If You Love Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers, Check Out These 3 Southern-Esque Rock Bands

The grand tradition and subgenre of Southern rock has graced America’s South ever since rock ‘n’ roll and Delta Blues made a musical child. It seems the height of pure Southern rock peaked in the ’70s with bands such as Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers, and since then, it has seemingly taken a back seat and has truly only appeared on a handful of contemporary songs and albums.

Given the slow demise into supposed obsoleteness, contemporary bands have not labeled themselves purely as Southern rockers. As they shouldn’t, thanks to the limiting boundaries it might entail. However, there are a few underground bands out there keeping the genre alive and well, as well as hopefully pumping it back into the mainstream.

JD Clayton

Hailing from Arkansas, JD Clayton and his band are a group of individuals prepped to mix in the old with the new. Their sounds are a fresh mix of true country and Southern rock and remind folks of the days were musicians actually used to play their instruments. In short, their music does all the talking for them.

As of now, JD Clayton and his band have released four albums, with their most recent one being, JD Clayton | OurVinyl Sessions. Besides their perfect covers of acts such as Sturgill Simpson, their original songs “American Millionaire” and “Brown Haired Blue Eyed Baby” are nothing short of amazing. You should certainly give these guys a go.

The Weeks

Coming out of Florence, Mississippi, The Weeks is a band that should be treasured, protected, and promoted at all costs. Their sound flawlessly infuses blues, gospel, folk, and rock to create a newly nostalgic form of Southern rock. Frankly, if Duane Allman was still alive, it seems he would hand the torch directly to their lead singer, Cyle Barnes.

Their songs “Brother In The Night” and “Dear Bo Jackson” are far more worthy than just one listen. Rather, you should add these songs to your playlist and let them ring out in your car for hours on end while you fly down a Southern highway.

The Stews

From Auburn, Alabama, The Stews dropped out of Auburn to create music full-time. Needless to say, they never disappoint and made the gosh darn right decision. The band has only been officially playing and touring for roughly three years. However, their chemistry is something that seems refined by age.

Their sound is truly original as it is a delightful fusion of indie and Southern rock, and as a result, it is unmistakably their sound. Songs such as “Make It Out” and “How It Ends” show how they infuse their diverse talents into one finely polished product. The Stews are the real deal.

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