Brent Cobb – Providence Canyon (Album Review)

Storyteller and musical outlaw Brent Cobb returns on Friday, May 11, 2018, with Providence Canyon thanks to Low Country Sound/Elektra Records.

Georgian Singer-Songwriter and Guitarist Brent Cobb has crafted songs for some of modern Country’s greats, including Luke Bryan, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, and the Eli Young Band, to name but a few. As his personal story goes, after moving to Nashville – reportedly on the advice of Luke Bryan – Cobb found himself slowly developing a solid career in songwriting, leading to gigs opening for the likes of Blake Shelton and Sara Evans, as well as appearing on the Southern Family compilation alongside Miranda Lambert, Zac Brown, and future tourmate Chris Stapleton.

Under his own moniker, Cobb has crafted a signature sound that incorporates elements of a multitude of genres all under the banner of Americana, releasing two full-length albums to date: his 2006 debut, No Place Left to Leave, and 2016’s major label debut, Shine On Rainy Day. For the latter, Cobb received a 2018 Grammy Award nomination for Best Americana Album.

On the heels of this accomplishment, Brent Cobb is set to return with his third full-length offering, Providence Canyon. Recorded at Nashville’s RCA Studio A with Grammy Award-winning Producer Dave Cobb (that would be, yes, Brent’s cousin and longtime collaborator), the 11-song collection sees Cobb cementing his talents as a superb storyteller.

Providence Canyon begins with the gentle Folk-meets-Country sensibility that anchors the glittering sweep of the titular “Providence Canyon.” Then, Cobb and his band get into a groovy little jam session on “King of Alabama” before they launch into the swank and sass parade of the gritty “Mornin’s Gonna Come.”

Personal tales of a man on the road are at the center of the delicate melodies of “Come Home Soon,” while there is a swampy grit to the stellar guitars on the whiskey-sippin’ stomp of “Sucker For A Good Time.” The glistening, languid lament of “High In The Country” presents a somber sling that flows flawlessly into “If I Don’t See Ya.” Here, Cobb keeps the bluesy jam session rolling with a superb representation of the great musicianship on display throughout Providence Canyon.

Cobb’s signature blend of Americana weaves throughout the core of the funky stomp that is a finger-waving, tsk-ing tale of infidelity,“.30-06.” Meanwhile, there is a beautiful Folk influence embedded in the largely acoustic “Lorene,” fraught with some solid advice. Cranking it back up, there is the gently rocking, toe-tappin’ “When The Dust Settles” before he goes out guns-a-blazin’ with “Ain’t A Road Too Long.” On the closer, Cobb dips into the bluesy Outlaw Rock spirit once again, leaving off with energy.

On Providence Canyon, Cobb weaves together gritty tales that cross fluidly through multiple genres to create a patchwork quilt of Americana; the end result is something that lends itself beautifully to touring with the equally-talented and beloved likes of Chris Stapleton. This, therefore, is no Pop Country record: instead, Cobb has authored a collection of stories that coalesce together to formulate a cohesive unit that speaks of letting go and hitting the road, all spoken through superb musicianship baked in the Georgian dirt.

What better way to celebrate summer than putting the windows down, heading out, and imbibing some delicious, sonic storytelling from Brent Cobb! Hair blowin’ in the breeze, CrypticRock give Brent Cobb’s Providence Canyon 4 of 5 stars.

Tour Dates:
May 8—Phoenix, AZ—Valley Bar*
May 9—San Diego, CA—Casbah*
May 11—West Hollywood, CA—Troubadour*
May 12—San Francisco, CA—The Chapel*
May 16—Portland, OR—Doug Fir Lounge*
May 18—Seattle, WA—Tractor Tavern*
May 19—Vancouver, Canada—The Biltmore Cabaret*
May 22—Boise, ID—Neurolux*
May 23—Salt Lake City, UT—The State Room*
May 24—Fort Collins, CO—The Armory*
May 25—Denver, CO—Globe Hall*
May 26—Omaha, NE—Slowdown*
June 16—Brandon, MS—Brandon Amphitheater‡ (SOLD OUT)
June 22—Rogers, AR—Walmart Amp‡ (SOLD OUT)
June 28—Darien Center, NY—Darien Lake Amphitheater‡
June 29—Philadelphia, PA—BB&T Pavilion‡
June 30—Mansfield, MA—Xfinity Center‡
July 13—St. Louis, MO—Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre‡
July 13—Louisville, KY—Forecastle Fest
July 15—Birmingham, AL—Sloss Fest
July 19—Spokane, WA—Spokane Arena‡
July 20—Portland, OR—Sunlight Supply Amphitheater‡ (SOLD OUT)
July 21—Seattle, WA—White River Amphitheatre‡
July 26—South Lake Tahoe, NV—Harveys Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena‡
July 27—Sacramento, CA—Toyota Amphitheatre‡
July 28—Mountain View, CA—Shoreline Amphitheatre‡
August 2—Billings, MT—Rimrock Auto Arena‡ (SOLD OUT)
August 3—Missoula, MT—Adams Center‡
August 4—Boise, ID—Ford Idaho Center Arena‡
August 9—Albuquerque, NM—Isleta Amphitheater‡
August 10—Denver, CO—Pepsi Center‡ (SOLD OUT)
August 11—Salt Lake City, UT—USANA Amphitheatre‡
August 16—San Diego, CA—Mattress Firm Amphitheatre‡
August 17—Anaheim, CA—Honda Center‡
August 18—Los Angeles, CA—The Forum‡
August 23—Saratoga Springs, NY—Saratoga Performing Arts Center‡
August 24—Gilford, NH—Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion‡ (SOLD OUT)
August 25— Gilford, NH—Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion‡
October 4—Cincinnati, OH—Riverbend Music Center‡
October 5—Indianapolis, IN—Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center‡
October 6—Chicago, IL—Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre‡
October 11—Charlotte, NC—PNC Music Pavilion‡ (SOLD OUT)
October 12—Raleigh, NC—Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek‡ (SOLD OUT)
October 13—Bristow, VA—Jiffy Lube Live‡
October 19—Alpharetta, GA—Verizon Amphitheatre‡ (SOLD OUT)
October 20—Atlanta, GA—Lakewood Amphitheater‡ (SOLD OUT)
October 25—Columbia, SC—Colonial Life Arena‡
October 26—Knoxville, TN—Thompson Boling Arena‡ (SOLD OUT)
October 27—Lexington, KY—Rupp Arena‡ (SOLD OUT)
November 2—New York, NY—Madison Square Garden‡
November 3—Charlottesville, VA—John Paul Jones Arena‡
November 4—Baltimore, MD—Royal Farms Arena‡
*as part of Cobb’s “Ain’t A Road Too Long” tour with special guest Savannah Conley
‡as part of “Chris Stapleton’s All-American Road Show”

Purchase Providence Canyon:

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