Atlanta-native rock outfit Blackberry Smoke returned to The Tabernacle on Friday night for the latest edition of Brothers & Sisters Holiday Homecoming, the group’s annual Thanksgiving celebration and children’s cancer research fundraiser.
The beloved event returned to Atlanta with a full crowd in 2021 following last year’s no-crowd, virtual Homecoming. The band made good on the communal nature of the proceedings, welcoming hometown vocal duo The Black Bettys throughout the night in addition to a smattering of guest spots from the 420 Horns.
The familial nature of the Brothers & Sisters Holiday Homecoming festivities became quite literal when Charlie Starr announced that he was “firing” guitarists Paul Jackson and Benji Shanks to allow for Spencer Jackson (Paul’s son) and Christian Gray (Charlie’s son) to join in on guitar for a father-son cover of Black Sabbath‘s “Fairies Wear Boots”.
Blackberry Smoke w/ Christian Gray, Spencer Jackson – “Fairies Wear Boots” (Black Sabbath) – 11/26/21
[Video: Wendy Clark]
For the encore, Blackberry Smoke once again added the 420 Horns for a run through The Rolling Stones‘ “Can’t You Hear Me Knockin'” followed by a closing “Ain’t Much Left of Me” featuring interpolations of “Amazing Grace” and “Spirit in the Sky”.
Below, check out a gallery of photos from the 2021 Blackberry Smoke Holiday Homecoming show at the Tabernacle below courtesy of photographer Emily Butler. You can also listen to a full audio recording of the show via Z-Man.
Blackberry Smoke will remain on the road for a number of dates throughout the last month of the year. For a full list of upcoming 2021 and 2022 shows, head here.
Blackberry Smoke – The Taberbacle – Atlanta, GA – 11/26/21
Setlist [via Z-Man]: Blackberry Smoke | The Tabernacle | Atlanta, GA | 11/26/21
Set: Live It Down, Payback’s A Bitch, Good One Comin’ On, Waiting For The Thunder, Lord Strike Me Dead, Let It Burn, Hey Delilah*#, Believe You Me*#, All Down The Line*# (The Rolling Stones), Sleeping Dogs > You Don’t Know How It Feels (Tom Petty) > Sleeping Dogs, The Whippoorwill, You Hear Georgia, Ain’t Gonna Wait, Run Away From It All, Ain’t Got The Blues, Up In Smoke, Till The Wheels Fall Off, One Horse Town, All Rise Again, Fairies Wear Boots@^ (Black Sabbath), Old Scarecrow
Encore: Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’*# (The Rolling Stones), Amazing Grace > Ain’t Much Left Of Me > Spirit In The Sky > Ain’t Much Left Of Me
* With ?Jordan Shaloup Of The 420 Horns On Saxophone
# With Geoff Wood Of The 420 Horns On Trumpet
@ With Christian Gray On Guitar (In Place Of Benji Shanks)
^ With Spencer Jackson On Guitar (In Place Of Paul Jackson)
Charlie Starr – Guitar And Vocals
Paul Jackson – Guitar And Vocals
Benji Shanks – Guitar
Richard Turner – Bass
Brandon Still – Keyboards
Brit Turner – Drums
Preston Holcomb – Percussion
Chante Moore Of The Black Betty’s – Vocals And Percussion
Sherie Of The Black Betty’s – Vocals And Percussion