It’s been quite some time since I last saw Blackberry Smoke play live. Time was, anytime they hit the UK, I’d be there and have been since their first UK tour back in 2014 but in recent years, I’ve fallen off. Not for any bad reason – they’re a killer live act and admittedly, the last couple of tours schedules just haven’t lined up or I’ve flat-out forgotten about it. But whenever a new album lands in our inbox, I snap it up because I know it’ll be like coming home or putting on an old jacket and finding money in it.
And when I get to the O2 Academy and see the packed room (after collecting my pass with none other than Spike from The Quireboys in front of me), it’s the same feeling, seven years on since the last time I saw Atlanta’s finest. Unfortunately, the day job meant I missed opening act, Bones Owens. Speaking to Gary who shot the Edinburgh show, he said they weren’t his cup of tea and upon investigating them, they’re a bit too nu-country for me. Admittedly, other than The Biters back in 2017, I’ve never been overly fussed on their support acts anyway so it would seem I didn’t miss much for myself. But I’m sure there would be people in the crowd who enjoyed them.
That aside, I’m not long in the door before the backdrop is revealed to whoops and cheers and a few minutes later, the band themselves appear without any pomp or circumstance. Blackberry Smoke are as sincere as can be and they don’t waste any time on this Friday night. Kicking things off with “Six Ways to Sunday”, it’s got the entire crowd singing along with this raucous number from The Whippoorwill and through the rest of the night, they play another seven tracks from it. And frankly, who can blame them? It’s arguably their best album and the one which truly got them noticed, especially over here. And if other bands can get away with it, so can Blackberry Smoke. It’s followed by “Good One Comin’ On” and as its title would suggest, it is indeed prophetic.
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Because it’s never a bad night when you see this band and putting such a song so early in the set is an invite for the crowd to dig in – both sides of the barrier will give as good as they get, and everyone knows it. It’s another couple of songs in before they let fly with material from this year’s album, Be Right Here. They want to make sure everyone is comfortable and even now, eight albums in, everyone’s singing along word perfect as if these songs are as well-worn as the afore-mentioned “Good One Comin’ On” – the oldest song on the setlist tonight. And it says a lot about the new material that it’s indiscernible from the older material and the staples that have been there for a decade (if not, longer). Blackberry Smoke know how to write their own songs without becoming pastiche or sounding like they’re repeating themselves. Everything simply fits together perfectly.
Of course, much of this is down to the line-up which has remained fairly unchanged over the years and with time, they’ve somehow become even slicker and tighter as a live act. It would seem time has been good to them. However, it has to be said drummer Brit Turner is much missed, having passed away earlier this year but Kent Aberle does an excellent job in his honour, bringing his own flair and panache to the drum stool whilst staying respectful to Turner’s own work. “Azalea” from the most recent album and whilst they dedicate the song in his memory, they don’t get heavy-handed with it, finding the balance between moving forward whilst memorialising him.
Blackberry Smoke have clearly entered their era of playing to their fans, comfortable of where they’re at and aren’t trying to win over legions of new fans, instead they give the best possible show they can to ensure people come back next time. And that’s exactly what has been happening for the past decade. People just want to hear a great live band and that’s exactly what they are, putting on a Southern rock masterclass and allowing people to forget their troubles for a couple of hours. The band aren’t po-faced at all and it looks like the band are having a better time than the audience and in the spirit of that, towards the end, they tease the first line of The Quireboys’ “7 O’Clock” and Charlie Daniels Band’s “Long Haired Country Boy”, the latter of which is during their traditional extended version of “Sleeping Dogs”.
Like many bands before them, and many after, since they’re in Birmingham… they run through a Black Sabbath cover – this time it’s “Fairies Wear Boots” and is a welcome change from the more obvious choices. Paul Jackson’s son, Spencer, joins them for this, and even with this extra person on stage, they run through the song fluidly, bringing a Southern feel to the song but it retains its heaviness, helped by the four guitars onstage. Between that and “Ain’t Much Left of Me”, it’s a thrilling end to an incredible night. Not many bands play for a full two hours nowadays and even fewer would be able to pull it off but Blackberry Smoke manage it. As everyone leaves with a smile on their face, fully satisfied, like every time you see them, it’s the last reminder that I really shouldn’t have left it so long to see them again. They really are the kings of Southern rock.
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Photos by Coops Gig Photography
