Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit Cover R.E.M.’s ‘Losing My Religion’ At The Ryman

For the past few years, October in Nashville signals Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit’s annual residency at The Ryman Auditorium. The band began this year’s run on Thursday evening and capped the opening night concert with a cover of R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion.”

A different supporting act was selected for each of the eight shows of the residency, with Alice Randall chosen to open Thursday’s concert. Frontman Jason Isbell and his bandmates then powered through a main set consisting of songs from across his deep catalog of original material. The band relied heavily on songs from the group’s 2023 album, Weathervanes, with more than half its tracks making the setlist.

The encore began with “Losing My Religion.” The R.E.M. cover was played less than one week after Isbell appeared alongside R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe at a campaign rally for Vice President Kamala Harris. In June, Isbell inducted R.E.M. into the Songwriters Hall of Fame at the ceremony where R.E.M. reunited onstage to perform “Losing My Religion,” marking the original members’ first performance together in 17 years.

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit covered R.E.M.’s “Nightswimming” with Béla Fleck and Chris Thile and “Driver 8” with John Paul White for the 2021 covers compilation Georgia Blue. “Losing My Religion” appeared on R.E.M.’s 1991 album, Out Of Time, and was the band’s highest charting single.

Isbell went without his guitar for last night’s “Losing My Religion” cover at The Ryman. He mentioned it was his first time performing sans guitar. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit’s Ryman residency continues tonight with Garrison Starr supporting.

Watch a few clips of the band covering R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion” at The Ryman below: