Jason Isbell

Tim Simmons · March 9

I’m interested in the 400U tour to start up next month. I’d like to hear some full band arrangements

May 30th · March 9

Just finished my second listen. Another amazing album from him. Can’t wait to see him and the full band in Edmonton in May. Hope the songs get a full band treatment!

LukinFan · March 12

Loving the new album. I also got his recent live show on Veeps. He plays 8 songs off the new album, along with some other 400 Unit songs. Well worth the $15 price tag.

JeBurkhardt · April 18

Saw them tonight in Nashville Indiana. The new songs sound really good with the whole band and the fill in bass player was solid.

pjpitt89 · April 23

I saw him in Savannah last week, my wife and I traveled for the show. I did enjoy the full band takes on the new songs, but I didn't love the bluegrassy Bury Me, I think I'd prefer that one to have been done solo. The rest of the setlist was standard. I have griped over it 100x but I wish he would mix it up, I had heard everything else he played multiple times, nothing new. Only one song (Vampires) was played across all albums from SMTF to Reunions.

ComeToTX · April 23

Yeah, it’s frustrating. I saw Jason 3 times a couple of weeks ago and then saw MMJ 3 times the next weekend. Night and day in terms of variety and mixing up set lists.

LukinFan · April 28

pjpitt89 said:

I have griped over it 100x but I wish he would mix it up, I had heard everything else he played multiple times, nothing new. Only one song (Vampires) was played across all albums from SMTF to Reunions.

Other than laziness, I don't know why the majority of the live acts don't switch it up more. Make it more interesting

Tim Simmons · April 28

They want to put on a good show consistently. More people than not are casual fans and they want to sell the new record and play “the hits”.

I get it and it makes sense. I would prefer more deep cuts or varied setlists, but I realize I’m in the 5% who pay attention to setlists and who maybe go to more than one show every year.

LukinFan · April 28

Tim Simmons said:

They want to put on a good show consistently. More people than not are casual fans and they want to sell the new record and ply “the hits”.

I get it and it makes sense. I would prefer more deep cuts or varied setlists, but I realize I’m in the 5% who pay attention to setlists and who maybe go to KER than one show every year.

that's actually a good point

pjl44 · April 28

I think it's better to look at it 180. It takes a high level of proficiency to have most of your catalog ready to go and craft a unique set each night. The old Pearl Jam model and current My Morning Jacket model, for example, are just elite tier live shows. It's even more impressive than jam bands imo because it's a much lower percent of improvised performance.

And like TS is saying many bands may be a slave to their hits.

ComeToTX · April 28

My biggest issue with Jason is he ignores 70% of his catalog and basically anything before Southeastern other than the 3 DBT songs he still plays. He’s also been a touring musician for more than 20 years now with an extensive catalog and his shows are under 2 hours and cost near $100. Of course I still go see him multiple nights every time he comes to town.

Tim Simmons · April 28

I get the impression outside of 4-5 tracks, he thinks the Sirens, S/T and Here We Rest material isn’t up to his current standard and for the most part he is right. But yeah, there’s some favorite he just lets waste away.

Tim Simmons · April 28

I saw him once on the Sirens tour, and 3 times for S/T and man, he was great back then too. S/T is still a top 3 album of his for me.

pjl44 · April 28

I'm partial to Sirens...that's a great album and was a great tour. I faded on s/t and Here We Rest but Southeastern brought me back. I'd really love to see some of those Sirens songs make a return but the man has his reasons.

pjpitt89 · April 29

I'm super jealous of all that have seen him pre-southeastern. While I love his latter half, I really love his early stuff. I have seen about half of Here We Rest, but nothing from ST or Sirens. While I did enjoy the most recent show, mostly because it contained new songs, it was a huge missed opportunity IMO. To bill it as "An Evening With..." and still come out and play just 18 songs is a bit of a cop out. It is easy to hide behind an opener, letting them play 730-815ish, come on at 9, end before 11; they came on at 7:15 and were off right around 9pm.

Not to mention that ticket prices for this tour were a big jump up. Not just inflation jump, a good bit more for all shows I looked at (and Savannah which I went to). The 400 Unit can PLAY, let them spread their wings and open up the catalogue.

Jason Isbell

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