Built for a Big Room: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at the Armory, March 5

Jason Isbell isn’t the kind of artist you casually put on in the background. His songs tend to demand your attention, whether you’re ready for that or not. On March 5, Isbell and the 400 Unit return to Minneapolis for a show at The Armory, bringing with them one of the most consistently powerful live sets in touring rock music right now.

Isbell’s reputation as a songwriter is well-earned, but it’s the band that turns those songs into something bigger onstage. The 400 Unit can play quietly without losing tension, then hit hard when a song calls for it. Live, tracks that feel intimate on record stretch out and open up, giving Isbell room to let lines linger or land like a punch.

Setlists usually pull from all eras of his catalog, mixing newer material with songs longtime fans know by heart. You might hear something devastatingly quiet followed immediately by a full-band blowout. It never feels forced just a band that knows when to hold back and when to let it rip.

The Armory makes sense for a band at this point in their career. It’s big, loud, and built for moments when the room feels like it’s moving all at once, but it can still go quiet enough for the songs that need space. Isbell doesn’t oversell his performances, and that restraint tends to make the emotional moments hit harder.

If you’re going expecting a singalong party, this probably isn’t that. But if you want to hear songs that feel lived-in, played by a band that takes them seriously without sucking the fun out of them, this show is worth your time.

If you want tickets to the show, you can find them here!