Charlie Starr and fellow Blackberry Smoke guitarist Benji Shanks walked onto the stage at Buckhead Theatre for what could only be described as an intimate night of music, where the barrier between audience and artist melted away. This was a night where electric guitars and drums were traded in for acoustic guitars and powerful vocals, creating a sense of connection that pulled the audience in with every note strummed and every word sung. Charlie and Benji offered a quick hello, picked up their guitars, and got right into it.
They opened the evening with a Billy Joe Shaver cover of “Old Chunk of Coal,” followed by Blackberry Smoke staples “Leave a Scar” and “Pretty Little Lie,” only pausing briefly to sing “Happy Birthday” to a fan who announced during a quiet moment that he was celebrating his 65th birthday. Charlie and Benji rolled right along, covering Travis Tritt’s mega hit “Here’s a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)” and Ray Charles’ “Hard Times.” The emotional peak of the night came when they were joined by Lana Turner, the daughter of Blackberry Smoke drummer Brit Turner, who passed away in 2024. Their performance of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” was powerful and moving, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
The night was filled with more Blackberry Smoke favorites, including “One Horse Town,” “Till the Wheels Fall Off,” and “Ain’t Much Left of Me.” The night didn’t feel like a concert so much as an invitation into Charlie’s home for a performance among close friends and family. This was my first show of 2026, and all I can say is that the bar has been set incredibly high for the shows and performances I’ll be lucky enough to experience this year.
GALLERY: Charlie Starr at Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia (January 9, 2026)
