Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires Perform ‘The Problem’ At Red Rocks

Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit completed a two-night stand at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre last night. Part-time member Amanda Shires was on hand for both concerts. Amanda teamed up with her husband, Jason Isbell, to duet on their 2020 single “The Problem” to start Wednesday’s encore.

Shires wrote the song about abortion rights. “The Problem” was released on International Safe Abortion Day with proceeds donated to the Yellowhammer Fund, an Alabama-based reproductive justice organization. Amanda and Jason’s performance of the song came two days after an initial draft majority opinion leaked indicating the Supreme Court voted to overturn abortion rights.

“I know that a lot of people out here don’t fucking have a uterus and it doesn’t matter. You know somebody that does,” Shires told the crowd at the start of the encore. “And it’s not like a preachy thing, but we all know what the right thing to do is. Now, I’m not ready yet. These people that you trust to be your mothers and sisters and daughters, should have the right to do what they want with their body.”

Watch fan-shot video footage of Shires’ emotional speech and “The Problem” performance with Isbell:

Last night marked the first time “The Problem” was played at a Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit concert. The rest of the band returned after “The Problem” to end the night and run with a take on Drivin’ N’ Cryin’s “Honeysuckle Blue” led by guitarist Sadler Vaden and “Something To Love” off 2017’s The Nashville Sound.

The main set featured 17 songs. Isbell and company played tunes from throughout Jason’s career and covered Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well” by request of his daughter with Shires, Mercy. Watch Mercy dance around as her parents rock out on “Oh Well” below:

Setlist

Source: JamBase.com