Alpha Psi’s Rodeo has brought some of the best Country singers and bands to Auburn, Ala., and this year is no different. Blackberry Smoke, from Atlanta, Ga., can be recognized simply as good southern music. With influences such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker Band, The Rolling Stones, Hank Williams and Little Feat, nine years of collaboration have brought Blackberry Smoke to the attention of CMT and Skynyrd’s own Rickey Medlocke himself.

Charlie Starr, lead singer, describes their music as “Southern Rock,” even though it can fall in several categories.

“I’m OK with Southern Rock,” said Starr. “ It’s definitely what we do. Some if it is honkey tonk but we have a more rock side. We love blues and bluegrass and everything else in between.”

Starr writes most of Blackberry Smoke’s original songs, but some are co-written with his other band members and Nashville songwriters. As for taking a good thing and making it better, Blackberry Smoke’s version of Willie Nelson’s “Yesterday’s Wine” written by George Jones can attest to that.

While band members Starr, brothers Richard and Brit Turner, Paul Jackson and Brandon Still contemplated the perfect band name for some time, all the good ones seemed to be taken. Chris Robinson from The Black Crows is to thank for coming up with the name, “Blackberry Smoke.” It rolls off the tongue like a country rock band playing in the hot southern summer should.

As far as what to expect from Blackberry Smoke this weekend, Starr is sure it will be everything but disappointment.

“It’ll be loud, high-energy,” said Starr. “We don’t want people to think they can expect to hear just one thing. We try to please ourselves and everybody but we won’t try to cover all the bases.”

You may have already seen the band this week coming in at #3 on CMT’s Pure 12-Pack Video Countdown with their hit, “Good One Comin’ On.”

Blackberry Smoke enjoys playing almost as much as you will enjoy hearing. It takes more than talent and opportunity to make a living doing what you love. It also takes passion.

In the long run, Blackberry Smoke hopes to keep touring and recording as long as possible. The best part of performing, Starr says, is watching people in the audience enjoy the music they play.

Starr described this rewarding feeling “like a really good-looking girl being told she’s pretty, we’d never get tired of having people enjoy listening to our music.”

A lot of people try to describe Blackberry Smoke’s music as one part country, one part rock, and a dash of blues and hillbilly. It’s not that complicated. Just let the band do its job.

“We love to play good songs,” said Starr, referring to their own and some of the all-time favorite covers they perform. If you want to know which of the latter Blackberry Smoke will play this weekend, Starr said, “That will be a surprise!”

Don’t miss Blackberry Smoke performing at 7:15 this Saturday at the Alpha Psi Rodeo. Rodeo tickets are available now for $25, or $30 at the door.

Be sure to check out Blackberry Smoke pre-rodeo at www.blackberrysmoke.com or find them on facebook or twitter. Also, look for the Bama Jam Record’s re-release of their album “Little Piece of Dixie” in a few weeks.