Blackberry Smoke / Jason Scott & the High Heat @ Majestic Theatre, Dallas, TX

Words and photos by Duane Clawson

I'm not sure how many times you can see a band live before it's considered an obsession, but after chatting with some fans, my number of Blackberry Smoke concerts seems low! This makes trip number seven, with a trail that leads from Indiana to Texas! I know I have probably said this after every show I’ve seen, but tonight they were on top of their game!

Over the years I’ve seen Blackberry Smoke in just about every type of venue except a true theater. I also had very high expectations for the Majestic Theatre’s overall vibe to deliver a previously unheard, unseen version of Blackberry. First impressions? After my two-hour commute from north to south, those thickly padded, velvet covered seats in the Majestic felt awfully comfy. My time in the seat would not last long as showtime was rapidly approaching.

Truth be told, I had never heard of Jason Scott & the High Heat until this show was announced. Even better, I did not seek them out on socials before the show. My goal was to have a night full of surprises! But there is one thing you can always count on, when Blackberry is the headliner, the opening act is gonna be a good one! From the High Heat’s opening notes, it is clear that they have done their homework and knew the assignment!

Listening to Mr. Scott and company for the first time you find something organic in their music. An undeniable honesty that few bands have these days. Diving into their history you find that due to religious practices, Scott had little to no access to mainstream music. Now it’s all making sense, he had to grow his own, so to speak. The large band is as polished as any pro that has been doing it for years! For more on Jason Scott & the High Heat visit their YouTube channel for a look and a listen!

Judging by the spectator’s reaction to the High Heat, tonight was gonna be one of those nights! In the back of my mind though I had the thought, “what can Blackberry possibly do to wow me?” I've found some bands that thrive in specific environments. I’ve seen Blackberry Smoke in a 20,000-seat arena. I’ve seen them in a 2,300-seat hall. But I had a feeling this 1,700-seat theater was gonna be their jam!

Opening with a somewhat hesitant version of “Fire In The Hole” they recovered nicely sliding into the old classic, “Six Ways To Sunday!” The last time I saw Blackberry they were opening for Cody Jinks at the massive Dos Equis Pavilion in Dallas, TX. Drummer Kent Aberle had recently taken over the drum throne, replacing Brit Turner who had passed after a lengthy bout with cancer. Aberle’s drumming was noticeably tighter, fitting in more with the band’s profile.

Music has always had the ability to touch my soul. In my world songs are often linked to people or life events. When my grandson was much younger, I associated Blackberry’s “Prayer for the Little Man” with him. With many miles between us this song’s lyrics perfectly described the emptiness I felt of not being there. This would also be the first time I’ve seen them play it live, thanks for the memories fellas! If you looked at my liked Blackberry songs on Spotify, it would mimic tonight’s setlist to a tee!

As much as I wanted to sit in those comfy seats the band continually had me and 1,500 others on our feet! After almost 23 years as a band, they still remind me of my favorite bar bands back in my hometown. Working in snippets of Saturday night tavern staples like, “Midnight Special” and “Stairway to Heaven” takes me back to my formative years. And like those bar bands back home you could feel the volume increasing with each song. The main set concluded with the crescendo of the rarely played “Holding All the Roses.”

I don’t think I ever remember seeing a Blackberry Smoke show that did not have a great encore, tonight was no exception. “Don’t Do Me Like That” a well-oiled nod to Tom Petty kicked it off, followed by an all too quick two song tribute to Little Feat. The closing staple, “Ain’t Much Left of Me” polished off the night I was hoping for. The night I finally got to see Blackberry Smoke in the right place at the right time!

Thanks to the Smoke for allowing MTC MAG to be front and center! Also thank you to the beautiful Majestic Theatre for your hospitality! And last but not least, thanks to Charlie Starr for signing my hat!

Photos of the show are below:

Jason Scott & the High Heat