Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit roll through the Turf Club

“Can you hear that singing?  Sounds like gold.
Maybe I can only hear it in my head.
Fifteen years ago we owned that road
Now it’s rolling over us instead.
Richard Manuel is dead.“

After last night’s performance at the Turf Club in St. Paul, MN I know whose voice sounds like gold.  Jason Isbell once sang the above lyrics in his song “Danko / Manuel” with his former bandmates, Drive-by Truckers, and after two years on his own with his tremendous band the 400 Unit, Isbell is still leaving his mark on the world with new wheels on the road.

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit pulled into St. Paul, MN on April 15th, 2009 and left heap of devoted fans smiling in the dust.  But before they hit the stage, “Hailing from Nashville, TN”  Justin Townes Earle, opened the show at this small rock venue under lights lit in a photographer’s worst nightmare of red.  His pedigree boasts being the the son of legendary rebel country-rocker, Steve Earle, but Justin Townes seemed more comfortable leaving that lineage behind in every way with his tall gaunt frame, thin moustache and short 1940’s style pomaded hair (Dapper Dan perhaps?) parted on the side.  At times his voice illustrated tones of his father, but while singing songs like “Mama’s Eyes”, it was obvious that the real pride was in his mother.

Justin Townes Earle was joined onstage by long-time cohort, Corey Younts, who displayed mastery of the banjo, harmonica, and a “never-in-tune mandolin”.  Together this duo’s sound could best be described as American roots with heavy strokes of old-time country mixed in.  With a southern drawl and a sometimes twitchy look in his eye, I found myself questioning which mountain Townes Earle crawled out from under but once he sang none of that mattered.  His songs told stories of the grand southern tradition and midway through his hour long set he had everyone’s consideration.  After his set was over there was no questioning that Justin Townes Earle is his own man who has long shed the large shadow cast by his famous father.  And it’s refreshing to know that music like this is still being made.

Jason Isbell opened his set with “Soldiers Get Strange”, a song about an Iraq war vet returning home and a standout on his newest self-titled release album Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit.  From there the band worked through a majority of the songs off of the new release including the brilliant tunes “Cigarettes and Wine”, “The Blue” and “However Long”, several from his first album Sirens of the Ditch, the gems he originally wrote and played with Drive-by Truckers, and two terrific covers.

Anyone who knows Isbell’s voice understands the impression it can leave upon you, but equally impressive on this beautiful Wednesday night was his backing band, the 400 Unit .  Guitarist, Browan Lollar, undoubtedly bleeds rock-n-roll holding nothing back throughout the night with looks of a distant Kings of Leon cousin.  Keyboardist, Derry deBorja, drummer, Chad Gamble, and bassist, Jimbo Hart, all held their own respectively and together the 400 Unit demonstrated remarkably the experience of two years on the road.

As Isbell worked through the set it was apparent the band was appreciating the intimacy of the packed Turf Club and the big response from the diversely aged crowd.  Isbell’s former Drive-by Truckers songs tended to bring the largest applause but his solo material never faltered and provided a perfect mix.  “Outfit”, “Never Gonna Change”, “Goddamn Lonely Love”, “Decoration Day” and “Danko / Manuel” were Isbell’s Drive-by Truckers tunes that were played.  For each one the 400 Unit mixed in their own spice which oftentimes was an extended jam over the bridge.  It was sometime during the “Danko / Manuel” jam that I felt the feeling I’m constantly searching for, the feeling that keeps me coming back to shows over and over again but oftentimes never happens, it is the feeling of sheer pleasure that creeps up unexpectedly that only pure music can bring.  Isbell’s slide guitar was touching and unbelievably moving and I am so fortunate to have witnessed it.

Midway through the set guitarist Browan Lollar took the mic for a hard-rocking version of the Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer”.  Saying it rocked like all-hell is a gross understatement!  Later the band brought up Corey Younts to add some harmonica and after a couple of acoustic numbers, Isbell brought the full band back out for the encore.  They played a nice version of the awesome tune  “Decoration Day” and then got their road manager on stage to sing and end the night in an all out assault of Tom Petty’s “American Girl”.  Isbell being the Alabama gentleman that he is, thanked the St. Paul crowd profusely before finally leaving the small stage.  And just like Isbell I was very grateful for sharing those musical moments and to see and hear first hand whose voice truly sounds like gold.  It was a beautiful show.