LET THERE BE ‘LIGHT’

Blackberry Smoke feels its sixth studio album great even if some internet ‘trolls’ disagree

Over the last decade, Blackberry Smoke has shared the stage various times with Lynyrd Skynyrd. However, it was different this summer when the modern Southern-rock act opened for the definitive Southern-rock band’s farewell tour, which included a memorable show at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls.

“It was bittersweet,” said Blackberry Smoke singer-guitarist Charlie Starr, calling from Niagara Falls. “The importance of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s music to our career can’t be overstated. They’re legends for a reason, and their catalog is undeniably incredible and will live forever.

“I don’t mean to sound dramatic, but think about growing up without Lynyrd Skynyrd’s music. That would be a huge piece missing for me. I can’t image not hearing those songs as a kid.”

Blackberry Smoke is back on the road with its own headlining tour, which comes through Northeast Ohio for a show Sept. 22 at House of Blues Cleveland. The rockers with a country edge is touring in support of new album “Find a Light.”

This marks a somewhat prolific era for the Atlanta-based group, with its 2017 project being preceded by in 2015 by “Holding All The Roses” and in 2016 by “Like an Arrow.” The latter two albums went to No. 1 on the Billboard Americana/Folk chart.

“We’re just putting the work in, you know,” Starr said. “It’s just been a very productive few years. That won’t happen always, I’m sure, but you just have to get them down when they come.”

What Blackberry Smoke got down was “Find a Light.” The group’s sixth studio album continued the band’s penchant for exploring different styles. There’s the rootsy “Run Away From It All,” Southern rocker “The Crooked Kind,” the strippeddown “I’ve Got This Song” and alt-country tune “Nobody Gives a Damn.”

“None of the song are very far removed from anything we’ve ever done,” Starr said. “I think all of our records are sort of a melting pot of different types of songs. Facebook and social media fans are very polarizing. They either love it or hate it. It’s crazy people get so passionate one way or the other.

“My question is, how different is this album from even our first record? If you look at it in terms of you have heavy songs and not heavy songs and acoustic songs and funky songs, it’s always been that way. I just don’t understand people.”

As you can imagine, those people have been known to leave hateful social media comments that perplex Starr.

“Social media, I guess you could say, it’s a necessary evil in our business, but there are so many trolls it can be a soul crusher,” Starr said. “So I don’t even look. When we finished the latest record, I was talking to our co-engineer. He said to me, ‘This record is really great.’

“I said, ‘I can’t wait to see the hate that comes towards it.’ He said. ‘Don’t look because you know it’s good, I know it’s good. Who cares what the trolls think?’”

Considering Starr’s experience with trolls, it seems as though perhaps Blackberry Smoke has inspiration for its next album,

“Yeah, ignore the trolls,” Starr laughed.

SACKS AND CO. Blackberry Smoke is on the road in support of latest album “Find a Light.”