Best Shows of 2018 (so far) Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Tennessee Theatre Jason is revered as one of the best Americana Country songsmiths currently making music, and his show is certainly a reflection of that. I caught Jason’s first night at the Tennessee Theatre, from the moment he walked out and picked the first notes of “Anxiety” I knew he was about to put on a performance to remember. From the song selection, to the guitar clinic he put on, to the unity and tightness of the band, not a single note or word was out of place. When this man sings you know he is singing directly from his Alabama soul tackling subjects like the current state of politics and his own battle with sobriety. There was no intricate light show, confetti, or pyrotechnics - just the band’s signature sparrow and anchor logo in the background and the wall of sound they create. I had high expectations walking into the theatre, but Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit far exceeded those expectations.
The Wood Brothers - Bijou Theatre Oliver Wood, his younger brother Chris and (might as well be brother) Jano Rix just play damn good music with such a minimal crew. I had seen The Wood Brothers for the first time last year knowing little to nothing about them, but upon leaving I swore I would see them every time they came within an hour’s drive. Luckily they love Knoxville and the Bijou, so we can always depend on them stopping in for a night when they’re on the road. Although they were promoting their latest album “One Drop of Truth” they still played everything a fan wanted to hear from them. “Luckiest Man”, “Post Cards From Hell” and “I Got Loaded” are only a few of their hits they belted out that night. One staple of their show is the band gathering around a vintage microphone and playing a few bluegrass and gospel tunes which never fails to send chills down your spine. This section included my favorite moment of the night when Oliver brought out their touring crew that included managers, guitar techs, and sound engineers. They played “Midnight Special” by Creedence Clearwater Revival. With a slightly boozed up Knoxville crowd, everyone in the building joined in during the chorus - “Let the midnight special, Shine a ever lovin’ light on me!”. They certainly saved the best for last ending the whole night with a cover of “Ophelia” originated by “The Band” that had the entire room on their feet dancing to bouncing rhythm of the 70’s classic.
Tyler Childers - Bijou Theatre In the new wave of country music that is hitting the scene it can be hard to find artists with an original sound that stays true to country music, let alone artists that can tell stories like Cash, Hank, Willie or Waylon. As Tyler Childers has started to emerge, I firmly believe he is everything country music lovers are searching for. With his incredible songwriting combined with a unique storytelling ability, Tyler can paint a vivid picture of growing up in a coal mining town in eastern Kentucky, which is a common subject of his music. Tyler’s first trip to Knoxville was almost a year ago for an acoustic show at Boyd’s Jig & Reel for less than 100 people, but this time around he sold out all 700+ seats of the Bijou Theatre. His presence on stage did not waiver, whether it was with his full band or just him with his guitar. The entire crowd was fully engrossed in his sound from start to finish.