/ Register

Whatever Happened to Southern Rock?

Discussion in 'Miscellaneous [BG]' started by Robert B, Nov 18, 2001.

  1. Nov 18, 2001 #1
    Robert B

    Robert B Somewhere under the rainbow Supporting Member

    Jan 21, 2000
    Rittman, OH, USA
    I went to a Leon Wilkeson tribute lastnight at the NorVa in Norfolk, Virginia. Lot's of Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top etc. The crowd was largely an older crowd (I fit right in.) When I got home I started doing some websurfing and realized that all the Southern Rock bands seem to be those that sprung up in the '70's and '80's. Seems like all the concerts are either nostalgia or tribute shows. Southern Rock has always been one of my favorite genres, including such bands as:

    Little Feat, Outlaws, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blackfoot, Marshall Tucker Band, Allman Brothers, ZZ Top, 38 Special, Charlie Daniels Band, Molly Hatchett and others.

    So how come it seems there's no young bands out there breathing new life into this genre? Why is everyone recycling these old songs from the '70's and '80's? Is the genre doomed to sit on the shelf as an interesting rock-and-roll side note from the past?

    By the way, one of the bands at the tribute last night was called "Blue Lords" -- absolutely outstanding covers of Skynyrd and ZZ Top. These guys are killer. If you're a fan of southern rock and get a chance to hear these guys, go for it!
     
  2. Nov 18, 2001 #2
    barroso

    barroso

    Aug 16, 2000
    Italia
    i don't know if they make really souhern rock, but i love band called Alabama Thunder Pussy.
     
  3. Nov 18, 2001 #3
    oddentity

    oddentity

    Nov 20, 2000
    Philly
    Last night I saw a band called Syrup out of Talahassee, FL. They were Southern rock meets Kiss with a little punk thrown in. Not exactly my thing, but they put on a really fun show... Some really funny dance moves and they all wore these ridiculous cowboy outfits... :D
     
  4. Nov 18, 2001 #4
    mchildree

    mchildree Supporting Member

    Sep 4, 2000
    AL/GA
    Actually, there are a bunch of bands around doing stuff that's similar in sound to all the old '70s Southern Rock bands...they just don't get record deals because they don't sound like the latest teen flash-in-the-pans. That's something I've never gotten...kids aren't the people with jobs and money, it's the 25 to 50 crowd that spends the bucks. Why not cater to them?

    Anyway, I think you'd find that Southern Rock has morphed a bit, and would sound much closer to the Black Crowes, Gov't Mule, etc.
     
  5. Nov 18, 2001 #5
    Fretless Friday

    Fretless Friday

    Jan 26, 2001
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    Didn't southern rock die in a plane crash?

    FF
     
  6. Nov 18, 2001 #6
    JimK

    JimK

    Dec 12, 1999
    Robert-
    I know that band you're talking about...how's your ears? I'm assuming they're still pretty LOUD! ;)
    A little local history for ya-
    Two of the Blue Lords(guitarist "Fat" Matt & drummer Steve Archer)used to be in a '70s Rock/Fusion band(Dregs-ish)with two of the guys I'm currently working with(the New Country parody band).

    Anyway-
    I'm NOT really a fan of Southern Rock, per se...that said, I do/did like Sea Level, the off-shoot of The Allman Brothers Band.
    Also, since I'm on an Allmans' roll, check out Derek Trucks' solo cds(I think he has 2)...
    Also, the early Aquarium Rescue Unit records have some quasi-'Southern Rock' feels...the attitude is there & they're on the Capricorn label! ;)
    The Frogwings' album , too...maybe more 'jazzy & Bluesy' than out & out 'Rock', though. Things do evolve a little, right?

    There's also Southern Rock influence on New Country/Rocker Travis Tritt's albums...
     
  7. Nov 18, 2001 #7
    Ari Schor

    Ari Schor

    Mar 3, 2000
    Montreal
    Black Crowes!
     
  8. Nov 18, 2001 #8
    geoffzilla

    geoffzilla

    Oct 30, 2001
    Nashville, TN
    Endorsing Artist: Fender
    Robert, If you're in VA and looking for solid rock and roll, let me take a minute to plug my band. We're called Small Town Workers, and have definitely been likened to 70's and southern rock in articles.(I'd like to think that we're doing it with a new twist:D !) We're based out of charlottesville and Harrisonburg, but play out in VA Beach every now and then. I'd love it if you'd check out our website and tell get your honest opinion. www.smalltownworkers.com
     
  9. Nov 18, 2001 #9
    Robert B

    Robert B Somewhere under the rainbow Supporting Member

    Jan 21, 2000
    Rittman, OH, USA
    Thanks to all for your replies.

    Jim K -- Lordy mama, they were LOUD! I thought it was just me though, because the opening act was every bit as loud. Also, wasn't sure if it was the bands, the size of the room or just an overenthusiastic soundman. Do you know Blue Lords' bassist? I think they said his name was either Jimmy or Johnny Weismann. Solid, but he was way buried in the mix. He looked like he was in pain -- maybe he forgot his earplugs. :) For some reason the guy looks real familiar, but I can't place him.

    You know Jim I been trying to catch up with your band but I always hear about your gigs after the fact. Didn't you play at the Langley Speedway sometime back? That's about 2 or 3 miles from my apartment. I probably could have heard you from my balcony.

    mchildree -- That's a depressing thought, that the talent and genre is still out there but not making it onto vinyl (oh yeah -- they don't use vinyl anymore do they?) Maybe given Smash's comments, we'll start hearing from some of these folks. I hope so. (by the way, didn't I buy some high beams from you not too long ago?)

    Smash -- Glad to hear you guys are dabbling in this stuff. Maybe it's just me, but there's nothing quite like a good, down and dirty southern rock jam to get the blood flowing. I'm surprised more of the young folks don't listen to this stuff. Or maybe they do, but I don't hear anything at all about southern rock in these DGs.

    Anyway, sounds like all of you had some good suggestions of who I should check out -- I appreciate that. I'm going to give them all a listen at Amazon.com and start making out my christmas list.

    Geoffzilla -- I'm off to check out your site. I'll PM you. By the way -- love that country up there where you're at.
     
  10. Nov 19, 2001 #10
    thomas

    thomas

    Jul 26, 2000
    Barnesville, GA USA
    We play power pop with a drawl, does that count?

    A side project I'm working on is going to be some sort of Southern Rock band though. We're going for the whole southern rock instrumentation (too many guitars, organ, backup vocals) but going to do straight hardcore music.
    Currently the name is flip flopping between Twisted Perversions of Underspent Youth and Rose Hill.
    Allman Brothers fans should understand that second one.
     
  11. Nov 19, 2001 #11
    JimK

    JimK

    Dec 12, 1999
    Robert-
    I knew the Lord's original bass player(Doug Phillips); he looked like Howard Stern & actually helped me in assembling the few basses I have put together; in fact, he used to own & operate a "Custom Guitar Shop" here in Norfolk.
    One of my favorite anecdotes regarding Doug-
    ...I tell him my J-bass with the Bartolini pickups distorts whenever I really dig in. I demonstrate the problem, it distorts, & he sez he doesn't hear what I'm talking about...! I'm like "C'mon"; finally, he hooks the bass up to an O-scope & lo & behold he SEES the problem! Each sine wave gets chopped off(ie, not a smooth wave form). Deaf bastid!

    And we we're scheduled to play Langley(opening for Jo Dee Messina)a couple months ago...that partiular Sunday, it poured rain ALL DAY. That gig was hastily rescheduled for the theatre at the Naval Amphib Base @Little Creek.
    Here's a pic-
     
  12. Nov 19, 2001 #12
    basegetar

    basegetar

    Sep 11, 2001
    Dead in a gutter
    I guess being a redneck isn't cool anymore, bummer. That reminds me what's up with "Sweet Home Alabama"? Neil Young wrote that song "Southern Man" that was anti-southern racisim correct? So this angers Lynyard Skynard? So does their reply in "Sweet Home Alabama" mean, "Weez can hates allada duh culurd folkz weez wants, uh huck"?
     
  13. Nov 19, 2001 #13
    thomas

    thomas

    Jul 26, 2000
    Barnesville, GA USA
    I think the point of the song was that some guy from Canada shouldn't try to tell them how to do it in Alabama.

    Personally my favorite Skynrd song is Curtis Lowe.
     
  14. Nov 19, 2001 #14
    Eric Cameron

    Eric Cameron

    Mar 24, 2000
    6.02 x 10^23 microns away
    Hey, I have all the Lynryd albums, plus 2 ZZ Top and a .38 Special. Southern rock still kicks a$$.

    Rock on
    Eric
     
  15. Nov 19, 2001 #15
    Chasarms

    Chasarms Casual Observer

    May 24, 2001
    Saint Louis, MO USA
    I have found that Southern Rock is the only form of music that has lasted for me. I went through HM, 70 psychodelic, country and many others. My taste for all of them seemed to come and go, but my enjoyment of Southern Rock last always.

    My favorite band these days, by WAAAYYY far, is a band called Third Day. A Christian rock band that is very Les Paul, cranked Marshall Southern rock influenced. They are from Atlanta.

    For reference, I grew up around Knoxville, TN.

    Chas
     
  16. Nov 19, 2001 #16
    Pacman

    Pacman Layin' Down Time Staff Member Gold Supporting Member

    Apr 1, 2000
    Omaha, Nebraska
    Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
    Maaaan, I haven't thought of that place in years. I went the school of music there.
     
  17. Nov 19, 2001 #17
    JimK

    JimK

    Dec 12, 1999
    Packer-
    Sorry 'bout that ;)
    ...that is a happenin' school. I worked as a civilian at Little Creek back in '80-'82.
    Wow, now I'm thinking of that hot babe Army Sgt. that played the clarinet...! :D


    I did pick up Sea Level's 1st two albums today...Lamar Williams, Chuck Leavell, & Jaiome from The Allmans are in the band + it's on Capricorn, the official "Southern Rock" label.
    I do not equate their sound with Southern Rock, though(even though www.allmusic.com calls 'em "Southern Rock/Fusion"). ;)
     
  18. Nov 19, 2001 #18
    Pacman

    Pacman Layin' Down Time Staff Member Gold Supporting Member

    Apr 1, 2000
    Omaha, Nebraska
    Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
    I think I know (err..."knew") her :eek:





    Then again, there were so many......
     
  19. Nov 19, 2001 #19
    backwoods012001

    backwoods012001

    Nov 17, 2001
    WEST by God VIRGINIA
    Southern rock isnt dead man, it lives on in all of us who loves it. A real cool c.d to check out is VanZant (brother to brother) by Donnie & Johnny VanZant which is dedicated to the late great Ronnie. Robert if u are ever in the nothern Wv area check out the band BACKWOODS We are a little heavy but with a good mixture of southern attitude.
     
  20. Nov 19, 2001 #20
    the-lizard-king

    the-lizard-king Guest

    Apr 27, 2001
    The Dark Side Of the Moon
    The only southern rock I really like was made by black men.
    I also like Lynyrd Skynyrd, especially 'Free As A Bird' and 'Sweet Home Alabama'. But apart from that, there is too much of a redneck stigma associated with southern rock.