Blackberry Smoke – Be Right Here

Blackberry Smoke reconvened in Nashville’s RCA Studio A and continued where they left off from 2021’s I Hear Georgia. The ‘live’ sound continues and the songs could have come from the same sessions judging by their similarity. This is their eighth studio release and should follow their last record to Number 1 on Billboard’s Americana/Folk chart.

Riff heavy rock n’ roll is always going to find an audience and Blackberry Smoke have a large following. In fact they may be an audience whose record collections place their tastes somewhere between 1971 and 1978 when the large beasts Lynyrd Skynrd, Little Feat and The Rolling Stones bestrode the planet brandishing a bottle neck slide on their fourth finger. Clearly some are still out there ‘playing the hits’ but Blackberry Smoke is releasing new songs yet the whiff of nostalgia hangs heavy in the air.

The opener, Dig A Hole, is the brightest track here with a funky introduction; Charlie Starr steps up to the microphone and the band quickly finds a deep groove as we move toward the earworm chorus. As a signpost of what’s to come this song contains all the vital ingredients: wailing Banshee girly backing singers, a dab of B3 organ or honky tonk piano, some blissful howling heavy guitar signatures and a drum beat that’s so deliberately brutal that the police must be still looking for the perpetrator.

There’s some shameless appropriation such as Little Bit Crazy. It starts with a Stones riff and groove that’s driven by some Nicky Hopkins-esque piano as an ersatz Keith Richards’ lead squalls over the pungent rhythm guitar. It’s terrific but change the vocals and you’d hope it’s from the latest Rolling Stones album. There are some dialled down moments such as Other Side Of The Light that’s written from the perspective of a young boy on an obstacle filled road trip. The acoustic guitar intro gives way to some slide and the best melody on the album that has a wonderful chorus. Whatcha Know Good is another understated song and a co-write with Brent Cobb. It’s an antidote to our doom laden media where this character is seeking some positivity. Amen to that.

The album is solid over its 10 songs and it’s a much loved sound. Blackberry Smoke don’t just blast you with rock band antics but also great tunes and choruses. It’s an enjoyable listen from when the needle hits the vinyl.

PS  I have tickets, with the present Mrs Ives, to see the band in Manchester in September. Must dig out my loon pants and a bandana!