Song Review: Blackberry Smoke with Bob Weir - āDeep Elm Bluesā
Old - so old as to be Dead - and (relatively) new join together on a new version of the American chestnut āDeep Elm Blues.ā
Recorded at Bob Weirās TRI Studios in 2013 and set for inclusion on the DVD āBlackberry Smoke with Bob Weir: An Evening at TRI,ā out tomorrow, this track finds the Dead man and the Smokes trading verses and solos and melding visual and musical styles.
Languid, as is Weirās wont, but bouncy, as is Blackberry Smokeās, this performance features Weir, in shorts, a golf shirt and Birks, on acoustic slide and vocals and the young band, in jeans and Ts, playing ably with him, despite being obviously starstruck.
āNot to kiss ass, but this is a big deal,ā guitarist/singer Charlie Starr says in the DVDās trailer (above) before it cuts to the performance.
Starr and keyboardist Brandon Still each take solos around Weirās and the resulting āDeep Elm Bluesā is deep in the groove and feather light.
Itās one of 16 songs, half of which feature Weir, on the DVD, including covers of the Grateful Dead, Johnny Cash, the Band, Chuck Berry and more. Thereās also behind-the-scenes footage and a band interview conducted by Weir.
āAn Evening at TRIā is available at Blackberrysmoke.com.
Grade card: Blackberry Smoke with Bob Weir - āDeep Elm Bluesā - A
2/2/17
