Album & DVD Review – Blackberry Smoke – Homecoming:Live In Atlanta – 3 Legged Records (USA) – Earache Records (UK)

November 20, 2019 | By Crash Crafton More

Blackberry Smoke released “Homecoming:Live In Atlanta” on November 15th. The concert film and double CD/triple vinyl were recorded in 2018 at The Tabernacle in Atlanta Georgia during their annual “Brothers and Sisters Holiday Homecoming” event that follows Thanksgiving. The concert film was directed by Ted Roach and Lagan Sebert.

Affectionately dubbed “The Tabby” by fans, The Tabernacle opened in 1910 as a church, the building was converted into The House of Blues music venue in 1996. Devoted fans of the band, known as Brothers & Sisters, make the annual pilgrimage to shed their turkey hangover with the band since 2013.

Over the past six years, Blackberry Smoke has raised more than $350,000 to benefit children’s cancer research through a variety of “Brothers and Sisters” events such as the Holiday Homecoming shows, the “Brothers and Sisters Reunion Weekend” in Maryville, TN and their recent Ride For CURE event hosted by Tom Glavine. The seventh annual “Brothers and Sisters Holiday Homecoming” will once again take place this fall at Atlanta’s Tabernacle on November 29th and 30th. On with the show….

Festivities kicked off with a potent one-two punch of “Nobody Gives A Damn” and “Waiting For The Thunder” before mellowing out just a tad for “Pretty Little Lie.”

“Let It Burn” and “Best Seat In The House” bring the energy back up. The latter of the two was co-written by former Buckcherry guitarist Keith Nelson and is one of four tracks Nelson co-wrote with singer/guitarist Charlie Starr for their critically acclaimed 2018 album “Find A Light.”

“Medicate My Mind” gets a rather comical introduction from Charlie before lighting up the faithful. The band along with friends Benji Shanks and Preston Holcomb get their jam on with “Sleeping Dogs.” The 14 minute long jam weaves through various styles paying homage to The Beatles with their spin on “Come Together.” BRILLIANT! While I’m usually not a fan of long jams as they tend to be self-indulgent wankfests however, Blackberry Smoke stretch out and accent the song while tipping the cap to their influences & engaging the audience in a thunderous sing-along.

Another Starr/Nelson co-write, “Run Away From It All” is a song that has grown to be one of my favorites of their live set. Watch the performance and you’ll see a band who loves what they do.

Pianist Brandon Allen Still along with the rock-solid brotherly rhythm section of bassist Richard Turner & drummer Brit Turner anchor the soulful blues of “Running Through Time.” I’d love to hear this get the jam treatment.

Preston and guitarist Paul Jackson & Sisters’ The Black Betty’s really add to the glory of “Lord Strike Me Dead.” I hope Brother Preston is made a permanent member of the almighty Blackberry Smoke as he adds to their sonic brew rather righteously alongside Paul’s solo and background vocals.

Charlie spoke for the band and fans in paying respect to the best road crew there is leading in to the Americana infused “Mother Mountain.” That was some mighty tasty Mandolin courtesy of Brother Benji. I sure hope Doc, John and the guys took Charlie up on his Waffle House offer.

No Blackberry Smoke performance is complete without their anthem, “Ain’t Got The Blues.” Its message resonates the world over as evidenced here and the world over. Goosebump inducing! Up next is the song which featured Gregg Allman’s final studio recording, “Free On The Wing” from 2016’s “Like An Arrow.” The band dedicates this performance of the song to Mr. Allman and Tom Petty.

Another live staple for the band is the anti-nostalgic and autobiographical look at Charlie’s hometown in “One Horse Town.”

“One Horse Town”

“I’ll Keep Ramblin’” picks up the pace and is a guitar lovers boogie. It was co-written with pedal steel great Robert Randolph. I look forward to the day Robert joins the band on stage to perform this tune and I just hope I am present to witness it!

“Flesh And Bone” is just a downright grungy groove-laden rocker. Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown join the festivities for a run through Buddy Holly’s classic “Not Fade Away.”

Closing the main set is a 10 minute long jam of “Ain’t Much Left of Me” that kicks off with an instrumental “Amazing Grace” before getting to the main course with extra helpings of slide guitar before segueing into Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” which heads into some righteous Allman Brothers territory.

“Up The Road” easily makes my top ten favorite list of Blackberry Smoke tunes so I am beyond pleased to see it included in the encore portion of the film. My ONLY gripe is the lack of material from their debut album “Bad Luck Ain’t No Crime” but I digress with the inclusion of the middle finger of karma, “Payback’s A Bitch.” An AMAZING cover of the late Joe Cocker’s “Space Captain” closes out the film.

“Homecoming:Live In Atlanta” is a stunning document that cements why Blackberry Smoke have EARNED the reputation of being THE BEST BAND IN THE LAND!

VIEW TRAILER:

Order your copy now!

Secretly stashed in randomly selected CD, DVD, or LP copies will be a Golden Ticket.

• Five Golden Tickets total worth $100 each in Waffle House Gift Certificates

• Ten Golden Tickets total worth $50 each in Blackberry Smoke Online Store coupons

Blackberry Smoke Homecoming: Live in Atlanta features the band, Charlie Starr, guitar and vocals, Brit Turner, drums, Richard Turner, bass, Paul Jackson, guitar and vocals, and Brandon Still, keyboards, along with Benji Shanks, Preston Holcomb, and The Black Betty’s.

It is available as a full length concert film shot in Ultra 4k and mixed in 5.1 surround sound. The audio is available on CD, and vinyl. The Blu-Ray will be released in 2020.

3 LP VINYL:
LP 1: SIDE A (20:05):

1. Nobody Gives a Damn
2. Waiting for the Thunder
3. Pretty Little Lie
4. Let It Burn
5. Best Seat In The House

SIDE B (19:39):

6. Medicate My Mind
7. Sleeping Dogs

LP 2 SIDE A (16:56):
8. Run Away From It All
9. Running Through Time
10. Lord Strike Me Dead

SIDE B (16:47):

11. Mother Mountain
12. Ain’t Got the Blues
13. Free On the Wing

LP 3 SIDE A (19:29):

14. One Horse Town
15. I’ll Keep on Ramblin
16. Flesh and Bone

SIDE B (19:01):

17. Not Fade Away
18. Ain’t Much Left of Me

BONUS:
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD ONLY:

1. Up The Road
2. Payback’s A Bitch
3. Space Captain

CD 2 disc set:
DISC 1

1. Nobody Gives a Damn
2. Waiting for the Thunder
3. Pretty Little Lie
4. Let It Burn
5. Best Seat In The House
6. Medicate My Mind
7. Sleeping Dogs
8. Run Away From It All
9. Running Through Time
10. Lord Strike Me Dead
11. Mother Mountain

DISC 2:

1. Ain’t Got the Blues
2. Free On the Wing
3. One Horse Town
4. I’ll Keep on Ramblin’
5. Flesh and Bone
6. Not Fade Away
7. Ain’t Much Left of Me

BONUS TRACKS:

1. Up The Road
2. Payback’s A Bitch
3. Space Captain

DVD:

Menu
Nobody Gives a Damn
Waiting for the Thunder
Pretty Little Lie
Let It Burn
Best Seat In The House
Medicate My Mind
Sleeping Dogs
Run Away From It All
Running Through Time
Lord Strike Me Dead
Mother Mountain
Ain’t Got the Blues
Free On the Wing
One Horse Town
I’ll Keep on Ramblin
Flesh and Bone
Not Fade Away
Ain’t Much Left of Me