Musicians always talk about actively supporting up-and-coming bands, but it’s fairly rare to find ones that do so in a proactive way.
As corny as it may sound, the multiplatinum Zac Brown Band is one of the few major groups that actually puts the “Do Unto Others” philosophy into action. Just ask Charlie Starr, frontman of Blackberry Smoke, which is signed to Brown’s Southern Ground Artists label. The group is now touring in support of its soon-to-be-released album, The Whippoorwill.
“We sat down and played all the songs for Zac,” said Starr of the winnowing process for the recording. “He picked his favorites, and then it was up to us, and him and the co-producers to decide [which songs would make it onto the album]. No offense to any others that have labels of their own, but Zac is not a figurehead. Not him. He digs right in there. He doesn’t have to do that, but he does. It is a beautiful thing.”
| Onstage |
| Zac Brown Band with Blackberry Smoke and Sonia Leigh |
| When: 5:30 p.m. doors, Thursday |
| Where: Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia |
| Info: $42 to $77; merriweathermusic.com; 877-435-9849. Note: No lawn chairs. |
And that, said Starr, is one of the best parts of working with Zac and Southern Ground. It’s not an exaggeration to say Brown and his closest collaborators are musical visionaries. As longtime fans know, years before the band’s 2008 release “The Foundation” shot the band to the major leagues, Brown had charted his musical path. Perhaps that’s also why Brown seems to so easily spot and sign musicians that are talented enough to catch fire, like Smoke that has an ultra-loyal and blossoming fan base.
Those that attend the area Zac Brown Band show will want to arrive early so they don’t miss Blackberry Smoke’s opening set. Like Brown, Starr and his band mates are looking to give fans special musical treats.
Although the red tape of the music business — not Brown, Starr is quick to point out — has prevented the new Smoke album from official release until mid-August, it is available at the shows the band plays. And, of course, the band will play many of the songs on the album during its upcoming show.
“Definitely, [I want fans to] feel the band has evolved,” said Starr, speaking of the group’s newest songs. “We don’t want to play the same songs over and over again, and we aren’t writing the same song over and over again. We play the music that we love, and we like to sound a certain way. But it definitely doesn’t have anything to do with ‘popular appeal.’ As a band, we know when things feel contrived and when it feels right. This album is just right.”
Not surprising — in this case, where there’s smoke, there’s (musical) fire.
