Live from Capricorn Sound Studios, Atlanta group Blackberry Smoke delivers a soulful performance covering songs by artists including the Allman Brothers Band and Little Richard.
Blackberry Smoke, an Atlanta-based powerhouse band indebted to their musical roots, was responsible for creating the soundtrack of quarantine summer 2020 with their new EP Live From Capricorn Sound Studios. The six-track extravaganza is an amalgamation of covers freshly picked for this unique recording opportunity, and each song takes on its own character as the set unfolds. With only 30 minutes of content, this live EP holds its own among the various other Blackberry Smoke albums, and it is a brief but mighty work that keeps listeners gripped with every note.
Live From Capricorn Sound Studios commences with “Midnight Rider,” a well-known song by the Allman Brothers Band. Though this was not simply a note-for-note cover of the original. Blackberry Smoke delivers a rousing rendition of this song with a heavier feel than the Allman Brothers version, which can be mainly attributed to Brit Turner (drums) opening the tune with heavy emphasis on the ride cymbal. This gives the song an open and vibrant feel right from the beginning, almost as if the band is picking up from the intensity at the end of the Allman Brothers version.
Blackberry Smoke carries this same energy throughout the song and reaches a climax with an expressive and articulate slide guitar solo towards the end. Charlie Starr (vocals, guitar) delivers a powerful vocal performance in this song, which shines through even more as a result of his vocal style that naturally resembles that of Gregg Allman. “Midnight Rider” is an opportune opening for this live EP since Gregg Allman broke into Capricorn Sound Studios to record the demo for what became this Allman Brothers classic.
Blackberry Smoke then digs out one of The Marshall Tucker Band’s early tunes, “Take the Highway.” Based in South Carolina, The Marshall Tucker Band played an integral role in establishing Southern Rock and paved the way for the genre to flourish in the following decades. Since flute plays a major role in the original version of “Take the Highway,” Blackberry Smoke calls on Marcus Henderson (flute) to guest on this song. Midway through, as the song changes from major to minor and the band lays down a funky groove, Henderson at first joins in on the riff and then dives into a solo filled with tasteful staccato lines that punctuate the mix and rise over the rest of the group.
After swiftly exiting the solo section, the band returns to the main chorus of the song with even more energy than the beginning. Paul Jackson (guitar, vocals) proves to be an integral part of the group on this song as he thickens the guitar sound and keeps the main feel steady while Starr takes a guitar solo. Jackson’s higher vocal register also adds a unique texture to the group and further fills out the sound.
Each song on the live EP has a video of the band’s performance at Capricorn Sound Studios, and while watching Starr grin from ear to ear as guest Jimmy Hall (vocals, harmonica) sings “Keep On Smiling” with the band, it is hard for the viewers to keep from smiling themselves. Blackberry Smoke puts a modern twist on the acoustic Wet Willie tune, but the band stays true to the intent and feel by summoning the magic of the Black Bettys, a duo of backup singers (Sherie and Sherita Murphy), as well as Jackson who plays acoustic guitar in an isolation booth in the studio. In the middle of the song, Hall jumps into a soulful harmonica solo that sets up the final segment of the tune in which the Black Bettys engage in a lively call and response with Hall. This mighty singing duo’s sweet sound and vibrato create another instrument in itself that occupies the upper register of the mix.
Hall’s vocal delivery of “Keep On Smiling” is topped by that in “Grits Ain’t Groceries.” Taking on a Little Milton tune is a bold move in itself because of his wide range and powerful voice, but Hall performs this tune perfectly while raising the key a full step. His voice blooms and blends beautifully with the Black Bettys in this song just as it did in the previous tune. Richard Turner (bass) keeps the up-tempo groove rock solid, rooting the rest of the band in a feel that is rigid, but that also takes on a bounce on the back end of the beat. The song closes with an open jam with the three guitarists and Brandon Still (keyboards) repeating unique riffs simultaneously. Starr’s smile remains throughout this song as well, an indication of the joy that ran through the studio during the session.
To honor the legacy of the Allman Brothers Band’s music recorded at Capricorn Sound Studios, Blackberry Smoke pulls out another classic, “Revival.” Turner’s heavier drum work on “Midnight Rider” is similar to that “Revival,” which makes it a vigorous cover. The band’s respect for the Allman Brothers Band’s original is apparent as each melody and harmony part is executed to perfection, and the Black Bettys’ continue to lay down soulful background vocals that enhance this version of the song. At the time of this live recording, Blackberry Smoke was preparing for a summer tour that focused on music from southern musicians like the Allman Brothers, but it was disappointingly cancelled as a result of the unstoppable COVID-19. The music off this live EP is a hint of what is to come for Blackberry Smoke once they resume touring.
The band lets loose their country twang for their final song, Little Richard’s “Southern Child.” Little Richard passed away just two months after this recording at Capricorn Sound Studios, and he would have been proud to hear Blackberry Smoke play homage to his work in an honest and true fashion. The band adds slide guitar, a traditional touch to this southern rock gem recorded in 1972. Turner also has an opportunity to shine in a brief but impactful bass solo, a proud showcase of the often forgotten instrument in a rock group. Each member of Blackberry Smoke holds their own while recording this live EP, and their shared excitement while playing is infectious even across the computer screen.
Blackberry Smoke has amassed a hefty following and achieved great success over the years, so over the last few months the band has been in a position to give back to the music community. They decided to donate a portion of the proceeds from “Live From Capricorn Sound Studios” to the Recording Academy’s MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund as a way to help struggling musicians during this difficult time. The members of Blackberry Smoke have remained busy during their time in quarantine by writing new music and posting some of their collaborations on their YouTube page.
They have also put on two live stream shows, one from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee on September 23, and one from The West End Sound in Atlanta, Georgia on October 30. The band will film their next live stream show from The Tabernacle on November 23, a full-fledged rock-fiesta to ensue. Don’t wait to see Blackberry Smoke in person, they are bringing their mastery right into your home: hop onto the couch, grab your computer, and let the 21st-century rock wizards take over.
Track listing:
- “Midnight Rider” – Allman Brothers Band
- “Take The Highway” (feat. Marcus Henderson) – The Marshall Tucker Band
- “Keep On Smiling” (feat. Jimmy Hall and the Black Bettys) – Wet Willie
- “Grits Ain’t Groceries” (feat. Jimmy Hall and the Black Bettys) – Little Milton
- “Revival” (feat. the Black Bettys) – The Allman Brothers Band
- “Southern Child” (feat. Jimmy Hall and the Black Bettys) – Little Richard