Blackjack Billy’s country-rock fusion celebrates cannabis and the Southern spirit

When it comes
to music and cannabis, people don’t always equate country music with the fluffy
green stuff. Well, they should. Blackjack Billy, who hails from Nashville and
plays a mean country-rock fusion, is big into cannabis, as well as rocking out
and keeping the spirit of country alive, and it is coming through Colorado soon
to share love.

Blackjack
Billy has been making music together for a while now, and the group is proud of
the unique sound it has cultivated. “I met Jeff (Coplan-guitar/producer)
through our friends Love and Theft,” Rob Blackledge, the bassist of the group,
told us. “We worked some together, and it wasn’t long before Jeff was
introduced to Noll (Billing-vocals/guitar), and the three of us started writing
together. We wrote a few songs and liked what we had so we thought, ‘This
is fun! Let’s book some shows!’ We met Brad (Cummings-drums) soon thereafter,
and hit the road.”

Blackjack
Billy is currently on tour, and it has a new single, “Why God Made Summertime,”
that it hopes to get a lot of radio play for this summer. The band also has a
very successful album, Rebel Child, out already and is working
on new music.

When it comes
to cannabis, the members of Blackjack Billy are not shy about wearing their
appreciation on their sleeves. “We all partake in recreational use from time to
time,” Blackledge states. “I tend to enjoy it more often than the rest of the
band. We have a good buddy who keeps us supplied with edibles when we want
them. It’s fun to be out on the road, and try the different strands from all
over the world. I can only speak for myself in saying that I enjoy cannabis in
moderation. There have been times when I have smoked more, but I’m at a point
in my life now where I don’t drink much, work a lot, and find that cannabis a
great tool when creating. Everyone is affected differently, and I believe that
if you are at a place in your life where you aren’t being the person you need
or want to be, you shouldn’t mess with it. But if you are, it’s here for us to
enjoy.”

“I am an
advocate for legalization and have been for a long time,” he adds. “It makes
sense on so many levels. People who want to smoke are going to smoke. We made
it through prohibition, and I believe we’ll make it through this. I would
imagine it will take the South a little bit longer to accept cannabis
legalization, but it’s our job as educated and upstanding citizens to explain
the benefits of legalization. A new stereotype has to be created.”

The group has
also managed to work cannabis into its lyrics and themes on occasion, despite
the fact that one may not think cannabis makes the best subject material for
country. “We have referenced it a few times. ‘Wake and bake . . . ’
is a lyric from our song ‘The Booze Cruise,’ and ‘Hazy Days’ is a new tune
we just started playing about hangover cures . . . there are some others we
don’t play much. We like to have a good time, and we like to write about what
we know. It’s a part of our culture.”

Blackjack
Billy will be playing here on June 20 in Vineland for Bands in the Backyard
festival. “We played here last year, and it was killer,” Blackledge tells us.
“So excited to go back! The lineup has grown, and I know the fans will be ready
to party. There are so many reasons to drive all the way to Colorado for a
festival like this. Great people, great music, great food, and everyone is
enjoying a good toke. Y’all do it right.”

The festival
is put on by Tommy Giodone, who will be opening a dispensary in Colorado soon
and is an advocate. Come check out some great music, and learn that country and
cannabis can be good bedfellows just like cannabis and
metal, rap and reggae.

IN CONCERT

June 20 @
Bands in the Backyard Festival in Vineland.