Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit at Pier Six Pavilion
Words by Rahsaan “Wordslave” Eldridge
Photos by Steve Satzberg
Before a single note played, Jason Isbell recently walked on stage at Pier Six Pavilion to 4,500 people standing on their feet applauding with great appreciation and respect for what he’s already given them as one of the most prolific artists of the past two decades. His deeply personal lyrics and vulnerability were on full display from the beginning with “Crimson and Clay,” a nostalgic ode to his home state of Alabama.
His band, The 400 Unit included hometown keyboardist Derry deBorja, guitarist Sadler Vaden, bassist Anna Butterss, and drummers Chad Gamble and Will Johnson (who also played some rhythm guitar and other percussion including a gong)! Isbell gave generous shine to the members, shouting them out by name several times throughout the night on July 17. The song arrangements highlighted each of them at different points. Standout moments include Butterss switching to upright bass on “Bury Me,” deBorja playing accordion on “Strawberry Woman,” and Vaden on anything featuring him as a soloist.
Watch Jason Isbell perform “Bury Me” live via nugs.net on YouTube:
The show was mostly even keeled, relying on musicianship, composition, and Isbell’s songwriting instead of flashy production. He turned a 4,500 seater pavilion into a listening room with songs like “Tired of Travelling Alone” and “Decoration Day.”
During “Alabama Pines,” there was a medical issue in the crowd. Isbell stopped the show for a five minute intermission and asked everyone to move away and allow the professionals to handle the situation. There was an empathy in his tone that matched the humanity in his lyrics. It was nice to see people taking care of one another in that moment. Once the issue was resolved, the band picked up right where they left off. As the sun went down, twilight was the perfect backdrop for the seductive groove of “Danko/Manuel.”
Watch the official music video for “Danko/Manuel” by Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit on YouTube:
It was a two-hour show complete with encore performances of “Super 8,” which got the crowd dancing, and “True Believer,” which the audience sang along to passionately. Isbell displayed power and grit in his voice on “This Ain’t It” and the performance was elevated by shredding solos traded between him and Vaden. Vaden did most of the heavy lifting on lead guitar early in the show, but as the night rolled on Isbell made his presence known as a master on his axe as well.
From his proficient guitar skills, heartfelt singing, and unadulterated storytelling, Isbell’s prowess as a complete artist was evident. It’s no wonder why he was greeted with a standing ovation and sent off the same way.
Here are some photos of Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit performing live at Pier Six Pavilion on July 15, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Steve Satzberg.
