four-night stand at the Tabernacle, the band lit into a groove, proving they are one of the tightest live outfits out there. Touring in support of last year’s Weathervanes, the band is riding high since winning Grammys for Best Americana Album and Best American Roots Song for “Cast Iron Skillet.” Sadler Vaden is Isbell’s right-hand man and dishes out killer guitar licks while providing terrific backing vocals. Formerly of Drivin’ N Cryin,’ Vaden belted out that band’s hit “Honeysuckle Blue” and it was spectacular. Vaden’s slide guitar prowess is something to behold. The great Jimbo Hart recently departed the band for personal reasons and has been replaced by Australian Amanda Butterss. Along with drummer Chad Gamble, the two make up the 400 Unit’s rhythm section. Rounding out the group are keyboardist Derry deBorja and Will Johnson.

The show kicked off with “24 Frames” from his last album before forming the 400 Unit, 2015’s Something More Than Free. In it, he sings, “You thought God was an architect, now you know / He’s something like a pipe bomb ready to blow.” A bit later, he exclaimed, “Oh yeah, tomorrow’s Easter. This guitar needs to rise again.” One of the louder rockers was a cover of the Truckers’ “Never Gonna Change” off of the 2004 fan fave The Dirty South. This night’s set included most of Weathervanes along with a few from his solo albums including the fabulous 2013 release Southeastern.

Known for his outspoken views on politics and simply being a decent person, Isbell shined on “Save the World.” The song delves into the Uvalde school shooting and parents’ life mission to keep our children safe. “Can we keep her here at home instead / And can we teach her how to fight? / Something’s changing inside my head / Something’s drowning out the light,” and a plea to America’s youth, “Swear you’ll save the world when I lose my grip / Tell me you’re in control / Swear you’ll say the word when I start to slip / ‘Cause you’ll be the first to know.’ It’s a heart-wrenching situation that only happens in America, and Isbell is not afraid to say it out loud.

Speaking of kindness, check out “Last of My Kind” from 2017’s The Nashville Sound. “Old man sleeping on a filthy ground / Spend the whole day just walking around / Nobody else here seems to care / They walk right past him like he ain’t even there.” Isbell mixes up the encore selections nightly but in night three of three, the band once again hit fans with a cover of The Cure‘s “Just Like Heaven.” Talk about two world’s colliding in a most fortuitous fashion for fans. “Cast Iron Skillet” followed, a beautiful reiteration of cautionary tales from his early life. “Jamie found a boyfriend with smiling eyes and dark skin / And her daddy never spoke another word to her again.”

“Miles” wrapped up the evening, a song ostensibly describing his soon-to-be-over marriage to Shires (Weathervanes was released last June), as well as an ode to the couple’s daughter Mercy. “In the name of survival, we get used to this,” Isbell sings. It was a poignant closing for a man going through what life deals him, as we all do.

The building of The Tabernacle was completed in 1911 and served as a Baptist church for the following 83 years. So, it was proper that Kyshona delivered such a rousing set with her Bluesy sound, guitar in hand. She belted out nine powerful songs keeping the audience enthralled throughout. Her next album Legacy will be released April 26. She told the crowd she’s researching her roots and the album will honor those ancestors. In her day life, she is a music therapist and runs her own organization Your Song. Based in Nashville, the organization connects communities to promote healing through songwriting. Please visit their site and help, if you can.

Visit Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and Kyshona for tour info and music releases.