Blackberry Smoke returned to Paris barely eighteen months after their previous visit, this time touring behind Be Right Here, the latest chapter in a catalogue that has steadily expanded the band's blend of Southern rock, country, soul and blues. Six songs from the new album found their way into the set, and judging by the audience response, they already sat comfortably alongside the older material.
Part of Blackberry Smoke's appeal lies in the familiarity of the ingredients. The twin guitars, the occasional slide work, the unhurried grooves, the organ textures and the traces of country and soul all draw from a well-established Southern-rock tradition. Yet those elements are merely the framework. What gives the music its staying power is the songwriting. Charlie Starr and company understand the value of a strong melody, a memorable chorus and arrangements that serve the song rather than the other way around.
That balance was evident throughout the evening. The newer material never felt like an obligation inserted between audience favourites, while the older songs demonstrated how naturally the band has developed its sound over the years. Rather than attempting to recreate a particular era, Blackberry Smoke has spent two decades building a catalogue that belongs comfortably within that tradition while retaining its own identity.
Many bands draw inspiration from the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Little Feat and The Allman Brothers Band. Blackberry Smoke's achievement is that they no longer sound like disciples: they sound like contemporaries separated by a few decades, classic rock for modern times.
