Considering his hitch with the brawny, brainy Southern rockers the Drive-By Truckers, it's not surprising Isbell has brought confidence and humility to his solo albums and performances. That includes his recent sublime eponymous release.
Tuesday night with his group the 400 Unit, Isbell's solo material proved slightly more controlled than that of his previous group. The occasional pop tune bubbled to the surface as he located his niche in the spot where Steve Earle, Ryan Adams, Son Volt, and Ray LaMontagne converge - an excellent playground that found Isbell spewing vitriol over accusatory riffs, crooning to rippling organ fills, and veering into rip-snorting, honky-tonk stompers. Songs like the sultry "No Choice in the Matter" were steeped in swampy Southern rhythm and blues waters, and the walloping "Cigarettes and Wine" skewed toward classic country rock.
Isbell's Southern manners showed not only in his music but in his genial stage demeanor, as he introduced his band with old-timey charm and thanked the crowd with respectful head nods.
The singer-songwriter didn't ignore the Drive-By Truckers fans in the crowd, though. Many prayers were answered, judging by the giddy reception and spirited accompaniment to the grand gothic rumination "Danko/Manuel" and the scorching anthem "Outfit."
A left-field cover of "Psycho Killer" by Talking Heads, capably sung by the guitarist, was an odd fit but too irresistible to annoy. Better still was Isbell's heartfelt rendition of Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic," which ended the night on an elegant grace note.
Opener Deer Tick, from Providence, drew a sizable crowd of its own - a good quarter of whom left before Isbell took the stage - for a quirky set of earnest yet warped singer-songwriter fare, mountain music, and Ritchie Valens covers.
Sarah Rodman can be reached at srodman@globe.com.
