Rockers Beartooth Countrify ‘Clever’ for ‘The Blackbird Session’ EP [Exclusive Premiere]

Rock band Beartooth ditched the electric guitars and pulsing rhythms for a more organic, twangy version of their song "Clever." The group cut the song at Nashville's Blackbird Studio, and one might even call the full EP "real country music." Hear the new stripped-down take during this Taste of Country exclusive premiere.

Singer Caleb Shomo slows down a song from the band's latest album Disease, released in 2018 on Red Bull Records. Lap steel and violin stand out on this new ballad. "Clever" was recorded live, Shomo says, which meant "No metronome, minimal rehearsal, just a bunch of musicians who love what they do getting in a room and going for it."

Blackbird Studios owner is famed producer and engineer John McBride, husband to Martina McBride. His studio is well-known among Nashville players, and his enthusiasm for this particular project really pushed Beartooth into new territory for The Blackbird Session EP, coming in video format on Sept. 13.

"When the idea came up to do acoustic sessions, immediately my mind went to family holidays," Shomo says, "constantly surrounded by singing old hymns and harmonies on harmonies. The idea of taking Beartooth in a direction of my first musical moments in life felt right."

McBride's influence and vision were a massive reason the the EP was successful. "Clever" will be joined by the title track from the Disease album, "You Never Know" and "Afterall" on the new EP.

Taste of Country premiered this music video along with our friends at Loudwire. "Being able to mix tracks engineered by such a legend/tracked on his home turf was an honor," Shomo says.

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