CD Review: Live at the Chicken – Granger Smith

13 years ago Liv Carter Comments Off on CD Review: Live at the Chicken – Granger Smith

 

Live at the Chicken – Granger Smith (2012)

 

Texas singer-songwriter Granger Smith has built up a loyal following and a massive live reputation over the years. Now, for the first time, he has put together a live album, Live at the Chicken, which brings his energetic performance right to you.

For his first live record, Smith returned to his Alma Mater, Texas A&M University, and one of its best known bars, The Dixie Chicken. After a five-year songwriting education in Nashville, his material is perhaps a little more accessible than that of many of his peers, but it still undeniably emanates the Texas sound. His warm vocals and his own special brand of contemporary country music are a perfect partnership.

The album cleverly opens with ‘Sleeping on the Interstate,’ a life-on-the-road narrative. The imagery in the song takes you away to the open road and puts you in the right frame of mind to take in what follows. Existing fans will get to hear the hits they already love; new fans will hear a strong collection of songs that leaves an impression.

Smith’s introductions reveal the stories behind the songs and show his comfortable stage presence. He tells stories of his beloved old Chevy truck (‘Superstitious 17’) and of his granddad who was a pilot in World War II (‘5 More Minutes’). There are songs to get you on the dance floor, (‘Saturday Meets Sunday Morning’, ‘Cherry Lipstick’, ‘As it Is In Texas’), slower love songs including ‘Oxygen’ and ‘I Almost Am,’ and the beautiful heartbreak song ‘Colorblind.’ The album closes with the anthem since adopted by Texas A&M, ‘We Bleed Maroon.’

As with any good live album, Live at the Chicken gives you the whole thing straight up. If someone drops a note on the guitar or the very occasional wobbly tone, it’s all been kept in. Granger Smith can hold Live at the Chicken up next to any other Texas artist’s live album. He has contributed a strong new piece to the Texas musical tapestry.

Live at the Chicken will be in stores tomorrow, February 14, 2012.

 

Liv Carter

Liv Carter

Liv is a career coach for creatives, and the people who work with them.
She holds several certificates from Berklee College of Music, and a certificate in Positive Psychology from UC Berkeley.
Her main influences are coffee, cats, and Alexander Hamilton.
Liv Carter

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