Blackberry Smoke: Uptown Theater – Kansas City Review

I have been a fan of Blackberry Smoke for the last four years and have been photographing them for the last three. This show was going to be different, all the fans knew it, but seeing them brought both a sense of pride and grief.

The band entered the unlit stage quietly and without introductions. The lights flicked on as the twang of Charlie’s guitar roared. “All Over The Road” started blaring, no warning, no introduction. It fit the band’s vibe perfectly. Looking across the stage it was difficult to miss the spot where beloved drummer Brit Turner would have been set up, but a space was laid out for his absence. It was a beautiful honor for such a deep loss.

Playing a mix of songs from their past albums in addition to some of the newer songs released from their 15th album, Be Right Here, Blackberry Smoke was packing all the heat. The band played nonstop for several songs before Charlie addressed the crowd, asked how everyone was, then went right back into jumping around on stage hootin n hollerin with a beaming smile. Much like the theme of their song “Other Side of the Light” Blackberry Smoke truly embodies the idea that love and energy never stops, it just transfers into something else.

Set List

All Over the Road
Good One Comin’ On
Like I Am
Hammer and the Nail
Pretty Little Lie
Waiting for the Thunder
Hey Delilah (With Crowd Intro)
Let It Burn
Like It Was Yesterday
Sleeping Dogs (with “You Don’t Know How it Feels” interlude)
Sanctified Woman
Azalea (Dedicated to Britt Turner)
Till the Wheels Fall Off
Lay It All on Me
Ain’t Got the Blues
Old Scarecrow
Restless
One Horse Town
Little Bit Crazy

Encore:
Other Side Of The Light
Willin’ / Don’t Bogart Me
Ain’t Much Left of Me