1 on the Billboard Country Album charts in modern history. Then theres other parts of the song which are addressing the discourse in the world right now and some of the lyrics, like, We used to go toe to toe, but my heart aint in no mo, refer to the fact Im so tired of fighting. I prefer the P90 to a humbucker, really. Playing publicly since 2003, Benji Shanks has come to be known by frequently guest performing with some of the southeastern regions best bands. April 8, 2021 @ Starr: Im a terrible schoolteacher. I think I already knew that, but it got fully confirmed. Hes been associated with Guitar World for 30 years, serving as Managing Editor from 1991-96. Ive seen them 2 or 3 times in concert and they may be my all time favorite live band. His addition gives Blackberry Smoke a three-guitar lineup, teaming with Starr and Paul Jackson. Takes me back in the day. February 25, 2021 @ Love their studio stuff but wondering if I just caught them on an off night or are they not great live? A lot of people have asked if that was the biggest crowd Ive played to, and while it was not necessarily so in terms of the number of people there, in terms of the energy that you felt when you walked out on that stage, Ive never felt that kind of energy before playing in front of a crowd of people, said Shanks. Happy to see Hey Delilah make the cutFantastic Tune! I wanted to play like Jimmy Page, Gary Rossington, Duane Allman and Dickey Bettsand then it came back around, thanks to those songwriters. And if there was ever a song that was tailor-made for COVID, its that one cause we all gotta keep on smilin for sure. ArtsATL: Blackberry Smoke also managed to record the EP Live From Capricorn Sound Studios last year, and collaborated with recent Grammy Award winner Jimmy Hall, who led the Capricorn band Wet Willie. Did you learn anything new about yourself during the intense months of COVID? That was the same tour I was talking about. Their debut album, Bad Luck Ain't No Crime, was released in 2003. Benji Shanks Tickets You know all the shaky stuff youd miss if it wasnt there and would cause you to say, Somethings missing. Preston and Britt make a good team playing together. Shanks ArtsATL: Blackberry Smoke added Benji Shanks and Preston Holcomb as permanent members this year. My 1956 Les Paul Jr. And doing them really reminded me of how much I love playing music in this band because the enjoyment really comes from playing the songs. They have performed alongside numerous artists such as Tedeschi Trucks Band, Guns n' Roses, Zac Brown Band, ZZ Top, Eric Church and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Debbie. He was in The Grapes, a long-running and great Atlanta jam band. 7:43 am. Did you see Charlie play lead on Jesses song here? Does that mean the Stones are your favorite band and most important influence? I could watch \u0026 listen to him play for days! Blackberry Smoke's 2016 album Like An Arrow did the same. Prestons known Richard (Turner, bassist) since high school. Starr: They were odd. Derek is a good bit quieter, as far as being a talker, but he and Susan have a tremendous family thing that was so much fun to be a part of when we toured with them all summer. And that's what we did. It helps our case.". 3:38 pm. He said, Absolutely. Of course, we also did some Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker, as well as paid homage to Little Richard. The lineup consists of Charlie Starr (lead vocals, guitar), Richard Turner (bass, backing vocals), Brit Turner (drums), Paul Jackson (guitar, backing vocals), and Brandon Still (keyboards). "Then I went through the years of just playing the guitar, terrified to sing. he was saying it. Blackberry Smoke also managed to record the EP. Starr: Well, I had the kind of grandmother books are written about. Wed love to stay in touch, sign up for The Pick team to contact you with great news, content and offers. Staying on the Allman Brothers Band tip, talk a little bit about Warren as a player. Benji Shanks Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More So we started to work on some livestream-type things. ", Thank you for reading 5 articles this month*, US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year, UK pricing 2.99 per month or 29.00 per year, Europe pricing 3.49 per month or 34.00 per year, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription. Aug 2, 2022. "We all kind of want to be a three-guitar band, way down deep in our hearts, and maybe add another drummer too. WebOriginally, Benji did not want Seaside to have a leader or a clear power structure. So we never had anyone breathing down our collective neck, trying to make us fit. And, because of that, we didnt have to hear anyone telling us, You have to cut your hair or You have to play a certain kind of song, because thats whats popular. Weve always just been able to govern ourselves. Do not miss it the show I saw here recently was only $45 and well worth every cent. I dont mean it that way. WebBenji Shanks Biography It looks like we don't have any Biography for Benji Shanks yet. Had to do it.". He knows what sounds best for what you're trying to accomplish, and everything has its place in that room, so that's a huge part of the equation taken care of. I found out pretty quicklyprobably in Guitar Worldhere's the new guy, and were all going to know him. February 25, 2021 @ And always in open tuning, right? Add or change photo on IMDbPro Add to [18] It sold over 33k copies the first week, 12,239 copies in pure album sales. Shanks Concert number five. We were in our twenties, so we just went nuts. It really is like another voice singing. BBS Rock! Biography ID: 35047599 Timm Shanks (1950 - 1999) Born June 13, 1950 Death April 6, 1999 Summary Timm Shanks was born on June 13, 1950, and died at age 48 years old on April 6, 1999. But then it started to grow. The band spent much of the summer of 2016 on tour with Gov't Mule. 7:39 am. I have others which are nicer, and its not terribly valuable. My wife likes it when I get rid of things. The venerable frontman/guitarist looks back on 20 years on the road and the rhinestones-meets-rock n soul formula behind their seventh studio album, You Hear Georgia. 6:16 pm, Just saw Blackberry smoke here in Myrtle Beach at bike week and they are at there best, very professional, Denise Thatcher Love the new song already and ABSOLUTELY stoked to see track 5 is featuring Jamey Johnson! In 1997, Benji met singer songwriter Scott Warren (bassist and vocalist for Capt. And thats funny you ask because years ago I asked Rick if he had loved the guitar and he said he hadnt. And I said, 'Well, I got this song.' Mr. Shanks grew up in Lebanon, Ind., and attended Indiana University in Bloomington, where he sometimes called basketball games on the campus radio station, WFIU. If you were going on an extended vacation and could only take one, which guitar would you choose? It's not heavy metal, but it's got this aggressive sound and every element was just so stellar. Well, there was really nothing we could do. WebGuitar: Benji Shanks (Captain Soularcat/Last Waltz Ensemble) Mandolin: David Grisman ( Jerry Garcia, Peter Rowan) Keyboards: Chuck Leavell ( Allman Brothers Band and Rolling Stones) On May 23, 2014, Paris Luna recorded their live Album Brasstown Ball at the Famous Southern Tracks Studio in Atlanta, Ga., to a live studio audience. What we get to do is not forced. WebBenji Shanks - Lead/slide Guitar. He was so well read, musically, with all of his session worka 22-year-old guy playing with Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, King Curtis and Clarence Carter. But theres just something about that piece of wood that is really special to me. I don't know if I could play the music I play without any of those records. Going over scales and music 101 with the students, really helped me solidify my guitar theory, said Shanks. I remembered movies over the years that have sort of belittled Southern people and stereotyped the Southern guy as being a toothless, inbred who is full of hate. Were you tuned in from the start that songwriting was going to be really important? There was no stress or problems. You play slide just fine! If you ever get the chance to see him play, do it! 1:31 am. WebBenji Shanks has become one of the top Rock artists in the 2023 music scene, delighting fans with a unique Rock sound. If you're uncertain which one you're looking for, take a wild guess. Their 2018 album Find a Light went #3, and became their 3rd consecutive album to hit #1 in rock as well. "I remember walking into the control room and listening to a playback and being blown away that it sounded as good as it did. ArtsATL: When COVID-19 hit, how did Blackberry Smoke adapt to the abrupt change from being a heavily touring band to no longer being able to tour at all? I heard you explain the new albums title song, You Hear Georgia, as being lyrically about those of us from the South sometimes being misunderstood and then it expanded to discord among folks in general. We've made it. He can play with anybody in any situation and he always just does what Warren Haynes does, and it always works and it always rules. Blackberry Smoke Announces New Album, New Members (1-57 of 57) Year. All Over the Road (Charlie Starr) 10. Q&A: Charlie Starr and Blackberry Smoke roar out of the September 11, 2021 @ Advertisement Benjis rig rundown gets underway with a look at his pedalboard Shanks came on as a full-time touring member with BBS in 2020. First concert in over a year and Im giddy like a kid before Christmas! I had come out of a handful of situations playing with songwriters. On November 12, 2014, they appeared among many others Jamey Johnson, Trace Adkins, Warren Haynes, Peter Frampton, Gregg Allman, etc. Benji Was it as much fun to record as it appears to be by the smile on your face in the video? Just what youd expect from the guys. "I've never really been adept at playing slide with only my fingers on my picking hands, which is obviously what Duane did. Get the latest and greatest Guitar news with one of our guitar magazine subscriptions. Starr: It was one of those truly special things that was completely spontaneous. We drank and did drugs and had a blast. And he remembers that quietly fertile, dynamic rock era with fondness. Their debut album, Bad Luck Ain't No Crime, was released in 2003. Benji Shanks (Blackberry Smoke) - Rig Rundown | The Gear Page I kind of use a pick and ring finger combination, like a hybrid picking thing. Benji Shanks Interview - YouTube Starr returned to touring solo shows earlier this year; his last solo show was in Macon, Georgia, January 15, 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic put a hold on in-person live shows. I sat down recently with the one and only Benji Shanks, who is currently on tour with Blackberry Smoke as a guest guitarist. Shanks was the vocalist for the earliest but short-lived lineup of the all-woman band Vixen after changing its name from Rich Pullen We still appreciated being able to hear them say, Thank you. Even though it seemed quite a bit downhill and far away. The Last Waltz Ensemble February 26, 2021 @ Even though there were four extremely important parts in the band, it was mostly his vision, being that he produced all the records. After we went into the control room and heard it, we all said, Wow, this actually sounds great!, One of the songs was Wet Willies Keep on Smilin.. So we never had anyone breathing down our collective neck, trying to make us fit. And, because of that, we didnt have to hear anyone telling us, You have to cut your hair or You have to play a certain kind of song, because thats whats popular. Weve always just been able to govern ourselves. Artist. I dont have to learn dance moves and feel like I have to put on a gorilla suit and dance in front of the car wash, and that causes me to sleep well at night. Ill never pass up a chance to see these guys within a few hours drive. Benji is a fantastic player that has killer tone with a pretty simple stage set up and a somewhat modest pedalboard. Blackberry Smoke added Benji Shanks and Preston Holcomb as permanent members this year. We didn't even talk about what we were writing for, but I played it for Dave Cobb, when we were doing pre-production over the phone. Its been refinished, the head has broken and its got replacement parts. Well, I had the kind of grandmother books are written about. WebBenji Shanks - IMDb IMDbPro All topics Benji Shanks IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Help contribute to IMDb. "I think they are my favorite band. I'm a fan for life. That's a weird thing to say, but he emotes on the guitar more than any other player I've ever seen or heard. Your email address will not be published. One of the best. I was first introduced to @charliestarr this summer, seeing him in concert was an amazing experience. Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel. February 25, 2021 @ , which is out today. !Really stole the show at the Billy Gibbons Guitar Show deal, I thought. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. But I didn't listen to him and brought tons and tons of stuff of my own because half the fun of making records is playing with your toys! The album features guest appearances by Warren Haynes, Jamey Johnson and the Black Bettys, and was overseen by Nashvilles hottest producer, Georgia native Dave Cobb. Its an appropriate title for the Atlanta-based group, whose sound evokes their home states rich heritage, with echoes of the Allman Brothers Band and country music mixed in lots of crunchy Rolling Stones- and Tom Petty-esque rock swagger. Hes a sweetener, who adds so much to what is already there. last year, and collaborated with recent Grammy Award winner Jimmy Hall, who led the Capricorn band Wet Willie. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, ", "Dave has a warehouse room full of amps, so I just took a 1965 Deluxe Reverb, a 1958 Tweed Tremolux and a '70s JMP 50-watt Marshall, used with one of his cabinets. No. I called Jimmy (Hall) and asked if hed want to do some Wet Willie tunes. Benji, is a skilled musician who has played in bands of his own, with other artists, and now plays on a regular basis with Blackberry Smoke. To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the band and re-establish their Southern roots, Georgia-based Southern rock badasses Blackberry Smoke will be releasing their latest record called You Hear Georgia on May 28th. WebAverage setlist for tour: Acoustic Shows featuring Benji Shanks. At the drive-in shows, were people out there they were just. Is the Les Paul Junior still your number one? This year marks the Atlanta bands 20th anniversary together. Has Rick Richards ever tried to get that guitar back from you? share setlist Let Me Down Easy (Blackberry Smoke song) Play Video; Ought to He Then I just kept learning about how Jimmy was really the architect of all this stuff. After college, Shanks left Rome for the Atlanta Institute of Music, where he finished his associates degree in guitar theory. How did you start working together now? I dont mean it that way. Koala Man You Hear Georgia (Charlie Starr, Dave Lizmi) 3. "Yeah, I don't own a record that surpasses it. Look forward to hearing the rest of them. Atlanta, GA - Born and raised in the deep south of Rome (GA), Benji Shanks gets closer to legendary status with guitar moves that mimic the Southern Rock masters like Duane Allman, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaun, and Dickie Betts. Pedals Down Updated: June 20, 2015 Biography ID: 103269493 Jump to: Biography Memories Morningside (Charlie Starr, Nick Perri) 9. Blackberry Smoke has a new album it recorded during the pandemic and is about to begin its first tour since COVID-19 hit. I was thinking about the things that are good about Southern culture the things I love, like the good stories I grew up on, the music I was taught, the love I experienced with friends and family and being comforted by their goodness. All Over the Road has a Stones feel and that Mick Taylor slide sound; was he your main slide influence, more so than Duane Allman? mark Im very fortunate to be able to see them live in a few days in Tampa. Its obviously a rough and tumble world, and theres a lot of bad people. Although I dont think it was a shock. It all represents ongoing growth, but not any kind of radical deviation from the roots rock the band has been making for two decades. When we finished out set they helped us clear some of our gear off the stage. Benji Shanks | Discography | Discogs Our band opened for them at The Buffalo Rose in Golden, CO. All of the band members were very friendly and gracious towards us. I love these guys. "But it's just a bigger, fatter tone to meeven than a humbucker. Kip Zartman Had never heard them before, really impressive. Benji is one of the most modest, amazing guitar players I have ever had the opportunity to meet. 8:30 am. Produced by fellow Georgia native Dave Cobb, the album is all about their deep appreciation for the Peach State, especially the title track (listen below). What prompted that decision? "It would be a lie to say the first day, but the first time we sold out a headlining club show playing our musicthey're there to see us, not some band were opening for. I absolutely agree! I'm proud to know those two fellas. Benji Graduated high school and went to school at Berry College for a year, when he got a job working at the local music store as a music teacher. About a week later, I went in his dressing room and he had one! [10] The album landed at No. Benji Shanks is long time buddy of mine. And she was quick to chastise me or any others for doing such. Benji is super nice and a great player! He's not trying to impress you with his chops, speed or prowess. "Warren taught me about the Stephen Stills tuning that he used, a low C tuning that I used on a new song. The band, fronted by guitarist/singer/songwriter Charlie Starr, has honed their unique American blend with relentless touring, a hardcore work ethic and a continuing stream of excellent releases. I have others which are nicer, and its not terribly valuable. FELKER'S GHOST Kirby Didnt care much for their earlier stuff but this song rocks. It covers so much ground: blues and gospel and country and even a little bit of reggae feeling, with Sweet Black Angel and then just rock and roll and it sounds dirty and dangerous, not safe and happy. Aint the Same (Charlie Starr, Keith Nelson) 5. 2.4K views 3 years ago I sat down recently with the one and only Benji Shanks, who is currently on tour with Blackberry Smoke as a guest guitarist. We all love those because of Keith Richards and Joe Perry. Nancy Shanks - Wikipedia I love it. 7:51 pm. Were going again in Juneif the pandemic allows us. Do you get rid of something as you get something or do you just keep acquiring? That one is very interesting. That music will live forever. "Then I went to see Gov't Mule in Atlanta, 1995 New Year's Eve at the Hard Rock Cafe, and again at the Cotton Club. 5:21 am. You were once quoted as saying, I cant be grown up on the road. Do you think you did any growing up being off the road? Charlie Starr Macon Hargray Capitol Theatre Jan 21, 2023 "I've got a really good 1965 Gibson ES 330, the P90 hollow body ES - but the 330 is truly hollow, not semi-hollow like the 335. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title.