My Top 10 Favorite Southern Rock Bands
Prologue: one of my favorite websites, Listverse, had a recent top 10 list consisting of the best Southern Rock bands of all time (I didn’t post the link to the list because of profanity in it.). It was all wrong, for so many reasons. First of all, Creedence Clearwater Revival was on the list; they’re not even from Southern California, much less the real South…plus, I think their music is terrible. And then Elvis Presley and David Allan Coe were on the list, and they’re not even bands! So…I was inspired to create my own list…enjoy.
I love Southern Rock. I can’t even really define what it is, you know? But I know it when I hear it. There are certain hallmarks to Southern Rock: a blending of hard rock, country, folk, and gospel styles, themes of Southern pride and independence, reliance on lead singers with strong voices and personalities…just to name a few. It’s a genre as varied as any other in music, yet as unmistakable as any genre as well. Southern Rock has been a part of my musical life for a long time, and there’s a rich history of good Southern Rock music. Here’s a countdown of my favorites…forgive me if there’s a bit of Georgia bias in my list:
Atlanta Rhythm Section
10. Atlanta Rhythm Section: The guys from Doraville created a smooth, soulful sound that set them apart from other bands of the era. Seasoned studio musicians, they forged a unique and polished style; unforgettable songs like “So Into You,” “Imaginary Lover,” and “Champagne Jam” made them more than just a regional favorite. Their national success was short-lived, but a few of their songs have become staples for classic-rock radio.
Needtobreathe
9. Needtobreathe: These boys have made a name for themselves in the Christian music industry, but they’re truly an underrated Southern Rock band. They’re even originally from a town–Possum Kingdom, SC–whose name can only originate in the South! From the first thick chords of their first album to the gospel and twang inflections of their second and third records, Needtobreathe have established a big, open sound and a lyrical and melodic sensibility that have clearly been shaped in Dixie. I keep hoping and praying that they’ll gain exposure to a wider audience as their career goes on. This band deserves your attention if they don’t have it already.
Drive-By Truckers
8. Drive-By Truckers: What is there to say about a band known for their colorful album titles, literate songwriting, and tight musicianship? Trey Bailey calls their music “dirty Southern trailer park rawk,” and there may not be a more apt description. One listen to their masterpiece The Southern Rock Opera, and you’ll be opened up to the world of the proud poor, the people of the South often overlooked by writers, musicians, and filmmakers alike. Fascinating songs, worthy of Faulkner, O’Connor, and Welty…truly amazing stuff.
Widespread Panic
7. Widespread Panic: The South’s quintessential hippie-jam band, Widespread Panic always remind me of downtown Athens. Their 20-plus year history of crafting both meandering, spaced-out jams and clever songs, along with their legendary live shows and cult-like following have cemented a place for them in Southern Rock history. Even though they mine most of the same territory as bands like Phish and The Grateful Dead, Widespread Panic do so in a way that’s enduringly Southern. Their trippy and surprisingly soulful music have carved an indelible niche in the rich history of the Athens music scene.
Hootie & The Blowfish
6. Hootie & The Blowfish: This choice could possibly be the most controversial one on the list. Why so high on the list when they didn’t really have a sustained career? Why aren’t they just a pop or college rock band? I’ve actually debated those questions myself, and the answer I came up with is pretty simple: they made brilliant rock with a true Southern flair, even if for a short time. Their guys-next-door accessibility, their exploration of Southern themes (more so on the album cuts than on the singles), and their celebration of their influences (especially on 2000’s Scattered, Smothered, & Covered) make their appearance and position on the list clear. The fact that they were a racially integrated band in the unfortunately fragmented world of modern radio should not be lost on anyone, and of course it’s interesting to note that lead singer Darius Rucker has gone on to become the first black artist since Charley Pride to top the country charts.
Third Day
5. Third Day: Yes, another Georgia band, and yes, another band primarily known in the Christian marketplace. It’s a shame that they’re not better known in the mainstream music industry, even though they’re probably one of the best known Christian bands. Third Day have a soft spot in my heart, not only because they’re from Marietta, where I was born, but also because I saw them live in some small venues before they made the big time. Songs like “Nothing At All,” “Took My Place,” and “Revelation” show that the guys aren’t afraid to express the timeless truths of Christ in a Southern Rock package. Plus, they put on one heck of a live show.
The Marshall Tucker Band
4. The Marshall Tucker Band: Another potentially controversial choice (“Aren’t they the band with the flute player?”), the Marshall Tucker Band walked a fine line between several distinct musical styles…country, folk, rock, jazz, and jam-band…and synthesized them into their own unique Southern Rock sound. The well-known songs, such as “Heard It In A Love Song,” “Fire On The Mountain,” and “Can’t You See,” tell only part of the story. The band honed their craft in the early 1970’s…in a rehearsal hall owned by, you guessed it, Marshall Tucker…until they became a tight unit, crafting a sound that included long jams, expert musicianship, and Doug Gray’s vocals, which sound like a cross between Waylon and Willie. Songs like “This Ol’ Cowboy” travel across multiple musical styles while still sounding like Southern Rock. Oh yeah, and the flute never really sounds out of place.
The Black Crowes
3. The Black Crowes: Rolling Stone once called this band “the most ‘rock & roll’ rock & roll band alive,” and they deserve a place on this list for “Remedy” and ”She Talks To Angels” alone. The Black Crowes play as if they exist in some kind of 1970’s time warp; all the elements are there: blistering guitars, soaring B-3 and electric piano, gospel-styled female backing vocals. Those elements set the stage for Chris Robinson’s fiery, soulful vocals to unfurl like some gritty banshee. Chris and his brother Rich feuded with the best (or worst?) of rock & roll brothers, and the band’s flashy showmanship and swagger caused record buyers to take notice. They’re not quite the band they used to be, but the road they’ve stretched behind them is littered with incredible songs.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
2. Lynyrd Skynyrd: Everybody knows “Sweet Home Alabama” and (yell it) “Freebird.” Everybody knows about the plane crash. Their story is almost as legendary as it is true. And yet, most people don’t realize what set Skynyrd apart from the other bands of the day, Southern Rock or not: the swagger and bravado of Ronnie Van Zandt. Blues and country influences, a whopping three guitarists, and Billy Powell’s perfect boogie-woogie piano helped add to the distinctive sound as well. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s music was largely about pride: pride in the South itself, pride in traditional values, pride in the band’s own ability to rock. Skynyrd gamely carries on today, traveling much of the same musical territory as 35 years ago, but the near mythic status of Ronnie Van Zandt and a showstopping, powerful band is a tall shadow to stand in.
The Allman Brothers Band
1. The Allman Brothers Band: No band in Southern Rock history has had the staying power or the unique ability to transcend genre as the Allman Brother Band has. Often sliding into country, sometimes stretching into blues, usually jamming live, turning songs into 20-minute “opuses, the band touches on all the conventions of the Southern Rock genre without turning them into cliches. They’ve weathered the deaths of Duane Allman and Berry Oakley, only to emerge stronger and more successful. They have featured distinct vocals by Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, and later Warren Haynes, and have still managed to create a sound that is largely consistent and mostly excellent. They still put on an amazing live show…with two drummers! For forty years (and counting) the Allman Brothers Band has defined and redefined the Southern Rock genre, constantly making it better. For that…and more, they earn the top spot on my list.
Lovin’ needtobreathe!!