Live review: Blackberry Smoke with support from Read Southall Band, Birmingham O2 Academy, 26/03/23

Main photo credit: Andy Sapp 

Inset photo credit: Steven Contreras

Words: Alaina Henderson 

The rainy queue to get into Birmingham’s O2 Academy is snaking around the streets tonight for a night of pure southern rock in the shape of Blackberry Smoke with support from Read Southall Band.

Gibsons in hand, the Oklahoma rockers kick things off in true style, giving us a taste of things to come. For a band full of youth, the confidence is striking with an air of ‘this is just what we do’ wafting from the stage. Lead vocalist Read has a voice that sounds gritty enough to hold many stories; like you’d expect from seasoned stalwarts of this game. Starting their journey in 2015, this band need no training when it comes to giving a show full of bluesy, soulful rock ‘n’ roll. Cowboy boots on, toothpick firmly inserted between teeth and their name duct-taped onto the drum kit, it’s clearly all about the music for these guys and they do it so well. Turn up early people, it’s always worth it.

 

Onto the main event and the crowd is nicely warmed up. A slick production from start to finish, full of one great song after another. A belated (covid-affected) tour to showcase the You Hear Georgia album from 2021, the songs already feel like firm favourites. The guys can do no wrong and have everyone in the palm of their hands. Highlights are energetic rocker Let It Burn, feel-good Friday tune Good One Comin’ On and the full of swagger Hey Delilah.

Watching this band live is always a guarantee of a good time – it just comes so easily to them. As in their song from previous album Like An Arrow, they’re doing What Comes Naturally. And we must be so grateful for this. They’ve let us into their natural habitat as if watching them jam in their own home. Paisley rugs on the floor and incense burning, with story-telling songs that transport you to the Deep South - we are being treated to real, home-grown magic.