In Tune: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

It has to be tough being labeled in the Alt-Country music category. You seem to fall somewhere in between alternative rock and country music, and unless you reach the heights of Wilco or Ryan Adams, you will rarely, if ever, receive any mainstream recognition. Now, chances are, most alt-Country artists are not even looking for that fame, but their life on the road is still far from selling out arenas and traveling in private jets. However, maybe living out of an old van and playing around the country in smoky juke joints is what helps hone their songwriting skills and fuels the stories that make it into their songs.

This seems to be the case with Jason Isbell. Growing up in a musical family from Northern Alabama, Isbell got his jumpstart into the music scene in 2001 when joined the rising Alt-Country act Drive-By Truckers. Overall, Isbell was responsible for some of the most popular songs the band recorded for its next three albums.

However, in 2007, Isbell left the Truckers and released his own solo album, “Sirens of the Ditch.” To tour in support of this album, Isbell got together a group of fellow Alabama musicians and penned them the 400 Unit, named after a psychiatric ward in Florence, Ala. Soon the band hit the studio, and in 2009 released “Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit.” With a smooth Southern voice and great songwriting ability, Isbell continues to tell his real life Southern stories of misfortune, winding backroads and other wild adventures with the release of 2011’s “Here We Rest.” Isbell and the band have still not reached the success of selling out arenas, but the path that these Northern Alabama boys are on seems to be a lot brighter ahead than the darker roads in their rearview. See them perform live at Track 29 in downtown Chattanooga on Saturday, March 17.

ALBUMS

Here We Rest, 2011

Alabama Pines ‘ Go It Alone ‘ Codeine ‘ Daisy Mae

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, 2009

Seven-Mile Island ‘ Sunstroke ‘ Cigarettes and Wine

Sirens of the Ditch, 2007

Try ‘ Chicago Promenade ‘ Dress Blues ‘ Hurricanes and Hand Grenades

OTHERS YOU SHOULD KNOW

The Head and the Heart

Seattle based indie folk band – Performing live throughout the Southeast in late March

The Head and the Heart, 2011

Ghosts ‘ Down In The Valley ‘ Rivers And Roads ‘ Lost In My Mind ‘ Sounds Like Hallelujah

The Wood Brothers

Soulful blues/folk duo comprised of brothers Oliver Wood (King Johnson) and Chris Wood (Medeski Martin & Wood)

*Performing live at Track 29 on 3/13

Smoke Ring Halo, 2011

Shoofly Pie ‘ Stumbled In ‘ Made it up the Mountain ‘ Blue and Green

Up Above My Head, 2009

Up Above My Head ‘ Fixing a Hole

Loaded, 2008

Lovin’ Arms ‘ Postcards From Hell ‘ Angel ‘ Still Close

Ways Not to Lose, 2006

Luckiest Man

Mayer Hawthorne

Michigan based throwback R&B/Soul artist

How Do You Do, 2011

Get To Know You ‘ A Long Time ‘ Can’t Stop ‘ The Walk ‘ Hooked ‘ You’re Not Ready

A Strange Arrangement, 2009

Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out ‘ Your Easy Lovin’ Ain’t Pleasin’ Nothin’ ‘ The Ills ‘ Shiny & New