Blackberry Smoke
September 11, 2014
Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom- Hampton Beach, NH
Although summer is almost over, it was definitely a hot night when Blackberry Smoke took over the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach, NH, on this stop of their Fire in the Hole tour. The tourists may all be gone, but the die-hard music fans still flock to this famous venue.
Taking the stage first was Red Sky Mary, an up-and-coming band from New Hampshire, with a rock ‘n roll style straight from the 70’s. The band has built up a good following in the New England area, and their fans definitely made an appearance. The band was full of energy, and you could tell instantly that they would not waste their opportunity to promote their new CD, Red Witch. The chemistry of lead singer Sam Vlasich, guitarist Tom Boisse, bassist Gary Boisse, and drummer Barrett Goeman was evident from the first note, and you could tell how much they were enjoying their time in the spotlight.
When it was time for Blackberry Smoke to start their set, the crowd showed their excitement as the members took to the stage, which was draped in Oriental rugs. This crowd was more than ready for some great Southern Rock, and that’s exactly what they got. This incredibly hard working band spends about 250 days on the road each year, but it still seemed as if this was the first show of their current tour. The band comprised of lead singer/guitarist Charlie Starr, bassist Richard Turner, guitarist Paul Jackson, drummer Brit Turner, and keyboardist Brandon Still played a variety of songs covering their decade together. Some of their biggest hits, such as Six Ways to Sunday, Restless, Everybody Knows She’s Mine and Shakin Hands with the Holy Ghost, garnered some great responses from the crowd, and it seemed as if everyone knew all the lyrics by heart. They finished the night with a 3-song encore, including Freedom Song, which you could tell was a big favorite of their fans.
Blackberry Smoke will finish their current U.S. tour at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in October, before heading overseas for their European tour dates.
Review by: Dave Gannon
Blackberry Smoke
Red Sky Mary
