The Blue Norther is a fast-moving cold front that becomes a tempest when it hits Texas. The storm is marked by violent changes in temperature. “It’s a really powerful thing to witness and feel,” says singer, songwriter and Lone Star native Shane Smith. “You see this whole weather wall coming, and then it’s like, ‘boom!’ It’s scary, but there’s also something really romantic to it at the same time.”
Norther is a fitting title for Shane Smith & The Saints’ fourth album. Not only does it signify the Austin, Texas quintet’s eruptive, inclement mix of red dirt country, folk, bluegrass and embattled rock, it also serves as a metaphor for their difficult journey over the past decade or so.
This story is from the July 2024 edition of Classic Rock.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2024 edition of Classic Rock.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
CREATURES OF HABITS
In the late 80s, FM seemed poised for huge success. By the mid-90s the dream, and the band, was effectively over. Then almost 20 years later a one-off gig offer changed everything...
AHEAD OF THE GAME
Too punk for punk in the late 70s, Oi! elder statesmen in the early 80s, living-legend role models in the early 90s, Cock Sparrer never got credit for what they started. Today, after all these years, they're as strong as they've ever been.
BAD BLOOD AND BURIED HATCHES
After a slow start, by the end of the 70s Canadian trio Triumph were living up to their name. Then came the falling-out, the split, and 20 years of toxicity before they shared a stage again.
REALITY BITES
Chris Goss lit the fuse on the 90s stoner revolution, and worked with bands including Kyuss and QOTSA. Meanwhile, his band Masters Of Reality remain hardly known despite having made some truly great records.
JON BON JOVI
\"There was no Plan B in my life, ever,\" he says. Luckily he didn't need one. He started in covers bands, got the breaks, went on to mastermind one of the biggest and biggest-selling bands of his era, and became one of its biggest rock stars. And there's more - much more...
THE RESURRECTION SHUFFLE
Dio was out, Gillan was gone, Geezer had given up. And Ozzy? Ozzy had declared war... Into the blackness surrounding Black Sabbath came light in the shape of singer Tony Martin, and the next chapter in the band's ever eventful story began.
Chris Spedding
The legendary sideman and session guitarist on a \"naughty\" 70s, discovering the Sex Pistols and being an honorary Beatle.
David Bowie-Absolute Beginners
Taken from an idea through to a finished song in time left over after David Bowie recorded a clandestine demo, it led to a \"functional\" guitarist working with Bowie for the next 10 years.
The Karma Effect
Meet the young classic rock revivalists with a stadium-style approach to shows and songs.
Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats
After six years without a new record, they return with one inspired by 70s Italian murder-mystery cinema.
