Live Review: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit with Al Kapone & The Blues Rap Band at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, 10/17/26

The Ryman, also known as The Mother Church, is a one-of-a-kind structure with many stories. One must actually sit in the hallowed pews to fully comprehend its meaning to music, to Nashville, to those spirits of country music who you can almost still hear.

So, it’s no surprise that Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit have chosen the Ryman for their annual residency for over a decade, save for a couple years. The singer-songwriter is at the top of his game at the moment, with each new record pulling in new fans. The songs from his recent acoustic solo release, Foxes in the Snow, are bolstered by the mighty 400 Unit, a rock band to rival all others.

The set took off with “Bury Me,” one of his acoustic solo songs, turned into an old timey country western affair with the help of his talented musicians. As Isbell sang the chorus, “I ain’t no cowboy but I can ride / I ain’t no outlaw but I’ve been inside,” the band joined in. It was glorious, and underscores his ability to avoid ruts, mix it up a little, and simply make a song better.

Ironically, only eight of the twenty-one songs were from 400 Unit albums. The rest were from his solo releases along with three from Drive-By Truckers, and one more cover.

With a multi-day stopover in Nashville, one may assume that the superfan will attend more than one night. Therefore, the band cannot play the same setlist every night. Isbell played some deeper cuts that I’d not heard live before. And I’ve seen him a few times. One example was the Drive-By Truckers tune “TVA,” about the Tennessee Valley Authority, part of FDR’s New Deal in 1933 to build infrastructure and get people back to work after the Great Depression. “Thank God for the TVA / Where Roosevelt let us all work for an honest day’s pay / Thank God for the TVA,” sung in Nashville, Tennessee, no less. It was an uplifting moment and we all felt proud of our country for a minute.

Another rarity was “Wind Behind the Rain,” a song Isbell wrote and performed at his brother’s wedding. His future sister-in-law “walked right up and asked me.” Besides that day, tonight was the live debut of the song with his band. He added it as the final track on his solo album.

The set closer was “If We Were Vampires,” a heartbreaking work of art in so many ways. The encore kicked off with a cover of Big Star’s “Thirteen,” a Memphis band (of course). The band played a Big Star cover the first three nights of the residency and we’re all assuming he’ll do the same for weekend two (Oct. 22-24). Then, another Truckers’ entry, “Never Gonna Change,” a loud and frenzied rocker highlighting the energy and stamina of the 400 Unit. Really, each of them is a master of their instrument and as a collective, they gel so naturally.

“Cover Me Up,” from Isbell’s breakout 2013 album Southeastern, closed the show. The song tells the story of how his now ex-wife helped him gain sobriety. It’s deeply personal and even more poignant today. But he continues to perform it, as so many fans have expressed their gratitude to Isbell for the song; that it helped them reach sobriety.

Isbell is big on themes, and this year’s stay at the Ryman came with a lot of love from Memphis. Every opening act for his six-night stay is from the Home of Elvis. On this third night, Al Kapone and the Blues Rap Band warmed up the crowd. I know what you’re thinking: Are Jason’s fans ready for rap? Well, they got ready.

As soon as Kapone and his band hit the stage, it was a party. As the set progressed, the crowd began clapping, moving, and gave a full-on standing ovation at the end. With elements of blues, hip-hop, and rock ‘n’ roll, the Blues Rap Band made a statement.

Check out tour information and buy some music: Jason Isbell and Al Kapone.