Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready Joins Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit In Seattle

Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready was Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit‘s special guest last night in Seattle. The hometown guitar hero helped Isbell and company close out their concert at Woodland Park Zoo Amphitheatre with a riotous version of “This Ain’t It,” a song featured on the group’s latest album, Weathervanes.

Mike McCready cameos have become a regular component of 400 Unit shows in Seattle. The guitarist joined the band in March 2022 for a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” at the Paramount Theatre.

“This Ain’t It” is one of nine songs from the 13-track Weathervanes to make Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit’s setlist on Wednesday. The group, touring in expanded format with multi-instrumentalist Will Johnson, opened with the trifecta of “Save The World,” “King Of Oklahoma” and “Cast Iron Skillet” off the LP. “Strawberry Woman,” “Death Wish,” “White Beretta,” “Middle Of The Morning” and “Miles” were the other Weathervanes cuts played in Seattle.

Isbell and his bandmates did offer a smattering of older material including “Super 8,” “Stockholm” and the “Cover Me Up” that closed the main set. 400 Unit guitarist Sadler Vaden was showcased on a cover of Drivin’ n’ Cryin’s “Honeysuckle Blue” towards the end of the lengthy stanza. Then, for the encore, the group served up the beloved “24 Frames” before welcoming Mike McCready to the stage.

McCready used Isbell’s 1960 Fender Stratocaster for his guest spot last night, while Jason played an old Fender Telecaster at the start of the song. “This Ain’t It” featured an Allman Brothers Band-esque jam section in which Isbell, McCready and Vadler exchanged fiery licks. The frontman turned in his Telecaster for Fender SG as the shred session began.

Watch the end of Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit’s “This Ain’t It” with Mike McCready via fan-shot video below:

Setlist (via Setlist.FM)

Set: Save The World, King Of Oklahoma, Cast Iron Skillet, Super 8, Strawberry Woman, Last Of My Kind, Death Wish, White Beretta, Overseas, Middle Of The Morning, Stockholm, Alabama Pines, Honeysuckle Blue, Miles, Cover Me Up

Encore: 24 Frames, This Ain’t It*

* – w/ Mike McCready on guitar