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NO gimmicks; no stage props; no backdrop; no special effects; no intro music … no mobile phones. Before Jason Isbell and his band sauntered out onstage, he’d made it known that he wanted none of the irritatingly intrusive filming that mars so many gigs.

He requested that phones be switched off. Earlier on the UK tour he’d had to ask fans to put their mobiles away, encouraging them instead to live in the moment and get lost in the music rather than watch through screens, filming shaky videos to satisfy social media bragging rights.

He need not have worried. Such was the strength of a powerhouse performance at Symphony Hall that the crowd was engrossed in the Americana rock and roll that has established Isbell as both a writer and musician of cultural significance. Besides, he rocks.

So prolific is he that he can shake up the setlist every night. No two shows on the current tour have been identical, although there’s a core collection of around a dozen songs that get a regular airing. Hence fan favourites, deep dives and back catalogue classics rub shoulders.

For more than two hours, Isbell and the 400 Unit – perhaps the best line-up of the band’s career – ranged through the years from his Drive-By Truckers days to his most recent solo acoustic album, Foxes In The Snow, songs from which were here beefed up in the band setting.

Early highlights of the 22-song set included the Truckers’ Decoration Day, giving the band a chance to stretch musical sinews and for Isbell to showcase his often underrated guitar chops with a sublime solo that near brought the house down. “We’re a rock and roll band,” he reminded the audience.

When We Were Close, the rootsy Speed Trap Town and a boisterous Super 8 were particular crowd-pleasers. There was an airing, too, for Maybe It’s Time, the song he wrote for Bradley Cooper to perform in the award-winning movie remake of A Star Is Born.

He paused to pay tribute to Birmingham’s musical heritage, wishing he had some heavy metal to offer, before instead duetting delightfully with guitarist Sadler Vaden on an acoustic Ride To Robert’s. And what a player Vaden is, whether plugged or unplugged!

But if the first half of the gig was strong, the final stretch was sensational, starting with the wistful If We Were Vampires, then taking in the Truckers’ Goddamn Lonely Love, show-stealing King Of Oklahoma and a re-invented Cover Me Up to close the set proper.

The latter began with just Isbell and Vaden onstage before, one by one, the rest of the 400 Unit walked on to gradually build the song unerringly to a crescendo complete with thunderous drums. It was the first time I’d heard the treatment, giving the staple a new lease of life.

The encores saw True Believer sandwiched between the lengthy Danko / Manuel – another Drive-By back catalogue classic – and an extended This Ain’t It, which culminated in a powerhouse jam featuring Isbell and Vader’s duelling, then dual, guitar wizardry.

There are no pictures of Isbell onstage at Symphony Hall in this review post. The lead image is the band’s own, taken at an earlier gig, Even if he hadn’t asked, I’d have been too invested in an artist and band so much on their A-game to even think about my phone.

That’s the power of live rock and roll.

Glorious, ain’t it?

SETLIST

When We Were Close
Flying Over Water
Tupelo
Maybe It’s Time
Speed Trap Town
Super 8
Vestavia Hills
Gravelweed
Decoration Day
Volunteer
Bury Me
Outfit
Overseas
Ride To Robert’s
Crimson And Clay
If We Were Vampires
Goddamn Lonely Love
King Of Oklahoma
Cover Me Up
Danko / Manuel
True Believer
This Ain’t It