Streaming alone vs. playing for an audience. Pre-eminent Southern songsmith breaks it down

Randall Bramblett has just finished a performance of one his most gripping compositions, a remorseful but heavily soul-friendly work titled “Disappearing Ink” that helped define his re-emergence as a pre-eminent Southern songsmith nearly two decades ago. Appearing modestly but cheerfully satisfied with song’s transition to a solo acoustic setting, he takes a pause.

“I’m waiting for the virtual applause to die down some.”

Like every artistic peer attempting to maintain some sense of a performance career in an era of COVID-19 precautions that has temporarily shuttered public access to music clubs, theatres and concert venues, Bramblett is learning to adjust. The concert stage he is currently playing is his living room. His road crew consists of wife Lenore, who is adjusting the iPhone being used to broadcast the concert, and manager Nancy Lewis-Pegel, who is helping to remotely adjust the live streaming of what will be the second of three homebound concerts Bramblett has served up during the coronavirus outbreak. And, yes, the audience is there, too – some from Europe, some from as far away as Australia. But Bramblett can’t see any of them. Talk about social distancing.

“The technical part of this we’ve got down pretty good, I think,” Bramblett said by phone from his Georgia home the day after his third streaming concert. A fourth is set for 8 pm on May 5. “But the other part of it is still a little intimidating. You’re out there on your own where you have never been. That’s the difference. It’s not like you’re playing a concert alone. It’s like you’re playing to the air and just trusting that people are listening.”

A veteran of a celebrated mid-1970s Southern music scene, Bramblett gained notice for contributions to the solo projects of Gregg Allman before joining the Chuck Leavell-led Allman Brothers spin off band Sea Level. After an extended break during the 1980s to reevaluate his personal life (which included a turn to sobriety) and professional direction, Bramblett became a bandmate of Steve Winwood, including a role in the 1994 reunion tour by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Traffic. Bramblett’s solo career resumed with his 1998 album “See Through Me” and has never slowed since. His songs, a commanding mix of groove, soul and keen literary instinct, have been covered by celebrity pals like Bonnie Raitt. He has also played Lexington numerous times through the years, from WoodSongs sets to club dates at Natasha’s Bistro and Willie’s Locally Known.

This spring, though, everything hit a wall, along with the careers of all touring artists. For Bramblett, the timing was especially precarious. He was putting the final touches on what was to be his ninth studio album for the New West label (and his 12th overall) when COVID precautions began to shut down the working world.

“We were down to just overdubbing some background vocals, horns and a couple of guitar parts,” Bramblett said. “We had about finished it. At first, I was like, ‘Gosh, why don’t we just finish this thing. It’s not that dangerous out here.’ Then I talked to my brother-in-law, who’s a doctor. He was telling me, ‘You have to look at the big picture. Is it worth it to take that chance just to finish this record to bring this virus to your home, to your wife? You’re not going to able to visit her in the hospital if she gets sick from it. You know that, right?’

“So I was like, ‘I need to tighten things up here and just let it go.’ So I called New West and they said, ‘No problem.’ The record’s release was probably going to be backed up anyway.’ So it worked out fine, but it was really a hard decision at first. I thought it was extreme to do these precautions, but it was the right thing to do.”

With that, Bramblett, like many other artists – from established national acts to homegrown local and regional performers – hit cyberspace and began broadcasting concerts from home. For now, Bramblett is streaming shows every other Tuesday evening, performing over four decades worth of original songs.

“My musical life is kind in two parts. One was the early part and went through Sea Level. The next was after a seven or eight year break where I got sober and starting doing my solo career again. It feels different doing some of the early stuff. It’s not that I was totally messed up, but I was definitely not on the same plain I’m on now. I was not as careful about the songs back then. When you don’t know much about yourself and you’re young, you’re just throwing this stuff out there without much feeling. But with the newer stuff, I have a hard time finding songs that I don’t think are good. I never would have put them on a record if I didn’t think they were.

“But I’ve been very encouraged by the response the songs are getting with these shows. It’s a totally in-house deal, too, a total cottage industry. It’s a great new experience and I’m really digging it.”

Randall Bramblett

When: 8 p.m. May 5

Where: Live streaming at facebook.com/RandallBramblett

Virtual tip jar: paypal.me/RandallBramblett.

This story was originally published April 29, 2020 at 11:17 AM.