Review: The Outlaws with Kingbilly and Blackberry Smoke - Wildhorse Saloon, Nashville, TN - 5/9/2008

The Outlaws started out in 1972, were the first band signed to Arista Records by the legendary Clive Davis, and with several personnel changes and deaths over the years, were still going strong in 2007. But when long time guitarist-singer-songwriter Hughie Thomasson, who wrote some of their biggest hits, passed away last September, the void he left must have been huge. It did not, however, mark the end of The Outlaws, as was evident at The Wildhorse tonight. In fact, this latest lineup is injecting new life into the music with doses of high energy and pure devotion to the music and its' legacy.

This all-Southern Rock night at The Wildhorse included two opening acts. Nashville locals (for now, anyway) Kingbilly, put on a lively set. Some really nice slide work, a little lead banjo, good vocals, and a solid rhythm section displayed this band's talent well. These guys are good musicians with good songs. However, they didn't wow me, and I think it's because they're not big on showmanship yet. If they figure that out I think you'll be hearing more about them in the future.

Blackberry Smoke has been around a little longer and has rubbed shoulders with some really big names (ZZ Top for one), so there's no lack of showmanship here. Charlie Starr is up there front and center, exuding personality and attitude. The vocals are tight, with some great harmonizing by guitarist Paul Jackson, and the rhythm section of brothers Brit and Richard Turner is rock solid. Brit's drumming also has an unmistakable presence. I loved this band, particularly "Like I Am", "Feel a Good One Comin On", and "Sanctified Woman".

But I really came to see The Outlaws. Let me start by saying BILLY CRAIN ROCKS! The guy was really impressive, both musically and energetically. At times duck walking, at times getting down low to the floor backwards, he laid all the signature Outlaws riffs down flawlessly. Having played with singer-songwriter-guitarist, and original Outlaw Henry Paul before, he fit in seamlessly with this band. Paired up with long-time Outlaw Chris Anderson, the sometimes synchronized, sometimes dueling guitar work was awesome. Bassist Randy Threet, whom Paul said is the glue that holds the band together, and Monte Yoho (the only other original Outlaw on stage) provided the rhythm quite energetically. Rounding out the lineup was Jon Coleman, whose bluesy keyboards on "I'll Be Your Prisoner" called to mind "Elizabeth Reed" (he has played with several of the Allman Brothers band mates before). The people all these guys have collaborated with in the past are like a Who's Who of Southern Rock, and all that experience shone through brilliantly. And The Wildhorse's superb sound system insured that every word, instrument, and beat could be heard loud and clear. I've never heard a bad show here, and the sound has a lot to do with it. Screens provide video for the people in the back, which isn't that far away from the stage anyway. All this in a comfortable cabaret setting.

The show this band is putting on will be a fitting tribute to their deceased band mates, Hughie Thomasson, Frank O'Keefe, and Billy Jones, for the rest of the tour, and hopefully further. Some of my favorites on this night were the opening song, "There Goes Another Love Song", "Hurry Sundown", "Freeborn Man" (real nice boards by Coleman), "Song in the Breeze" (not played live since 1976), "You Are The Show", "Knoxville Girl" (with Billy Crain's brother Tommy doing a guest appearance), and "Grey Ghost" (a Henry Paul song with some really sweet violin-sounding guitar work by Billy Crain on his Gibson). Of course they did "Ghost Riders in the Sky" (again with Tommy Crain), and for the encore, their biggest hit, "Green Grass and High Tides". Although everyone knew it was coming, the crowd was amazed by it nonetheless.

So whether you're an Outlaw fanatic, or if you only know a few of their hits, or if you're just a Southern Rock fan, I highly recommend seeing this go round of The Outlaws. If you can catch them on this tour, you won't be disappointed.