BLACKBERRY SMOKE L-R:

BRANDON STILL - KEYS

RICHARD TURNER - BASS/VOCALS

CHARLIE STARR - GUITAR/VOCALS

BRIT TURNER - DRUMS

PAUL JACKSON - GUITAR/VOCALS

Atlanta based Blackberry Smoke continues to grow into the premiere Southern Rock band of America. Over the last 12 months they have shared the stage with ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Shooter Jennings, Cross Canadian Ragweed and countless others. The band has recently finished recording their sophomore effort “Little Piece Of Dixie” with legendary producer Dann Huff (Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts) and engineer Justin Niebank, to be released summer of 2009.
REVIEWS

At a certain point, Southern Rock as it was perceived in the ’70s was alternately tarted up in slutty make-up by Rock or blow-dried and sanitized by Country, neither of which did much to effectively or appropriately expand the genre’s range. Blackberry Smoke may be too young to remember firsthand the visceral bite of early Lynyrd Skynyrd, the moody excellence of the Marshall Tucker Band and the gritty Blues of the first three ZZ Top albums, but they do a pretty decent job of channeling the era without slipping into faceless arena Country Pop that shares little with Southern Rock outside of a decibel level. On the Atlanta quintet’s sophomore full length, Little Piece of Dixie (also the name of the EP they released earlier in the year), they strike the right balance between the original purveyors of Southern Rock and the legitimate second-generation revivalists, polishing and contemporizing the sound without backloading too much cheese and smarm into the proceedings.

“Good One Comin’ On” is good-ol-boy-in-party-mode Country Rock with the swing and swagger of Shooter Jennings (note to the Smoke: you had me at “two six packs of Shiner…” but the Ray Wylie Hubbard reference iced it), “Like I Am” chugs and thunders like the Outlaws at a Bad Company tribute and “Up in Smoke” imagines a double bill end-of-the-night jam with Blackfoot and ZZ Top. “Sanctified Woman” sounds like the band that Paul Stanley and Henry Paul would assemble and “Who Invented the Wheel” has the earmarks of Marshall Tucker’s best with a contemporary twist that brings it straight up to date. If you’ve been missing what us old hippies remember as Southern Rock, tip a Shiner, pack a bowl and take a good long hit of Blackberry Smoke. Ya’ll.

~ City Beat / Cincinnati

Blackberry Smoke has been around a little longer and has rubbed shoulders with some really big names (ZZ Top for one), so there’s no lack of showmanship here. Charlie Starr is up there front and center, exuding personality and attitude. The vocals are tight, with some great harmonizing by guitarist Paul Jackson, and the rhythm section of brothers Brit and Richard Turner is rock solid. Brit’s drumming also has an unmistakable presence. I loved this band, particularly “Like I Am”, “Feel a Good One Comin On”, and “Sanctified Woman”.
- associated content - nashville tn

BBS is one of the best southern rock bands of all time!I have been following the guys for about ten years. They just get better and better each time I go to a show.The southern rock world better find a fire exstinguisher cause Blackberry Smoke is setting the world on fire and “Up In Smoke” Keep it up guys!
-author: sparkplug

I saw them live with ZZTOP back in Sept. 07 they were great. I am a southernrock girl and i just love the album. I listen to it atleast once a week it never gets old! They were great live, I would definitely recommend going to see them if you ever get the chance…..Keep on Rock’n!
-author: soonergirl

Great music. A blend of many influences, lyrics that reach me
-author: Larry Evans

Can’t believe that this sound is not marketed main stream.Where are the true Rock stations where these Boys can show off their talent.Going to see them with Sister Hazel in Nashville. Should be a great show.
-author: KEITH R. BOWMAN

Saw them live with ZZ Top in Hard Rock Florida, they were fantastic. This album does not have a bad song on it, needs a couple of listens but is great. Would love to see them live again. Best of Luck to them. Fan Club, Scotland.
-author: Gavin Stewart

Bought the CD. Played nonstop for days. Saw them live with ZZ Top. Played the cd some more. The CD has an 80s Georgia Satellites feel with a newer Buckcherry hardness, but also has a few softer songs. Live they kicked butt. Wished they had done a longer set. Crowd was starting to warm up and then their set was over. Live they have a more old school Skynyrd/Blackfoot sound. Great group. Wish them luck and hope they continue doing what they do so well.
-author: crossman

Outstanding cd with Georgia Satellites and Lynyrd Skynyrd influences with a heavy metal sound.
-author: swamproll

blackberry smoke badluck ain’t no crime it’s the only crime kickass southernrock great cd keep up the good work guys if you like lynyrd skynyrd a.brothers blackcrows you will like blackberry smoke.
-author: kevin scully

Mix togheter in a cocktail shaker Black Crowes, Allman Bros ,Lynyrd Skynyrd and Buckcherry and you get Blackberry Smoke. This album is an outstanding piece of music. At the begining, you say “good record, but nothing more”, but the more you listen it the more you like it and want it. Believe me, record is full of very good riffs. “Testify”, “Scare the devil” and “Nothin For You” (what a riff) sounding like Black Crowes. “Normaltown” could be signed by Lynyrd Skynyrd,”Trainrollin” (SUPER) and “Muscadine” sound more like Buckcherry. Last 3 songs are live recorded and WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW, these guys play at same level than Black Crowes on their beginings. Only thing I don’t like of this album is production. If this album would have had a better production we will be talking about a record to same level than Black Crowes.
-author: ELCROWLEY

The finest, dirtiest,most ass kickin` piece of (southern) rock I´ve been listening to in a loooong time !!!
-author: Al Schwarz

Blackberry Smoke is indefectibly aged, smooth as silk, southern rock. Perfectly in stride with Lynyrd Skynyrd, .38 Special and The Four Horsemen, these four longhairs are all about traveling the country road, good times with girls and plenty of drinking. Touted by Brian Johnson of AC/DC as “a band that will never go hungry”, Blackberry Smoke blends the boogie woogie and ballads like master distillers. Eight studio tracks and three live ones; this is music from well below the Mason-Dixon Line. Endearing jukebox faves, hot radio tunes and songs set for sitting on the old creaky porch - better than a heaping plate of Aunt Maude’s down home cooking………. 9.5 out of 10″
-author: “by Aaron Small” “Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles”(issue #78).

great southern rockin CD. Will be singing along for hours with the likes of testify, sanctified and train rollin.
author: davetatties

Here’s a Southern Rock band made of balls and muscles. The first release from these rockers, produced by Jesse Dupree, the man with the power saw, the leader of Jackyl. The sound is pure southern rock and roll and sounds like the big southern rock bands of the past. The lyrics are all over the place, and they ooze highways, railroads, tattoos whiskey brawls and women. They also are big on arrangements, all the way to the riff of “Working for the MCA” that concludes “Scare the Devil”. A full disk of southern boogie rock and roll with a couple of ballads thrown in. Eight songs in the studio and three forceful tracks recorded live at Sturgis, the “bikers paradise”.“Bad Luck Ain’t No Crime” has what it takes to become our favorite new Southern Rock record. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen such a large amount of pure expression of Southern Pride in a band.Cathouse http://www.cathouse.it/
-author: Matteo Pinton/Cathouse

WMZK 104.1 FM

“Congradulations to BLACKBERRY SMOKE for securing the #6 spot on the top 100 most requested bands of 2003.” Nick Summers
-author: Nick Summers

Today, I received a 3-song EP by Blackberry Smoke from Justin Crafton of The Dobro of Fire YahooGroup. I just popped it into my CD player, so I’m still on the first song (”Sanctified Woman”) but so far, so good. Very southern-roots-rock. [Makes me kinda homesick for Texas.] Groovy. Think Marshall Tucker Band, Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, etc. If you’re into that, definitely give these guys a look-see/listen-hear: www.blackberrysmoke.com update: All three songs (”Sanctified Woman,” “Normal Town” and “Train Rollin”) are Diva-Approved, my fave being “Normal Town.” Check out Blackberry Smoke’s debut, Bad Luck Ain’t No Crime.
-author: dm

“Bad luck Ain’t No Crime”. Its like meeting an old friend with new exciting tales to share.. That’s the best way for me to try to describe Blackberry Smokes new full CD “Bad luck Ain’t No Crime”. If you are new to their music I warn you this is a band you immediately love. It is awesome to finally be able to play a full CD of Blackberry Smoke, instead of having to wait for them to appear at the next local venue and nothing has been lost in the translation from live to cd, the same energy and charismatic songs have been wonderfully captured. I have to admit just getting the album I am more interested in the newer tracks, (I can already sing along to the three older songs from the mini cd.) and I am really impressed. “Testify” I loved from the get go, just a great rock anthem, wonderfully performed. “Another Chance” has a beautiful melody and lyrics like a prayer; “Angeline” is another gem, a sad story that will leave you with a tear in your beer. “Sure Was Good” the track the albums title was taken from, this song quickly grows on you and yes it lives up to its name It is an excellent display of the bands versatility and growth. The last three tracks are all live (recorded in South Dakota) and they show what a tight group this is, performing like they were in the studio, I particularly favor Scare the Devil (I seem to play it over and over.) I love this CD, it does not have a bad song on it, new listeners will be awed with such a strong line up of material, older listeners will be pleased with the new cuts and smile at the older favorites. Thank you BBS for such a great and strong release. Simon
-author: Simon

Those four guys are the best SOUTHERN HARD ROCK band has come out of USA since RAGING SLAB. Forget the new southern pussies like (edited) etc. DRIVE BY TRUCKERS and BLACKBERRY SMOKE are keeping the southern spirit alive. Eleven songs that are full of moonshine, heavy, raunchy riffs and southern mood. Imagine LYNYRD SKYNYRD jamming with GEORGIA SATTELITES and MOLLY HATCHET rehearsing in the next studio. Pure mayhem the southern way, that sends pussies like Phil Anselmo to bury their ugly heads in the sand .These guys rock major and I am sure they will soon find a decent label to release this record, which has a very good production by Jesse Dupree of JACKAL fame. Twin guitar hell and a cracking cover of GEORGIA SATTELITES’ “Another Chance” make this the southern rock album of the year. Thank god the South has never died, don’t let them get buried like the FOUR HORSMEN did, its up to you. To find this record go to Z-Roxx site, at the Southern rock section.

Reviewer: Stelios Basbayiannis

Solche Typen hätte man gern an seiner Seite, um in gepflegter Art das eine oder andere Haute-Couture-Treffen, Vernissagen, Promi-Parties und sonstige Bussi-Bussi-Veranstaltungen mal so richtig aufzumischen, oder, um halt Politikern, Managern, Religiösen, Anwälten, Psychologen und allen Leuten, die dieser Welt soviel Freude bereiten, einmal so richtig das Maul zu stopfen. Gäbe sicherlich viel Schlagzeilen und umso mehr Anerkennung!
Aber was machen Kerle wie die von Blackberry Smoke nicht alles, um dann doch lieber in einem so seriösen, vorurteilsfreien und sich natürlich von jeglicher Gewalt distanzierenden Magazin wieRockTimes zu erscheinen? Richtig! Sie machen einfach Musik!
‘Die kommen daher wie ein polternder Mülleimer’, so der Kommentar eines ehemaligen Kollegen, womit er wirklich gar nicht so falsch liegt. Aber wenn man sich natürlich dem Southern-Rock-N-Roll in der Tradition der Georgia Satellites verschrieben hat, gehören ein wenig Proll, Mief, Dreck, Schweiß, Whisky und Bier eben dazu.
Und so brettern die Jungs um Frontmann Charlie Starr durch die Dreiviertelstunde, nehmen allerdings auch mal zwischendurch den Fuß vom Gaspedal wie beim Satellites-Cover “Another Chance”, “Angeline” oder “Sure Was Good”, was ich persönlich ganz angenehm empfinde.
Richtig gut sind die fetzigen Nummern wie “Train Rollin’” und “Scare The Devil” mit allen Gitarrenfreuden, die der Southern-Rock nun einmal bietet. Der alte Outlaws-schinken “Freeborn Man” wird in einer Art Highspeed-Version gecovert, so dass man das Original kaum noch erkennt, wenn man den Titel vorher nicht weiß. Trotzdem oder gerade deswegen recht gelungen.
BBS ist eigentlich eher ‘ne typische Live-Band mit ernstzunehmenden Anheizerqualitäten. So war es auch sicher nicht verkehrt, drei Live-Stücke zum Antesten mit auf die CD zu packen. Allerdings bedient man sich leider zum Teil diverser von zig anderen Bands schon lange vorher bis zum Erbrechen durchgenudelter Southern-Klischees.
Also vor dem Einlegen erst mal den Alkoholpegel anheben, so dass die Feinfühligkeit ein wenig in den Hintergrund tritt, und die Toleranz gegenüber kleineren Schwächen (Kreativität/Produktion) entsprechend in die Höhe geschraubt wird. Dann hat man sicher seinen Spaß mit dem Teil.
Insgesamt was für Biker, Rocker, Rednecks und feuchtfröhliche Männerabende mit verwegenen Typen unseres Schlages.
Ey, oder hasse etwa ne andere Meinung? Dann pass bloß auf…
Vorrätig, na klaro, bei Bärchen Records Mailorder.

An appearance with Slash, a featured spot on the coveted Nascar08 soundtrack (”Up In Smoke”), a tour with ZZ Top, this Atlanta Based band has taken the “Southern Rock” banner from the likes of Black Crowes and Drivin N’ Cryin and hit the ground running. Blackberry Smoke makes no bones about being a Southern band. “We don’t pull any punches about calling this Southern rock because that’s what it is,” says Blackberry Smoke front man Charlie Starr. “It’s what we think new Southern rock should sound like.”
2008 Outlook for Blackberry Smoke
How Could 2008 be better for Blackberry Smoke? The exposure they’re getting touring with ZZTop will continue to gain this band more fans. A Summer 2008 release, produced by Dan Huff will be eagerly awaited by fans. 2008 could indeed be the year for Blackberry Smoke
- the georgia jukebox