The American South stands as a captivating realm of cultural dichotomies. These contradictions, having fueled the political maelstrom for centuries, are now igniting some of the most remarkable music of our time. In 2024, the story of rock is predominantly a tale of Southern rock, manifesting in both classic and indie-rock forms.

Unraveling the Southern Rock Phenomenon

Section 1: The Roots of Southern Rock

Rock & roll is inherently Southern music, as evidenced by luminaries like Little Richard (Georgia), Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Arkansas), Tina Turner (Tennessee), Elvis Presley (Mississippi), and Chuck Berry (Missouri). It migrated north and west, evolving racially and stylistically. In the 1970s, discerning rock fans across the nation placed "Southern rock" classics by Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker Band, Charlie Daniels Band, and Lynyrd Skynyrd alongside records by Grateful Dead, Eagles, Poco, Neil Young, and The Band. These records drew from the same well, distilling Southern sounds and mythology into quintessentially American music. 2: The misapprehension of the "rebel flag" as a racially neutral symbol tainted the Southern-rock subgenre. This complexity led to diverse interpretations, as seen in Drive-By Truckers' 2001 Southern Rock Opera. Patterson Hood, from Alabama, recognized the opera's timeliness due to current political racial aspects.

Section 2: Modern Southern Rock Artists

Katie "Waxahatchee" Crutchfield (Alabama) and Jake "MJ" Lenderman (North Carolina) crafted 21st-century rock music with distinct Southern sensibilities on Tigers Blood and Manning Fireworks. Lenderman's music is influenced by the Truckers, Neil Young, and The Band, with his politics subtly woven into his storytelling. He sings about dipshit braggart machismo in "Wristwatch" and conveys a rueful message in the title track of Manning Fireworks. 2: Patterson Hood is a fan of Lenderman and Wednesday, his band with Karly Hartzman. Another great 2023 Southern rock album is Weathervanes by Jason Isbell, who started in the Truckers. He was invited to play at the Democratic National Convention, singing "Something More Than Free" about a workingman's plight. Hood and the Truckers played at a delegate party. Meanwhile, at the RNC, Michigan's Kid Rock and Nashville's Sixwire covered Southern rock songs. A recent Trump ad had a Southern rock soundtrack.

Section 3: The Broader Southern Rock Landscape

"Southern rock" isn't just about traditional acts. Bands like the B-52's and R.E.M. were unashamedly progressive in sound and presentation. Forerunners like Big Star (Memphis) and the reunited dBs (North Carolina > New York City) also contributed. Their seminal early-Eighties LPs were reissued this year. Singer-songwriters like Lucinda Williams also play a part. 2: In October, Michael Stipe and Jason Isbell played R.E.M. songs at a Harris/Walz rally, hoping to influence the situation positively. They sang Isbell's "Hope the High Road," a prayer for a new reconstruction. This performance was more convincing than any politician's this year, highlighting the power of Southern rock.