This coming June, Blackberry Smoke willrelease Live From Capricorn Studios,an EP made up of covers that the band recorded at the legendary Macon studio.Proceeds from the EP’s sales will go toward MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund.
For the recording session, Blackberry Smokedid not simply select a random assortment of songs; instead, they opted insteadto pay tribute to the history of the room and city in which they wererecording. “We chose a handful of songs that are Macon, Ga. songs,” guitaristCharlie Starr told Relix. “A coupleAllman Brothers songs, a couple Wet Willie songs, a Marshall Tucker Band songthat was recorded in that room at Capricorn and a Little Richard song that isnot a Capricorn song, but since Little Richard is probably one of Macon, Ga.’sgreatest gifts to the world, we recorded that.” Blackberry Smoke’s recordingsession at Capricorn marked the first time a major band has done a professionalrecording at the studio in over 40 years.
One of the songs Blackberry Smoke recorded wasthe Allman Brothers classic “Midnight Rider,” which featured Starr playing DuaneAllman’s legendary gold-top Les Paul guitar. Today, we premiere the video ofthe band’s cover, which comes on the anniversary of the formation of The AllmanBrothers Band (Mar. 26, 1969) and the anniversary of the release of “MidnightRider” (Mar. 26, 1971).
In addition to the video and upcoming EPrelease, Blackberry Smoke are gearing up for their “Spirit of the South Tour: A Celebration of Southern Rockand Roll Music” this July, which will see them pay tribute to theirinfluences alongside The Allman Betts Band, The Wild Feathers and originalAllman Brothers Band member Jaimoe.
Watch the video for “Midnight Rider” below aswell as an extended conversation with Charlie Starr, during which he discussesthe Capricorn sessions, playing Duane Allman’s guitar, the hard work of rockand roll road crews and more.
Jake May: How did the idea to cover “Midnight Rider” atCapricorn Studios come about?
Charlie Starr:Initially, we had the idea to go down to Capricorn to set up and play live inthe studio there. We wanted to get some footage for tour promotion for theSpirit of the South tour coming up this summer with the Allman Betts Band. Wechose a handful of songs that are Macon, Georgia songs—A couple Allman Brothers songs, acouple Wet Willie songs, a Marshall Tucker Band song that was recorded in thatroom at Capricorn and a Little Richard song that is not a Capricorn song, butsince Little Richard is probably one of Macon, Ga.’s greatest gifts to theworld, we recorded that. I had no idea that it was going to be coming up on theanniversary of “Midnight Rider’s” initial release, so that was all kind of justhappenstance. We just wanted to have some fun, but it turned out really welland we had a great time. Jimmy Hall from Wet Willie and Marus Henderson fromMarshall Tucker Band came down— It was one day that we spent there. So, I thinkthe plan initially was to release it; we were very pleased with it and it wasso much fun. We wanted to take a day and just celebrate the music of thosebands that influenced us so incredibly, and that’s just a few of them.
JM: I would imagine that playing those songs in that roomhad a bit of a special feeling. Is that safe to say?
CS: Oh, yes, verysafe to say. That kept running through my mind as we would go from song tosong. I kept thinking about the time we spent in that studio and how many timesI’ve listened to a lot of those songs from those bands that were on that label.To be standing in that room—and now it’s functional again—was prettyoverwhelming. Chuck Leavell actually stopped by that morning as we were settingup just to say hello. As I spoke with him—standing in the middle of that room—I thought,“Well, good grief! This room is partly held up by you and your DNA.” Anyway, itwas a great day and we’re happy to share it with people.
JM: Speaking of special feelings, you were playingDuane’s goldtop [Les Paul guitar], is that correct?
CS: Yeah, it’sRichard Brent’s from The Big House museum. He brought that guitar down thereand I played it on the two Brothers songs. I just can't thank them enough—Richard andall The Big House folks—and also the owner of the guitar, who is a spectacular personhimself. That just added to the goosebumps.
JM: Was that the first time you ever played it or had youplayed it before?
CS: No, I played itbefore. They’ve been nice enough to bring it on several occasions to shows inAtlanta and Macon, and I’m proud to have been able to play that thing quite afew times. It has a ghost in it; if you ask guitar players who have played it,it’s a really special instrument obviously.
JM: I’m a guitar hobbyist myself and I feel like if I’mplaying even a random old guitar in a guitar shop, I get nervous to play. Doyou feel the same way or is it like you really owe it to the guitar to rip itup?
CS: I don’t know,I’m always a little bit tentative with any ‘50s Les Paul because they’revaluable. Meaning, when they’re not mine, they’re someone else’s. But then youkind of get lost in the music, not to sound corny. You get lost in the soundthat’s coming from your hand and that instrument. The first time I ever touchedit was years ago at a show in Atlanta. We were opening up for the Zac BrownBand and the owner at the time brought it down himself for Zac to play. Ibelieve it was for Zac to play, but it might have also been for Coy Bowles orClay Cook, the other two guys that play guitar in the band. As I walkedthrough, I took a look at it and I wanted to take a picture of it. I rememberthe guy handed it to me as I was standing there admiring it, and he said, “Howdoes it feel to hold a one million dollar guitar?” I said, “It feels like Ishould put it down.” [Laughs]
JM: I can imagine. I think I would be afraid to even pickit up in the first place, but obviously you can do some justice to that guitar.
CS: Thank you. Thatguitar is not only the instrument that Duane used on the first two AllmanBrother records, but it’s the Laylaguitar that he played on the Derek and the Dominos Layla record. It’s the first guitar you hear on Layla [makes guitar sounds].
JM: The Allman Brothers were one of the first bands thatintroduced me to the world of both Southern and improvisational rock. It’sreally cool to see the willingness of everybody in those communities to passdown the history to those who are carrying the torch, like Blackberry Smoke andall of your contemporaries. I think Derek [Trucks] just played it at The Brotherscelebration of 50 years of the Allmans at MSG, so it’s very cool to see that it’s notlocked up in a volt where nobody can touch it. Similar with Jerry Garcia’sguitars--they’re also made available to play, which is very cool.
CS: That’s a veryselfless thing for the people who wind up owning those guitars. They’re suchincredible pieces of history, so for them to come out and let people who careso much for this guitar music play them is huge; I can’t thank them enough.
JM: Speaking of carrying on the history, I suppose we canmove on and talk about the record that you guys are going to release. Is it allsongs that you recorded in the studio or are there other things that will befeatured as well?
CS: This EP is justthe songs that we recorded that day at Capricorn, just six covers. We’re in themiddle of recording a new album, but we’re not working right now because we’reall at our houses being terrified. [Laughs] We will hopefully finish ourBlackberry Smoke full record as soon as Coronavirus tells us we can get back towork.
JM: I wanted to ask a little bit about the “Spirit of theSouth” tour. How did that idea formulate, and how did you all choose the bandsthat would be coming along with you? Of course Jaimoe will be joining as well, whichis really amazing.
CS: Initially theidea was to put together a traveling festival kind of thing. We instantlythought of the Allman Betts Band because we actually played a couple showstogether several months ago down in Florida. The idea grew and then we weretalking about how when bands like us tour together, we’ll always wind up onstage together during the encore. Then it became, “You know what we should do?We should create this show where the breakdown is that everybody plays a set oftheir own and then we dedicate a full set at the end of the night to a bigjam.” None of us had ever done that, we’ve always just had time as a factorwhen you play a show because curfews are ramped up these days and they’restrict. So, we’ve never had the luxury of dedicating such a large portion oftime to really just stretching out and playing songs that we love and that theaudience loves. It sounds like a really fun thing to do in the summer, to me.We thought we should celebrate the music of these southern bands that we alllove so dearly. Where we come from, it’s just omnipresent; it’s part of ourDNA. Anyway, those guys are all buddies of ours and we love and respect theirbands and they were very into it. I have every single one of my digits crossedhoping that my country—well, the world—can get past this mess and we can all get back toa normal way of life and keep that tour together. I really have faith thatwe’re all going to be fine and that we’re gonna have a good summer.
JM: If we can get through this, come the summer thecelebration aspect will be more than just about specific bands--people will bethrilled to return to seeing real live music instead of watching it on your TVor computer screen.
CS: Yeah, and alsospeaking of the tour, it was so great that Jaimoe got involved to come out andplay in the jam. We’ll have some other special guests as well. I don’t knowexactly what shows, but Jimmy Hall says he’s gonna come to some. Hopefully wecan get some others. I think Jack Pearson and our buddy J.D. Simo. The deeperand deeper we got into planning it, I thought, “This is going to be great.”I’ve never done anything like this before.
JM: For the big jam sets at the end, considering there’sso many of you, will you map everything out in advance or is it going to bemore like what songs you’re feeling?
CS: I think alittle of both. I think we’ll have to map it out a little or else we’ll all bestanding up there wondering what to do. It won’t be the same thing every night,that’s for sure because that’ll be a rule: it can’t be. Obviously part of theidea is the spirit of the south and celebrating that rock and roll music. Allof those songs will be vehicles to stretch out. I was also talking to DevonAllman and Duane Betts and I was saying that there are no rules about what we have to play. We’re not going to get introuble if we don’t play a specific song, but we also want to touch on themusic and songs that inspired those bands: the gospel and blues and early rockand roll. It’s funny— I could talk about this stuff for hours, but I won’t waste yourtime.
JM: I assure you that would not be a waste.
CS: There’s anendless supply of material is the short answer. [Laughs]
JM: I’m very much hopeful that this tour will be at itsfull strength and hopefully I’ll be able to catch a show. Is there anythingelse you wanted to highlight?
CS: I think that’sit. Thank you for helping us spotlight this year. I was talking to my managerand we were figuring out where a portion of the proceeds from the Capricornsessions will go-- MusiCares was definitely talked about because our own creware all sitting here idle and it’s tough. It’s tough for everybody, but whoworks harder than the rock and roll road crew? I don’t know anyone. They’re thefirst ones there and the last ones to leave; they’re always working.
