Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
w/ Amy LaVere
The Ryman Auditoroum; Nashville, TN
October 23, 2026
Review by Philip Obenschain and Madison McDermott. Photos by Madison McDermott.
A tradition that began more than a decade ago, in 2014, and has continued on a near-annual basis since (excluding 2016 and, of course, 2020), Alabama native and longtime Nashville resident Jason Isbell and his band The 400 Unit recently returned to The Ryman Auditorium for their latest fall residency, spanning six shows over two weeks, and, this year, featuring different openers each night, all from Memphis, where Isbell attended college. We caught show five of six, on Oct. 23, which featured a fantastic opening set from singer-songwriter and upright bassist Amy LaVere.
One of the most lauded and talented fixtures in the alt-country, Americana, folk, and southern rock scene of the last several decades, Isbell has released an impressive ten records now, both solo and with The 400 Unit, most recently last year’s deeply earnest Foxes in the Snow. And though we’ve seen him play many times over the years- as headliner, collaborator, festival performer, and at prior Ryman residencies- his live show is never anything short of breathtaking. Performing songs predominantly from his 400 Unit records, though also from his solo releases and a couple from his prior band, Drive-By Truckers, this show’s setlist- like all nights of the residency- was totally unique and full of surprises, mixing fan favorites with deep cuts.
The crowd- who, unsurprisingly, trended a little older than that of many shows we attend- was lively and warm, friendly and engaged, and really added to the night’s energy. This whole residency, like local Phoebe Bridgers and Jack White shows in recent weeks, was phone and device-free, adding a welcome feel of attentiveness, and keeping everyone in the moment for Isbell’s nearly two-hour set. While Jason and his band could no doubt host this in a larger space should they choose to, it feels a part of The Ryman’s DNA at this point, and we can’t imagine a more fitting venue for a show like this than the Mother Church, with the show’s almost holy energy, Isbell as prophet and his songs as sermons of redemption, and about learning to sit peacefully with suffering while still fighting back fiercely against the demons that never fully leave.
The 400 Unit, largely hailing from Alabama as well, have been backing Isbell off and on since the late 2000s, and you can tell in how locked in and effortlessly they perform, like a close-knit family band. Everyone- Isbell included- is incredibly skilled at their instrument, and though the show is most definitely structured, there were plenty of moments giving space and spontaneity to show off their chops, as well as their pitch-perfect harmonies. With “Speed Trap Town, the air left the room as the whole audience held its breath. With “Tour of Duty,” the accordion gave a distinct texture before the band dropped away to just Isbell, singing vulnerably to the crowd. Not just a gifted guitarist, Isbell made the slide guitar sing like a second voice, soulful and heavy with pain. On “Letting You Go,” played for the first time since 2022, he took the stage alone to sing about his daughter, which made the moment more intimate.
Other standout moments included fan-favorite “24 Frames,” and the singalong-primed “Alabama Pines.” For “Elephant,” stripped down to Isbell’s guitar and piano, there was weight and a ghostly quality, and the whole performance was hypnotic. It was hard not to tear up, and the lyrics were as hauntingly beautiful as ever. Newer song “Crimson and Clay” reminded us just his prolific his songwriting has remained, and as the set wound down, Isbell and guitarist Sadler Vaden squared off for five minutes, trading eight-bar runs back and forth. It was pure magic and never once dragged, captivating the crowd the entire time. “If We Were Vampires” served as a fan-favorite closer for the main set, before the encore kicked off with a surprise cover of Big Star’s “The Ballad of El Goodo,” before treating us to another Drive-By Truckers tune, “Goddamn Lonely Love,” and ending the night with “King of Oklahoma.”
Exhilarating, awe-inspiring, genre-bending, and confessional, Jason Isbell’s music (and his commendable, outspoken attitude) is transcendent and transportative, and every time we’re fortunate enough to see in concert, we’re reminded that he’s one of the most gifted songwriters of the 21st century, and never anything short of an incredible performer. In an ever-changing local music landscape, these fall residencies have become a constant, exciting thing to look forward to every year, and we hope he keeps them up for many, many more to come.
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All photos by Madison McDermott
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Setlist:
If It Takes a Lifetime
Hope the High Road
It Gets Easier
Outfit
Speed Trap Town
Tour of Duty
Letting You Go
Go It Alone
Streetlights
24 Frames
In a Razor Town
Alabama Pines
Elephant
Crimson and Clay
Vestavia Hills
This Ain’t It
If We Were Vampires
The Ballad of El Goodo
Goddamn Lonely Love
King of Oklahoma
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