Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit transformed Portland’s historic Keller Auditorium into an example of Americana excellence Tuesday night, delivering a career-spanning performance that showcased exactly why they remain one of the genre’s most interesting and compelling acts. From the opening notes of “Stockholm” to the triumphant encore closer “King of Oklahoma,” the evening felt like a masterclass in songcraft and musicianship.

The current lineup—featuring Isbell alongside guitarist Sadler Vaden, keyboardist Derry deBorja, drummer Chad Gamble, bassist Annie Clements, and multi-instrumentalist Will Johnson—was in peak form, their chemistry evident in every intricate arrangement. The setlist brilliantly balanced Isbell’s extensive catalog, reaching back to early solo work with “Alabama Pines” from *Here We Rest* while prominently featuring newer material from his latest release *Weathervanes*, including the haunting “Cast Iron Skillet” and the rollicking “Strawberry Woman.”

Highlights included a spine-tingling rendition of “If We Were Vampires” from *The Nashville Sound*, which had the packed auditorium hanging on every word, and “24 Frames” from *Something More Than Free*, delivered with the kind of emotional weight that makes Isbell’s songwriting so devastatingly effective. The band’s versatility shone through dynamic shifts between tender ballads like “When We Were Close” and an epic performance of the rocker “Decoration Day.” The main set ended with an absolutely electric rendition of “This Ain’t It,” a rollicking track that let Isbell and Vaden both show off their guitar chops.

The evening’s emotional peak came during “Cover Me” in the encore, an intentional Bruce Springsteen cover instead of indulging the auidience with “Cover Me Up,” the hit song that has become something of an anthem for Isbell’s journey through sobriety and love. When the final notes of “King of Oklahoma” rang out, it was clear that Portland had witnessed something special—a reminder of why Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit continue to set the gold standard for contemporary Americana music.