Charlie Starr Shows The Power Of Music In Charlotte
Blackberry Smoke Frontman Plays Intimate, Sold-Out Show at Neighborhood Theatre
As lead vocalist and guitarist of the southern rock band Blackberry Smoke, Charlie Starr has been wowing audiences since the band’s humble beginning in 2001. Blending the best of rock, country, and blues, the band brings a sound uniquely their own. Their songs are easily relatable and you get a feeling of just being at home. This winter, Charlie embarked on a short, solo tour along with bandmate Benji Shanks, playing at smaller theatres and clubs as a two-piece acoustic. This past Sunday, Charlie gave Charlotte area music fans a New Year’s treat by playing an intimate, sold-out show at the Neighborhood Theatre.
Opening up the show was a true troubadour, Stevie Tombstone. The accomplished singer-songwriter is known for the swampabilly band The Tombstones as well as a successful solo career and has shared the bill with the likes of Greg Allman, Willie Nelson, and The Straycats to name a few. For this performance, he would grab his acoustic guitar and settle in for a set full of soulful tunes. As his vocals soared over the venue, Stevie was an example of how excellent music can be when it comes from the heart. There’s no need for flashing lights or all the bells and whistles, just the pure joy and amazement of the music. His last date with Charlie is tonight in Asheville so get there early and check out his “Troubadour Blues.” You’ll be glad you did.
After a short break, it was time for the main event as Charlie and Benji took their respective spots on the stage sitting down with their guitars. From the very start, you knew this was going to be a special evening. The atmosphere was so much different from a typical Blackberry Smoke show. If you’re used to seeing the full band and a full electric show, this is a nice change of pace. The evening started out with a welcome from Charlie and then he and Benji got right into a set of songs that ran the gamut from Blackberry Smoke hits to old-school cover tunes. Both Charlie and Benji sounded phenomenal as they traded out instruments throughout the night. Charlie’s vocals always sound amazing but to hear them stripped down without the full band rocking behind him was a breath of fresh air and a testament to the power of music.
In between songs, Charlie entertained the crowd with stories from the past and the present. He joked about how he hoped his son doesn’t make him a grandfather this year and how the band sold their first record out of the trunk of his car. When someone shouted that it was their birthday, he immediately began singing “Happy Birthday” to the lucky fan. He even took us back to his youth regaling us with a tale of how a music store owner gave him a cassette of Robert Johnson before ripping into some classic Robert Johnson. Afterward, he joked about how you won’t hear that song on the radio, and hell, you don’t hear Blackberry Smoke on the radio either.
The night was full of memorable moments with an audience sing-along to “One Horse Town” and Charlie asking for requests. It just so happened to be the late Ronnie Van Zant’s birthday so we had a special song dedicated to him as well. There was even a slight issue with Charlie’s looper and he explained what it does, laughing that he didn’t shut it off and said “shit happens, it really does.”
Before it was all said and done, Charlie and Benji gifted us with two hours of music that we will never forget. It was a unique, up close, and personal experience that should not be missed. If you’ve ever what it would be like to have Charlie Starr play in your living room for you and a few friends, this is it because that’s exactly how this show made you feel. If you didn’t look around and see the sold-out crowd, you would swear Charlie was sitting on your favorite living room chair, drinking a beer as you all sang along.
There are only a few dates left on this solo run including this evening in Asheville, NC at The Orange Peel. Don’t miss your chance!
Tour Dates:
1/19 The Orange Peel Asheville, NC
1/20 Princess Theatre Decatur, AL
1/21 Hargray Capitol Theatre Macon, GA
Click Here for the Full Gallery of the Evening!
If you happened to capture any shots of the night, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see.
