Atlanta’s Blackberry Smoke have been rockin’ and rollin’ for 25 years with a lineup featuring original members Richard Turner (bass, backing vox), Charlie “Starr” (lead vox, lead guitar, rhythm guitar) and Paul Jackson (lead and rhythm guitar, backing vox), alongside keyboardist Brandon Still, guitarist Benji Shanks and percussionist Kent Aberle. Founding member and drummer Brit Turner passed away in 2024 after a battle with brain cancer following a 2022 diagnosis.
As part of their current Rattle, Ramble & Roll Tour—supporting their The Best Of: Volume One 22-song album (3 Legged Records)—the guys stopped in Columbus, Ohio at KEMBA Live! on Saturday, July 18.
Not only do the members of Blackberry Smoke fill the stage, but they also fill the ears of concertgoers with an exceptionally perfected live mix of modern and classic southern bluesy 70’s-ish rock—the band has topped charts across multiple genres: Country, Americana, Folk, Rock. Many of their songs are heard on popular Western TV show Yellowstone.
It’s the kind of rock-and-roll that gets you moving and entices you to sing along and clap your hands—and that’s exactly what the packed crowd did throughout the consistent set that included songs from their eight album catalogue: “All Over The Road,” “Too High,” “Sleeping Dogs,” “Ain’t Got The Blues,” “Run Away From It All,” “One Horse Town,” “Waiting For The Thunder,” “Paybacks A Bitch,” “We Got Company,” “Ain’t The Same,” “Old Scarecrow,” “Like It Was Yesterday,” and more.
Halfway through, Charlie Starr paused to recognize the band’s 25th Anniversary and reminisced about past performances with Columbus’ band American Dog and performing at Ludlow Garage in Cincinnati.
Blackberry Smoke ended the show with a guest appearance by opener Jason Newsted who plugged in his bass to perform an encore of Thin Lizzy’s 1976 popular song “Jailbreak,” followed by traditional show closer “Ain’t Much Left of Me” from 2012 album The Whippoorwill.
Six time Grammy Award recipient and Rock and Roll Hall Of Famer Jason Newsted—well-known as former Metallica bassist (post late great Cliff Burton) who recorded five studio albums with Metallica between 1986-2001—opened the night as lead vocalist and guitarist with his The Chophouse Band, as part of their first ever tour on the road.
Newsted, 63, mentioned he was struggling with throat issues that somewhat interfered with his voice; however, the quintet still rocked out with a bit of dark sludge and folky rock, featuring intermittent classic rock guitar solos by Humberto Perez.
The 45-minute set included lengthy original song “Blackbird,” extended cover songs (including Bob Seger’s “Turn The Page” and Verlon Thompson’s “Hillbilly Grave”) and a notable hard hitting original music interpretation of Mark Twain’s anti-war short story, “The War Prayer,” with some “Amen!” chants along with Metallica’s “Creeping Death” bridge chant: “Die! Die!”
Newsted thanked Blackberry Smoke for the tour invite and called them the best band since Tom Petty.
Blackberry Smoke continues touring through year’s end with Jason Newsted and The Chophouse Band opening select dates.
Blackberry Smoke Tour Dates
https://www.blackberrysmoke.com
Jason Newsted Tour Dates
Blackberry Smoke: Rattle, Ramble & Roll
https://ffm.to/bbs-rattle-ramble-roll-vol
BLACKBERRY SMOKE
JASON NEWSTED
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