When I got my eagerly anticipated copy of Michael Buffalo Smith’s new CD,
I figured that I was in for some good ol’ Southern Rock, seeing as how the Buff
is from upstate South Carolina, home of The Marshall Tucker Band and site of the
original Skynyrd’s last show. Michael has already written
 what I think is the
definitive story of the music that comes out of South Carolina (“Carolina
Dreams”) and has shared many a stage with Southern
Rock’s elite. As a solo
artist and with various bands such as Greenville (SC)’s True Blues, I’ve
personally seen him perform live several times. He’s jammed on “Can’t You See”
with the Marshall Tucker Band and held his own against guitar slingers like Dave
Hlubeck ( from the original Molly Hatchet band and The Southern Rock Allstars)
and Tommy Craine (Charlie Daniels Band). So I slung the CD in the player,
grabbed a brew and got ready to rock and roll.
Before I get started talking about “Southern Lights”, I gotta brag a
little on the Buffalo. This guy started a web site about 5 years ago called
Gritz to promote the articles he’d written about various Southern Rockers.
Excellent interviews and pictures...Charlie Daniels, Bobby Ingram, Southern
music in general...super cool web site. Then about a year ago, Mr. MBS hit a
home run. He decided to put out a print version of Gritz. He’s on his
4th issue now and every one has been better than the one before. This
is one quality magazine, folks. Go over to
www.gritz.net and check out the on-line version of Gritz and get a
subscription to the hard copy version. You will not be sorry...tell ‘em Skydog
sent you. Michael was kind enough to sit down and
answer a couple of questions from the ol’ Skydog (no, I didn’t bribe him with
good ol’ Southern cookin’ !).
But guess what ? As I listened to this CD, it dawned on me. This isn’t
Southern Rock...it’s SOUTHERN MUSIC. There’s a difference. When I think
of Southern Rock, I imagine steamy, sweat-drenched bars, wild women and lots of
likker (not liquor....remember, you’re down south!) Buffalo’s music is
different...there’s the hint of gospel in his voice; not that he can’t growl
with the best of them. There’s true dual guitar lines, twining around a solid
rhythm section. It doesn’t make you think of bars and the wild life...it’s more
like sitting back on the front porch in the summer...sometimes it’s hot as hell,
but, sooner or later, the sun goes down and things slow down and cool off.
That’s true Southern Music.
Q. : Hey
Bro...Great new CD you’ve got there...how was it actually being in the same
studio with some of these musicians ? It had to be intimidating sitting across
from the likes of Tommy Crain and Bonnie Bramlett.
MBS : “It
was a dream come true. And what a blessing...recording with Bonnie
Bramlett...what a sweetheart ! Bless her heart for driving all the way from
Nashville to Huntsville (Alabama) to record with me. When we finally confirmed
that she would be coming, I wrote “I Don’t Wanna Say Goodbye” just for us to do
as a duet. The song started from a light hearted conversation with Bonnie and
turned into a serious love song. Wow, what an honor to record it with her
!
As far as being intimidated...I’m just try to be
myself and have fun. There was one point when we were recording “Ride On My
Friend”, a tribute to Toy Caldwell written by Tony Heatherly, when Tommy Crain,
one of my guitar idols, and I were sitting face to face. I’m picking his
acoustic and he’s playing twin leads with me on his Goldtop Les Paul...OK, maybe
there was a little flicker of intimidation...but what a great moment
!” Q : Did
you try to follow a formula on “Southern Lights” or did the songs just fall into
place ?
MBS
: “ I
can’t make a formula album...there’s all kind of influences on “Southern
Lights”...U2, Marshall Tucker, Col. Bruce Hampton. I can’t write a Nashville
formula song for the life of me.” Q :
Sounds like Nashville is due for a little shaking up anyway. Plus, there’s a lot
of the older generation of “Outlaws” putting out some awful good music. David
Allan Coe just released a killer live CD and DVD; Skynyrd might set Nashville on
it’s ear with “Red, White & Blue” from their new CD. What do you think about
the new generation of “Southern” Rockers ? Are they gonna be able to carry on
the tradition ?
MBS: “I believe we’re in the midst of a true
Southern Rock revival. I absolutely love The Regulators ! They rock. And Rebel
Storm - whom I’ll be touring Europe with- are killer. Smokin Gun...and guess
what....they’re all West Coast bands. Proves you don’t have to live in the South
to put out true Southern Rock. And even in Europe, you’ve got W.I.N.D. from
Italy...Nocturn, Flatman, Lizard...all from outside the US. Southern Rock has
really become international. Back home, we’ve got Sevenmoore, a band featuring
Jerry Eubanks and Paul Riddle (from the original Marshall Tucker Band), who are
putting out incredible music. Dallas Moore, The Rhythm Pigs, Jay B. Elston, The
South of Heaven Band...I know I’m leaving some out. So much good stuff
!!
Q :
Sounds like Southern music’s in good hands, Brother Buffalo. Thanks for visiting
with us a while. Got any other Books on the burner ? That “Carolina Dreams” was
a keeper. I know I’m hanging on to my autographed copy !
:
“Thanks for the kind words. I’ve completed a biography of Doug Gray, an original
member and present leader of The Marshall Tucker Band. The publisher’s holding
it up for some reason or another, but I believe it’ll come out; just don’t know
when. Gritz Publishing will soon have a collection of our best interviews from
the last 5 years coming out. I’m also working on some other stuff...an
autobiography and a novel about Southern Rock...been pretty
busy.”
OK folks, back to “Southern Lights”...I’m not
going to give you a song-by-song review. I’m just gonna say this : if you like
“Southern” music, you owe it to yourself to take a listen to this CD. There’s
love songs (“I Don’t Wanna Say Goodbye”), there’s low-down blues (“Hooker’s
Boogie”, “Mad Dog”), then there’s the introspective and truly beautiful songs
(“Into The Light” and “Ride On My Friend”). What else could a good ol’ Southern
boy want....even if you’re from California, Italy, or Australia....SOUTHERN
MUSIC!
Visit: www.michaelbuffalosmith.com
Skydog signin’
out....
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