Concert Reviews
The Alabama songwriter and his trusty band pulled off a tasteful mix of tracks new and old at the Boch Center Wang Theatre.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit perform Feb. 27 at the Boch Center Wang Theatre. Darin Zullo/Boston.com
February 28, 2026 | 1:24 PM
3 minutes to read
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit brought a blend of Americana influences and lyrical themes Feb. 27 to the Boch Center Wang Theatre. Standing under the stage lights with a heavy haze around him, Isbell showed his audience a bit of Southern hospitality.
“What a joy it is to play this place,” Isbell said. “Thank y’all so much for treating us so well.”
What makes Isbell’s songwriting special is his knack for self-awareness without ever being too self-serious. He proved that right away Friday night by opening with “It Gets Easier,” a 2020 track about the struggles of sobriety after recovering from alcoholism in 2012.
“It Gets Easier” doesn’t shy away from the challenges of getting sober, with a refrain that proclaims that “It gets easier, but it never gets easy.” However, the clever lyricism of its verses show a true sense of perspective, making the song an apt tone-setter for the night.
“Last night, I dreamed that I’d been drinking / Same dream I have ’bout twice a week,” Isbell sang. “I had one glass of wine / I woke up feeling fine / And that’s how I knew it was a dream.”
The band carried that energy through with “Hope the High Road” and “Crimson and Clay,” two songs which express disillusionment with the American South. Isbell then traded in his electric guitar for an acoustic one to perform “Bury Me,” the lead track from his latest solo album, “Foxes in the Snow.”
Alternating between acoustic and electric instruments was a constant theme throughout the show, and each time, Isbell and the band did it with ease. Through a thoughtfully organized setlist, they seamlessly genre-hopped from Americana to Southern rock to country and folk.
Isbell never hesitated to show his appreciation for the 400 Unit, shouting out at least one band member between nearly every song. As he traded guitar licks with fellow guitarist Sadler Vaden, who has played in Isbell’s band since 2013, it was clear everyone on stage shared the same instincts.
Sadler Vaden plays the guitar during the Feb. 27 show. – Darin Zullo/Boston.com
In every sense, Isbell understood the importance of variety to a captivating show. Amidst the rocking full-band songs, he included more solemn numbers like “Elephant,” which tells the story of a friend dying of cancer.
The deeply personal lyrics were emphasized by a sparse accompaniment, featuring only Isbell’s own acoustic guitar and Derry deBorja’s subdued keyboard playing. After strumming the final chord, Isbell quickly broke the ice to bring the crowd’s energy back up.
“That’s all the happy songs for tonight,” he joked. “Just the sad ones left.”
Isbell made sure to cover ground from all stages of his career for fans new and old. In addition to songs he recorded solo or with the 400 Unit, he included “Decoration Day” and “Outfit,” two tracks he wrote for the Drive-By Truckers when he was a member in the early 2000s.
“Decoration Day” in particular gave Isbell the opportunity to stretch out and show just how adept a guitarist he is. Anchored by bassist Anna Butterss’ steady rhythm, he kept the crowd hooked on every note of a carefully finger-picked slide guitar solo.
The band also struck a healthy balance between hits such as “Super 8” and “Alabama Pines” and deeper cuts like “Miles,” which featured drummer Chad Gamble and multi-instrumentalist Will Johnson both on the drums.
Jason Isbell and Sadler Vaden perform side-by-side during the Boch Center Wang Theatre show. – Darin Zullo/Boston.com
Isbell and the band bookended the main set with a cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking,” which features arguably one of the most iconic jams in rock history. They followed that up with “Cover Me Up,” Isbell’s biggest hit.
Even within a standard three-song encore, Isbell showed off a remarkable range of prolific lyricism and musicianship. After the driving “If It Takes a Lifetime,” he performed the gut-wrenchingly tender “If We Were Vampires,” famously covered by Vermont native Noah Kahan.
To close out the night, Isbell brought things back to Americana territory with his 2023 hit “King of Oklahoma.” The clean performance was indicative of something he and the 400 Unit had proved throughout the night. Though Isbell will always call the South his home, he’s truly a seasoned professional who can sink his teeth into just about any stage, including in Boston.
“Thank y’all so much,” Isbell said. “Thanks for coming to the show tonight.”
Setlist for Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at Boch Center Wang Theatre, Feb. 27, 2026
- It Gets Easier
- Hope the High Road
- Crimson and Clay
- Bury Me
- Volunteer
- Dress Blues
- Decoration Day (Drive-By Truckers cover)
- Open and Close
- Elephant
- Super 8
- Dreamsicle
- Miles
- Live Oak
- Alabama Pines
- Gravelweed
- Outfit (Drive-By Truckers cover)
- Cast Iron Skillet
- Can’t You Hear Me Knocking (The Rolling Stones cover)
- Cover Me Up
Encore
- If It Takes a Lifetime
- If We Were Vampires
- King of Oklahoma
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