This is last installment of a three part series highlighting a trio of shows at Gravity Lounge to close out the spring season.  They’ve got more great shows on the way for the summer too.  Stay tuned.  Now on to Scott Miller.

Of the three shows I’ve decided to cover, this is the one that I’m most looking forward to seeing.  Scott Miller is originally from Swoope, Virginia, just outside of Staunton, although he currently hangs his hat in Knoxville, TN.  Over the past ten plus years, Miller has built a reputation as a fantastic songwriter as well as one hell of a rock n roller.  I’ve seen him perform with his band The Commonwealth a couple times, most recently in Nashville a couple years ago, and friends let me tell you, they take few prisoners.  And I’ve also seen him perform as a solo artist armed with only a guitar, a harmonica, and a microphone and his wit, his humor, and his talent were on full display.  I also have to give Miller props for writing a song called “Highland County Boy” because I’m from Highland County and trust me, it’s a rare thing to find Highland County mentioned in song.

Scott Miller is currently on a solo tour through the July 4th weekend and will begin touring with his band starting in August.  (If you’re headed to Bristol’s Rhythm and Roots Festival in September you’ll have an opportunity to see the group effort there).  Tonight (Friday, June 20) Scott Miller performs at the Gravity Lounge, where he’ll be joined by another fantastic songwriter, Buddy Mondlock from Nashville, TN.  Charlottesville’s own Bahlmann Abbot opens.  Show starts at 7:30pm and the cost is $15.  For more on Scott Miller and to see a video clip of him performing live…

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My introduction to Scott Miller’s music began when I discovered a little band out of Knoxville, TN called the V-Roys who had released this great album back in 1998 called All About Town.  It was produced by the twangtrust team of Steve Earle and Ray Kennedy, featured Earle as both a songwriter and guest artist, and was highlighted by talents of the band’s two principal singer/songwriters:  Mic Harrison and Scott Miller.  And while the whole album is fantastic, I kept going back to favorites like “Arianne”, “Sorry Sue”, and “Fade Away”, all three of which Miller had a hand in writing.  The V-Roys would break up the following year, but for Scott Miller, his musical career was just getting started.

In 2001, Scott Miller would re-emerge with a new band (The Commonwealth), a new record label (Sugar Hill Records), and a new album (Thus Always To Tyrants).  The album is intelligent roots rock at its very finest and includes a mix of electric and acoustic songs (including the aforementioned “Highland County Boy”).  At its heart Thus Always to Tyrants is a rock album in the vein of Steve Earle’s Transcendental Blues or Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A.  Many fans still consider this record the best of Miller’s career (yours truly included).

Since the release of Thus Always to Tyrants Miller has recorded two more studio albums (Upside Downside in 2003 and Citation in 2006) as well as the live album Reconstruction in 2007.  I have the two studio albums and they’re both damn good with Citation just edging out Upside by a hair.  With each record Scott Miller has found a formula that works as he continues to mix well-written acoustic songs about people and place with more upbeat rockers that showcase the power of Miller and his band.

If you want to check out a sample of Scott’s solo show check out the video below for the song “Dear Sarah” which appears on the Thus Always to Tyrants album.

Dear Sarah (live) by Scott Miller

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