Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

He doesn't have much use for sub-genres. He doesn't play alt-country. He doesn't play Southern rock.

Jason Isbell and his band the 400 Unit play rock 'n' roll, thank you, just rock 'n' roll.

The 31-year-old Alabama native, specifically musically rich Muscle Shoals, a press-kit point of pride, came to roots-rock-ish, Americana-ish fame during a three-year stint as lead guitarist for cult don't-call-us-Southern-rockers Drive By Truckers.

He left them in 2007. It was amicable, but he had just divorced the bass player. That never helps.

Isbell says it was a very rock 'n' roll moment that happened right when going solo that best illustrates his confidence in that decision, or at least his certainty that things were probably going to be all right.

Q: So what's been the biggest sign that you were making it in this business? The biggest professional compliment? Ever looked out into the crowd and seen Willie Nelson nodding along, or something like that?

A: Well, yeah, there's a lot of that kind of stuff. I got a phone call from Neil Young once. I had this song "Dress Blues" (off his debut record "Sirens of the Ditch") that he wanted to put up on his Living With War website.

And at the time, (The Drive-By Truckers) were out with The Black Crowes, and I was backstage in the dressing room with Chris Robinson and Mark Ford and so I turned off my phone like anybody else would, and when I turned it back on, there was a message from Neil.

It took forever to get back with him. He calls you. Trying to call him is not an easy thing to do and I didn't wind up seeing him and talking to him until that "Heart of Gold" show in Nashville.

We sat down and talked and he liked the music. That was probably tops for random musicians and celebrities and really just, you know, legends.

But Slash was at a show; Gene Simmons was at one. Sometimes you hear from people in the country world, but the Neil Young thing was definitely the biggest. It really doesn't get it any bigger.

Q: So wait, you're saying you got a call from Neil Young while you were hanging out with The Black Crowes?

A: Yeah, it was great. It was a moment. On the one hand, I kind of wish I had my phone on, but nobody would have their phone on.

I couldn't have expected that to happen right then. It was right after I recorded my solo record.

Q: So how do you describe the sound of your solo stuff?

A: I just always say we play rock 'n' roll. You don't want to say Southern rock, and in a lot of ways, we're not really country music either.

We have electric guitars, drums and we play loud. When I was with the Truckers, we really hated being called a Southern rock band, but as long as people are talking about the music, (subgenres) really don't bother me anymore.

Except for alt-country. I don't like the idea of alternative country because I don't think that should be the alternative. Mainstream country music is mostly just background noise for people. But I don't mind Americana because that kind of covers what we do.

Q: So what's the secret to rock 'n' roll?

A: Persistence. That's the secret to everything. You could start off as a terrible songwriter, a terrible guitar player. But if you do it long enough, you'll get good at it.