There are very few genres of music that connect with the audience well: country, punk, southern rock, classical are the ones that immediately spring to mind. The reasons for this are many, but inherently it is because it generally tells a story or links in with the mood of the audience. Punk linked with the disaffected youth of the late ‘70s where mass unemployment gave rise to the feelings of anger that was inherent at the time; country has always connected on the story telling side of things, and southern rock tips its Stetson hat to that side of things.
Over the last ten years or so there have been several bands from the southern states of Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama that have followed in the footsteps of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Brothers and Gov’t Mule, such as Blackstone Cherry, The Cadillac Three, and Blackberry Smoke (all of whom I like -funny that). Add in the more country-based Brothers Osbourne and you have some good quality storytelling session for a musical extravaganza.
The latest offering from Blackberry Smoke doesn’t deviate too far from the storytelling style previously mentioned. Opener ‘Live It Down’, for example, is an upbeat criticism of people’s propensity to live beyond their means on credit. However, despite that, It’s got some really good instrumentation and a jazzy guitar rhythm to carry it, plus there’s a nice lazy solo at the outro.
If ever there was any doubt where these boys are from, the opening riff and line of ‘You Hear Georgia’ lays it on the line, a languid guitar hook carries the song well throughout, along with the vocals of Charlie Starr loping along nicely like a hunting wolf.
‘Hey Delilah’ has a very jazz/funk feel to it that would suit a whole room full of line dancers from the top of their Stetsons to the tip of their rhinestone covered cowboy boots. It-just-feels-good. ‘Ain’t The Same’ feels like any classic storytelling reflective look at how things used to be for someone returning home from overseas, good storytelling and the sounds of the south from slide guitar to vocals- it is what it is.
From there, if you had any doubts of the influences on these guys, ‘Lonesome For A Livin’’ hits it home with a 14lb sledgehammer-slide guitar, lilting vocals and even a vocal performance by Jamey Johnson kicks it straight in the country roots. I can imagine Willie Nelson duetting with Kenny Rogers on this one.
On the subject of Gov’t Mule, Warren Haynes guests on latest single, ‘All Rise Again’, and there is a great hook and solo that lifts the song to a great level, it reminds me of the style and playing of Kris Barras (although I’m sure he will say he is influenced by Haynes rather than the other way around!). There has to be an acoustic guitar track, so you’d not be surprised that there is one: ‘Old Enough To Know’ starts acoustically before the haunting slide guitar picks in and out of the track – another one that’ll connect with the audience, who I’m sure will join in with the lyrical hook.
Distorted guitar opens ‘Morningside’, on which the vocals are undercut with thumping bass and Hammond organ and it lilts along from beginning to end. The penultimate track, ‘All Over The Road’ kicks it up into top gear, and rocks it back up to the energy level that the boys are known for. ‘Old Scarecrow’ closes the album out and takes it back to the country foot-tapping storytelling, with some added slide guitar throughout the breakdown just for good measure.
Overall, it’s a joyous sojourn through southern country rock genre that is connecting with so many new listeners and garnering professional recognition among the music writing fraternity.
- ‘You Hear Georgia’ is released on 28 May. You can get your copy HERE.
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