Ravinia 2024 Issue 6

CADENCE AUTHENTIC Jason Isbell and The400Unit chart thewinds of verse to reach their roots BYWEBBEHRENS “ THE BEAUTIFUL THING about songs, as opposed to movies and books, is that they’re not filed based on what’s true and what’s not,” says Jason Isbell, arguably America’s best living troubadour. “First of all, everything is based on a true story, or else we wouldn’t even have a language for telling stories.” ¶ And with that simple declaration, it’s obvious: Here’s an artist who’s done serious internal work—a lot of deep thinking and intense feeling—and then emerged from that process with some profound insights. Jason Isbell (in blue) and The 400 Unit (clockwise from right): Chad Gamble, Derry deBorja, Anna Butterss, Will Johnson, and Sadler Vaden RAVINIAMAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2024 6 CATHERINEPOWELL