"This one goes out to
the one I love..."
And with that first verse and familiar notes last night, I knew I was in for a rare treat encore from Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit as they covered that R.E.M. song for only the 10th time ever! As Jason wraps up his US tour before 8 straights nights in Nashville in mid-October before going "Overseas" to Europe and the UK in November, I can honestly say that was the best setlist and show I've seen from him.
Not the same setlist every night, we were treated to beautiful acoustic gems from
@Mancitydoogle's nominated
Southeastern album such as "Elephant" and "Different Days", which were firsts for me seeing live and simply amazing versions. Throw in "Save The World" and "Cumberland Gap" on hopeful songs I hadn't seen live before, and last night goes down as my favourite performance yet. I chose the Friday night show of the two he's playing because Black Pumas are playing tonight in a different venue, and I'm not missing them either.
Black Pumas has all my favourite "Colors", and I'm also aware that "Black Moon Rising" isn't going to count here, so I'll swing back to Jason and avoid Bimbo's blackboard. ;-)
The one song Jason didn't play during the encore that I had seen him play in 2022 was this Drivin’ n’ Cryin’ cover sung by lead guitarist Sadler Vaden. That was from his
Georgia Blue album, inspired when that state turned from Red to Blue in the 2020 presidential election. Well, given where they were playing last night and the help being provided from the most toxic Governor option likely ever to be put on a NC ballot, this state's Purple status could be leaning Blue by the time early November arrives. I look forward to our state of covers on an album if the chips fall into place and Jason is so inspired again.
"Honeysuckle Blue" - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
And for MCD especially....
Get the Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Setlist of the concert at Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham, NC, USA on September 20, 2024 and other Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Setlists for free on setlist.fm!
www.setlist.fm