By: Michael Bragg (Photo Gallery & Review) of MJBragg Photography
Asheville, North Carolina (March 29, 2018) – I’m not sure that the River Arts District of Asheville, NC knew what they were getting when Brent Cobb and Savannah Conley rolled into town tonight. The River Arts District is a quiet, little community on the riverfront, with art galleries, craft breweries, and a few music venues. The Grey Eagle has become a favorite go-to place for live shows; bringing in some big-name artists for an up close and personal experience. Many greats have played this stage and tonight’s two artists just continued those standards.
Singer-Songwriter Savannah Conley graced the stage as tonight’s opener with a delicate, yet demanding presence. Joined by Hank Compton and Grant Smith for a laid back 3-piece guitar arrangement, the group played songs like “Midnight Train” and “Never Be Ourselves“, showcasing songs from both of her EP’s, 18th and Portland, released in 2017 and the 2018 release, Twenty-Twenty.
Feeling welcomed by the crowd, Savannah tried out some brand new songs for the first time making the audience her “guinea pigs” as she said. With soulful and heartfelt voice it was hard not to be drawn into each and every note and word she sang. Her set was filled with some lighthearted joking and storytelling, giving insight to the meaning of her songs. Savannah is a true class-act and currently working with Grammy award-winning producer Dave Cobb (Shooter Jennings, Chris Stapleton, The Oak Ridge Boys, +++) as part of his Low Country Sound group for Elektra Records.
Headliner Brent Cobb kicked off his set with “South of Atlanta“, a song about his hometown in Georgia bringing his backwoods, front porch pickin’ influences to his live show. If you ever wondered what real life is like in a small southern town, just pick up Brent’s debut album, Shine on Rainy Day, and take a listen. Every song filled with a truth that is missing in much of today’s music. “Solving Problems” is a song that embraces those late evening porch- talking conversations and the realities of life. Playing songs like “Down in the Gulley” and “Diggin’ Holes” from his album, Brent got the crowd clapping their hands and stomping their boots. We may have been in the hills of North Carolina, but inside the venue, it was a full-on, homegrown South Georgia experience.
Brent Cobb & Them, as he calls his band was on fire tonight. “Country Bound” was a standout song that Brent’s father wrote when he was only 5 years old. Brent took a moment to express how much music was a part of his life growing up and what it meant to be able to include this song on his album. Throughout the night there were more stories for songs like “Old Shit” that he wrote about his grandpa and recorded by Miranda Lambert. He said it could’ve been a huge hit if he had just agreed to change the word “shit” to “stuff” but that would’ve taken the realness out of the song.
In anticipation of Brent’s upcoming May release of the new album, Providence Canyon, the group played many new songs as well. One of those songs was “King of Alabama“, which is about the late great Wayne Mills. He mentioned while writing this song he thought about Wayne’s son and what it must be like to lose your dad at a young age. Brent stated that money made from this song goes into a fund for Wayne’s son, which I thought was a very admirable thing to do and a true sign of southern hospitality.
Other songs from the upcoming album like the funky “Sucker for a Good Time” and in-your-face rocking “.30-06” show a continued drive in Brent’s music for a sound all his own, that is just honest, pure and fun. Covering Dwight Yoakam‘s “Guitars and Cadillacs” was one of those fun moments filled with crowd participation. Brent ended the night with softer, yet powerful performance of “Shine on Rainy Day” with its deep, meaningful lyric content.
Brent has had his share of success writing songs for artists like Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Kellie Pickler, Little Big Town and more, but I believe his biggest moments are yet to come. He is also signed with Low Country Sound through his cousin Dave Cobb. With the upcoming release of a new album, Brent will also be joining the legend Marty Stuart and Chris Stapleton as the opening act for their upcoming tour.
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Copyright – Michael Bragg/MJBragg Photography
