“We’re just overjoyed to be back on Austin City Limits!” said Jason Isbell as he led his band the 400 Unit to their third appearance on the ACL stage. With the acclaimed documentary Running With Our Eyes Closed on Max and his even more loudly hailed new album Weathervanes in the cultural conversation, Isbell is hitting a career high, which makes it the perfect time to host him once again. The new record is filled with expertly crafted, passionately performed songs featuring characters facing hard times, and that’s what the songwriter and the group presented tonight. With every lyric thoughtfully considered and every tune an ear worm, the setlist abounded with future anthems, from the anxiety-ridden “Save the World” (in which the protagonist contemplates raising a child in a world of common school shootings) and the acoustic “Cast Iron Skillet” to the tension-filled “Death Wish” and the rackety opener “When We Were Close,” an ode to a fallen musical comrade. Isbell reached into his bag of deep cuts with the loping anthem “Overseas,” from the 2021 album Reunions, but kept the set Weathervanes-centric – a choice that suited the polished but powerful rock & roll machine the Unit has become. Thanks to the bandleader’s chemistry with guitarist Sadler Vaden, bassist Anna Butterss, keyboardist Denny deBorja, and drummers Chad Gamble and Will Johnson (who last appeared on ACL with Monsters of Folk), “King of Oklahoma” roared, “Miles” blazed, and the Southern rock-frosted “This Ain’t It” burned the way only two dueling guitars can do it. The main set climaxed with a dip into the songwriter’s breakthrough Southeastern via “Flying Over Water,” to mighty applause, before returning for a two-song salvo of certified Isbell classics: the fan-favorite “24 Frames” and the soulful “Cover Me Up.” The audience loved every single second. “This is a good time – I sure do love doing this show!” the artist declared. Right back atcha, Jason, right back atcha.
Jason Isbell – vocals, guitars
Sadler Vaden – guitars, vocals
Denny deBorja – keyboards, accordion, vocals
Anna Butterss – bass, vocals
Chad Gamble – drums, vocals
Will Johnson – guitar, drums, vocals
Setlist:
When We Were Close – Weathervanes
Save the World – Weathervanes
King of Oklahoma – Weathervanes
Strawberry Woman – Weathervanes
Middle of the Morning – Weathervanes
Overseas – Reunions
Cast Iron Skillet – Weathervanes
Death Wish – Weathervanes
This Ain’t It – Weathervanes
White Beretta – Weathervanes
Miles – Weathervanes
Flying Over Water – Southeastern
Encore:
24 Frames – Something More Than Free
Cover Me Up – Southeastern