Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit perform at The Salt Shed in Chicago on Feb. 29, 2024.
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit – currently comprised of Sadler Vaden (guitar), Chad Gamble (drums), Derrick deBorja (keys), Anna Butterss (bass), and Will Johnson (guitar/percussion) – are no strangers to Chicago and local fans simply can’t get enough of the band’s expansive live sound. On Feb. 29, the group, fueled by material from 2023’s Grammy Award-winning album, Weathervanes – sounded in-sync and inspired during the first of two sold-out shows at The Salt Shed.
The band opened with a trio of Weathervanes stand-outs including the urgent “Save the World,” a jam-filled “King of Oklahoma,” and “Strawberry Woman,” tender in its sweet reflection. Vaden’s slide guitar stood out on The Nashville Sound slow-burner “Last of My Kind” while deBorja sprinkled some honkey tonk keys on the dive bar rocker “Super 8.”
Early in the night, Isbell thanked fans for coming out, saying, “We always have so much fun here and this venue, this place, is fun as shit. It’s beautiful. I’ve missed you guys very much. I even miss that damn Bean downtown. I told my daughter I was coming here. She said, “You gotta go see The Bean, dad.”
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit perform at The Salt Shed in Chicago on Feb. 29, 2024.
Despite regularly unleashing super-human guitar solos on songs like “Overseas,” the singer-songwriter was completely down-to-earth, sharing several relatable Isbell-isms throughout the night. He explained how the gong would be hit exactly one time because, “If you hit the gong more than once, you’re playing the gong, and that’s not rock and roll.”
Isbell later explained that requests being shouted out from the crowd would not be considered.
“The man who’s shouting request is not gonna get it. That’s an old Chicago proverb. It’s a lot like, ‘You’ll get what you get and you’ll fucking like it,’” he said with a chuckle as fans laughed along.
At the top of the show, Palehound – who opened things up with a set including songs such as “Healthier Folk,” “My Evil,” and “The Clutch” – also shared their appreciation for Chicago fans and their love for their favorite local band.
“I just want to shout out our friends that we’re staying with, the band the Ratboys – they’re Chicago’s best band. I’m just gonna say that straight up. There are amazing bands here, but they’re my favorites and they’re our friends and we love them so shout out to the Ratboys,” said vocalist El Kempner.
One of the most special moments of Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit‘s headlining set came in the form of a somber, stripped down performance of “Elephant.” Only Isbell and deBorja remained on stage creating an intimate performance of the Southeastern song, before the whole band returned for a rousing rendition of “Stockholm.” “Alabama Pines,” “Cast Iron Skillet,” and “If We Were Vampires” also appeared on the evening’s setlist.
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit perform at The Salt Shed in Chicago on Feb. 29, 2024.
Jason Isbell is the type of songwriter that tells extremely specific stories about himself and the characters who star in his songs, but fans also find themselves in the humanity he captures. Whether he’s singing about relationship woes, worries for the future, or the dark comedy that flows through life, Isbell’s music – tear-inducing as it may be – always searches for the sunlight.
You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows, but listening to songs from Weathervanes with a sold-out crowd can get you pointed in the right direction to shore up some emotional fortitude before the next gale force life-blow tries to knock you down.
Check out photos from the Feb. 29 concert at The Salt Shed featuring Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit – and Palehound – below and click here to pick-up tickets to future tour dates. More information can be found at Jasonisbell.com.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)
