Beneath the shimmering red and gold archways of the Providence Performing Arts Center, fans and music lovers alike took their places among the packed velvet seats. As the lights slowly dimmed, a figure walked out onto the stage with nothing but a guitar, a microphone and a fold-up chair. The crowd grew silent in anticipation of “An Evening with Jason Isbell.”
On Tuesday night, Isbell treated concert-goers to an intimate evening of music and lyricism, accompanied by the timeless ambiance of the PPAC. Isbell’s 90-minute performance took viewers through a narrative filled with powerful, evocative vocals and Americana melodies.
During the show, Isbell performed a mixture of classic tunes and sneak-peeks into his upcoming record — including a rendition of the album’s titular track, “Foxes in the Snow.”
Isbell, who performed alongside the Drive-By Truckers before starting his lucrative solo career, grew up in Green Hill, Alabama. He wove his upbringing throughout his songs, incorporating his Southern roots with themes of love, growing older and substance abuse.
In 2016, Isbell won a Grammy for Best Americana Album with his record “Something More Than Free.” Since then, he has released “Maybe It’s Time” — a song featured in the 2018 film “A Star is Born” —and the record “Reunions” in 2020. Isbell’s upcoming album is set to be released on March 7.
On Tuesday, the Grammy-winner blended songs with witty banter and behind-the-scenes stories. Isbell recalled writing “Eileen” — a track off his upcoming record — in a large Minneapolis hotel room surrounded by poorly painted portraits of Prince. While a variety of colored lights slowly pulsed behind him, he recounted playing on the hotel piano and writing sentimental lines such as “somebody broke my heart once and I was useless for a week.”
This smooth blend of both comedy and tragedy enhanced the performance, taking audience members through a wide range of emotions, experiences and perspectives. Before performing one of his arguably most soul-crushing songs, “If We Were Vampires,” Isbell, facing a teary audience, joked about a colleague who expected the song to be similar to Bobby Pickett’s classic “Monster Mash” after hearing its title — only to start bawling upon hearing it live.
“It’s not a graveyard smash at all,” Isbell laughed.
Isbell’s performance at the PPAC left fans both laughing and bawling at his combination of wit, sophisticated lyricism and impressive guitar skills. It was a night that featured every emotion on the spectrum, and Isbell’s captivating performance only increased fans’ excitement for his upcoming album.
