Son Volt / Jason Isbell – Mod Club Theatre, Toronto, ON – April 12, 2007
The demise of Uncle Tupelo in 1994 resulted in two blessings: the formation of Jeff Tweedy’s Wilco and the formation of Jay Farrar’s Son Volt. It is too early to say if the same will be said about Jason Isbell’s departure from the Drive-by Truckers, but from last Thursday night’s show at the Mod Club Theatre, indications are that Jason Isbell and his new band, the 400 Unit (guitarist Browan Lollar, bassist Jimbo Hart and drummer Ryan Tillery) are definitely not cursed. We’ll find out on July 10th when Sirens Of The Ditch is released on the New West label.
Four new songs were performed that night with Try having that Drive-by Truckers guitar sound. Grown, Chicago Promenade and Magician sounded great and promising. Still supportive and friends with the Truckers, Isbell covered Patterson’s The Assassin. Muscle Shoals’ one-two punch of Jason and Browan would close out their set with Thin Lizzy’s Jailbreak.
Continuing with The Blessed and The Cursed (Chris Masterson and Brad Rice), one is touring with Son Volt while the other with Keith Urban. You decide which one is blessed and which one is cursed. Masterson is an absolute marvel on guitar. Having played twelve times with Son Volt since joining the band last February, the band appeared to be much louder than when they made their way to Toronto for Okemah in 2005 sans Brad Rice. Medication’s Middle Eastern influences were excellently captured without the use of a slide dulcimer. Masterson and Farrar rocked all night long. The whole band rocked. There were no stories from Jay, not even horns on The Picture which opened Son Volt’s set.
Blessed or cursed, Son Volt’s once again altered lineup needs to remain together or it will be Feels like driving around in a slow hearse; another demise.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Setlist
01 – Try (new song from upcoming release – Sirens of the Ditch)
02 – Grown (new song from upcoming release – Sirens of the Ditch)
03 – Goddamn Lonely Love (Drive-by Truckers)
04 – The Assasin (Patterson Hood)
05 – Danko/Manuel (Drive-by Truckers)
06 – The Magician (new song from upcoming release – Sirens of the Ditch)
07 – Chicago Promenade (new song from upcoming release – Sirens of the Ditch)
08 – Jailbreak (Thin Lizzy)
Son Volt
Setlist
01 – The Picture
02 – Beacon Soul
03 – Underground Dream
04 – Methamphetamine
05 – The Search
06 – Jet Pilot
07 – Who
08 – Exurbia
09 – Damn Shame
10 – Voodoo Candle
11 – Medication
12 – Medicine Hat
13 – Tear Stained Eye
14 – Action
15 – Satellite
16 – Bandages & Scars
17 – Drown
18 – Afterglow 61
[ENCORE]
01 – Windfall
02 – Life Worth Livin’
03 – Chickamauga