Do you think I'm a groupie yet.....

So this was a big weekend for live music for Jay and myself.  Saturday was the long awaited Blackberry Smoke show at Ziggy's in Winston Salem.  Yes, I just reviewed BBS a little over a month ago.  Guess what?  I'm going to review them again because it's MY blog.  I can do what I want (said in my best Cartman voice).

To say that BBS attract fans from across the spectrum is an understatement. Take Jay and I for example - we are average joe schmoes.  However, you can see it all at one show.  BBS is Music for ALL people.  Rednecks, good ole boys and girls, preppy types, hippies and artists.  Everyone is usually accepting and inviting however, the worst one of them all is the drunk.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I have been known to imbibe from time to time.  Heck, I've been known to down multiple tequila shots just to be able to keep the pretty bottle.  But, I always tried to sober up before the show. And as of late, I'm pretty much stone sober at all of the shows I go to.  Perhaps, that is why the drunk is a little more annoying to me these days.  So here I am stuck next to drunk Tammy Faye Baker look alike as the first band took the stage.  "I want Blackberry Smooooooooke" she screamed...all while flailing her beer dangerously close to my head. I could write an entire blog about my new BFF.  She herself is in a band.  She proudly proclaimed, "I'm loud and don't shut up (oh great....) so they put me in the band!" Jay took mercy on me and switched places...

The first band was a two piece band from Rolesville, NC.  One played the snare (with brushes), bass and cymbals while his partner played guitar.  These guys opened for BBS in Wilmington, NC and I have to say the second time around I was pleasantly surprised with "d-sass"(as I had finally learned their name).  These two guys love to entertain as is apparent with their own brand of energy around their music.  They harmonize extremely well and connect easily with the audience. I'm a believer that they need to get an airstream trailer and travel around the US spreading their d-sass gospel!

Next up we had Old Southern Moonshine Revival (from here on out to be referred to as OSMR because I am lazy and their name is too dang long to type multiple times).  To say I was pleasantly surprised with the first band, then I was blown away with these guys.  They came roaring on stage with their first song like hell on wheels.  From their first few chords until the last note, these guys were there for the party.  Jay looked over at me during one song titled Two Shells Gone and said "This could be a huge hit on any radio station".  And I agreed.  OSMR is a mixture of country and rock.  They are reminiscent of the Eagles but also remind me of the energy of the Zac Brown Band.  They have the swagger of a seasoned band but a freshness to their music.  They are good songwriters and only relied on two cover songs to please the crowd.  I can really only say one negative thing about them.  And it is really a very minor thing.  They wore trucker hats and shiny sunglasses on stage - well, all of them except the drummer.  It reminded me of a band created by music execs to please the masses.  Yeah, yeah, I know it "the look" these days but it seemed so cliche for a not so cliche band.  As creative and energetic as these guys are, I hope they can come up with their own look and style to match that of their musical talent.  Oh yea, one last thing.  It was uber cool when the drummer came up and gave my friend's son his drumsticks and even cooler when I scored a free cd (which is now in rotation in the car cd player along with Ryan Adams, Lindsey Buckingham, Counting Crows, Blackberry Smoke and Crowfield).  Way to keep it real guys...

Have I told you Blackberry Smoke is my new favorite band? We already have at least two more road trips planned to see them in the upcoming months.  And once again we were up in the crotch as the boys took the stage.  Each time I see them, I don't think it can get any better - but it does. With their feet rooted in Dixie, these guys are filling a void that has been missing in music for quite some time.  They are taking us back to a time when southern rock filled the air waves and drifted out of muscle cars across the country.  Take a little rock, a pinch of blues, smidgen of gospel, a handful of country and VOILA- you have Blackberry Smoke. From the time BBS takes the stage they own it.  They are a boot stomping, bootie shaking,  head bobbing good time.  They have a look that is quite hard to describe - with their long hair and scruffy beards, one might be quick to pass judgment on these guys.  However, they are some of the nicest guys and band that one could meet. And you can tell by the looks on their faces, they are living the dream.  I love seeing the joy on their faces especially Paul's whose smile connects to the audience.  And with each show I am beginning to love the songs that are surfacing off the new album. Leave a Scar has quickly became one of my new favorite songs.  Now back to the crowd - Even more annoying than the drunk is the drunk who insists on shouting song request EVEN THOUGH THE BAND HAS A PLAY LIST!  For me, it's a matter of respecting the band unless of course, they ask you to yell requests.  The band however, unfazed gave another incredible, high energy, kick some ass performance.  Charlie, at one point came out in front of us and gave my friend's son a guitar pick (score for him 2 drumsticks and a pick - quite an exciting night for a 13 year old).  I wonder, if they realize, for many kids they are rock gods. Heck, I'm still tongue tied when I meet them at a meet and greet. And to reach out to young fan is an incredible thing. My boyfriend's son (age 13) didn't want to wash the underage X's off his hands because he had such a great time.  Somehow, I think they realize what great power they hold, however, they refuse to abuse it. And it is this humbleness that will continue to carry them to great things.

The crowd was bigger this time than the last - a sold out show.  Each time I see them, I am reminded of their impending rise to greatness.  However, there is a little fear in my heart (selfishly on my part) that there will come a time when I'm so far from the stage that I can't see the mischievous glint in Charlie's eyes, Paul's big smile, Richard's rock star stance, Brandon's soulful gaze, and  Brit's big beard (well, I'm sure I'll still be able to see that).  Yea...I'm selfish....

Go see them.  'Nuff said.

Holy Ghost Tent Revival - Wholly Disappointed

Let me say that I do NOT want to write this review.  These guys were students when I worked at Greensboro College and performed together in the Family Weekend Festivities that I used to plan.  Back then, I remember how they wowed the parents and had everyone on their feet.  Their mix of ragtime, swing and bluegrass was a breath of fresh air and the energy contagious. Everyone loved them and as they grew into the Holy Ghost Tent Revival, their popularity grew in the Greensboro Community.

Now fast forward a few years.  They are staple in the Greensboro club scene.  So it was with great anticipation and excitement that we would go to see them at the Blind Tiger for New Years Eve.  I knew a few things going in.  1.  I knew that the crowd would be largely twenty somethings and many would be under twenty-one (it was advertised as an all ages show).  2.  I knew that it would be a late night.  3.  I knew- or so I thought- the music would be great.

Doors opened at 8:00 so we arrived around 9pm to claim our spot "in the crotch" (see previous article for clarification of this term).  We anticipated music would start around 9:30 pm so we were not expecting to wait for an hour and a half for the opening band.  Finally, at 10:30 pm, the opening band took the stage.  I'm really not that old (or so I like to think), but just starting at 10:30 was a little RIDICULOUS!

The best thing about the opening band was they had a tambourine/maraca player that kept us well entertained.  Sometime during one of the first few songs, he lost one of his maracas and it went flying down between a speaker and the stage right in front of us.  He somewhat quickly regained form, however, remained with one less maraca for the remainder of the show.  He did not seem to know the words to the songs however.  We hypothesized that he was a friend of the band that had no NYE plans and they just said "Dude, stand up there and play these".  Even at the halfway point of the show, the band had still not introduced themselves.  Finally at some point they said, "we are Floating ...mumble...mumble...from Asheville".  It wasn't until I asked someone standing near me and they had deciphered the name and I learned they were named "Floating Action".  You will rarely hear me say this...this band was BAD.  Really BAD.  I usually try to find goodness in almost everything so fact that the only goodness that I could find was the somewhat clueless maraca guy is a stretch for me.  This band is probably best for playing frat parties where no one really cares about the quality of music but rather having background noise as they play beer pong.  Perhaps they are still unseasoned as performers.  Maybe they had an off night.  Maybe they were that bad.  Yea...that's about it on Floating Action. Oh, by the way, we helped maraca/tambourine guy retrieve his lost maraca from the crevice in front of the stage.  I think it made his night.

Play me a song Mr Tambourine/Maraca Man

So as midnight rolled around, we could see that HGTR would probably take the stage right after midnight.  And indeed as the last few minutes of 2011 ticked down, we could see they were making their move.  As the clock reached 11:59 they appeared on stage swigging out of a cheap champagne bottle (it could have been Asti) however, it felt to me as if they were a little full of themselves. A little to much swagger and cockiness.  Who does that?  I remember Sammy Hagar doing so with a Jack Daniel's bottle years ago.  But never anyone drinking cheap champagne on a club stage.  I guess there is a first time for everything.  It was also quite annoying when the guy running their sound board lit up a cigarette in a smoke free club.  Perhaps, he realized my annoyance (after giving him the stink eye) because he offered up a PBR to Jay and I as a truce.  We accepted.

After midnight, they began to play and all I can say is how surprised I was at that point.  While they are still talented musicians, their sound was completely different. They were so generic...so vanilla.  Where was the banjo?  Where was the upright bass?  They still had the horns which was somewhat of a saving grace, it was still not the show I had anticipated seeing.  I was (and still am) disappointed.   Jay was as disappointed as I was as well.  The rest of our group had either already left or retreated to the outdoor patio when we finally threw in the towel just after 1am.  In their defense, maybe, they brought out the banjo and bass after we left (however they were no where to be seen on stage).

Holy Ghost Tent Revival

Again, I must emphasize, these guys are very talented musicians.  That's why I am left scratching my head as to why their sound is so different. I just don't understand this departure in sound. I will continue to follow them as I DO think they are going somewhere, but I have to wonder if someone has advised them to change?  Maybe it was just an off night, maybe the banjo was in the shop for repair.  I just hope these guys will get back to what made them so special.