If there’s any Music Man readers out there who are a fan of Southern rock or country, you’d do well to check out Blackberry Smoke. Formed in Atlanta in 2000, the five-piece have had numerous albums top the US country charts, and indeed were the first ever small independent group to do so when they first made number 1 in 2015. But if those credentials aren’t enough to convince you, perhaps the group’s music will be, with some of their popular tracks including ‘One Horse Town’ and ‘Sleeping Dogs’.
Also popular among Blackberry Smoke’s fanbase is their 2013 single ‘Ain’t Much Left of Me’, with the group treating us to a rootsy acoustic rendition of the track when they performed at Southern Ground Studios that same year. Pushing frontman Charlie Starr’s distinctive country vocal to the forefront, the acoustic version really encourages listeners to focus on the track’s down-and-out lyrics (“well my fall from grace was a sight to see / the good turned to bad and the bad turned to misery”).
Despite the morose quality of its lyrics, however, ‘Ain’t Much Left of Me’ does not have a particularly sad feel, particularly in this acoustic rendition. In fact, it swings and sways like a true country rock song should, driven along in this instance by the bright strums of two acoustic guitars, the resonant rumble of an acoustic bass, the sparkling melodic tones of an electric piano, and some subtle rhythms played by cleverly using another acoustic guitar as a percussive instrument.
Further research will tell you that Blackberry Smoke love giving acoustic performances like these – so it’s a good job they also have a bit of a knack for them. Take this acoustic performance of the group’s most popular track ‘One Horse Town,’ for instance. Using the same instrumental set-up as in the previous video, the group clearly doesn’t need fancy effects or a heavy-duty stage show to put on a great performance – they just let the catchy tunes and melancholic lyrics speak for themselves.
Whilst Blackberry Smoke are also more than capable of putting on full-blown electric performances, from these two videos it’s clear to see that their talents lie in intimate acoustic renditions. In this setting, their rootsy, back-to-basics country music is stripped back to just its rawest elements, meaning that listeners can hear the group’s blatant songwriting abilities in all their glory. Blackberry Smoke might be a small, independent group, but they surely deserve a huge global fan base.
If you would like to hear more from Blackberry Smoke, please visit their website and follow them on Facebook.