I don’t know: Any band that comes out of the gate with top 10 hits, sell-out stadium tours, snazzy MTV videos and praise from Jimmy Page, the Who and the Stones could easily peak too soon. But, the Black Crowes albums kept coming and the unit (which has shuffled bass players, drummers, lead guitarists and keyboardists several times) can now be considered one of the best live bands in the U.S. How did that happen?
Obviously Chris & Rich Robinson (the only mainstays of the group) like making music, and–as their live shows indicate–both are students of the game, playing covers from the likes of The Grease Band, Tom Rush, the Faces, Stephen Stills, Dylan, and the Band in addition to their own solid tunes. Also, according to an interview with iTunes, the brothers declined record company requests to bring in songwriting help (like Dave Matthews did with Glen Ballard), instead making good, deep, well-worn songs that stand up over 200 touring nights a year. So, Black Crowes album sales suffered (their last Gold record dates back to 1994) and the band had to tour to make a living. Year after year on the road can either break a band down or turn them into amazing performers with a great understanding of how a show should flow.
The latter happened with these guys. I saw them in October with new guitarist Luthor Dickinson (who has a bookish Warren Zevon look and a dirty, kick-ass style) and new keyboardist Adam MacDougall (a great find) in a show that featured zero hits, lots of covers and some great cuts from the Three Snakes and One Charm album, not to mention a bunch of standouts from Warpaint that I didn’t know I loved so much. They said nothing on stage, just ripped through the two hour show, and everyone in the audience was really cool, really chill and really happy.
What makes these Black Crowes shows so good? I’ve seen them just a few times, once at the distinguished 9:30 Club in D.C. and the other in a rain-soaked field off Route 7 in Loudoun County, Virginia. Whether they walk out on stage greeted by a packed club or by a hundred people under umbrellas, they play a great, dynamic show with tons of respect for the music that influenced them and of course their fans. They truly leave everything on the stage.
So, this is nothing new. But, I have to point out that the Black Crowes have four live dates in February and March at Levon Helm’s barn in Woodstock, New York, coinciding with the recording of their new album at Helm’s studio. Cool? Yes, except that the shows sold out before they were even announced. Still, it’s good to know that great musical occasions like this still exist.
Footnote: As amazing as this Woodstock show will probably be, you can, for a pittance, download two truly incredible shows at LiveBlackCrowes.com, both super-smooth acoustic sets from November:
3 Comments
No sir The Black Crowes are most definitely NOT a guilty pleasure. Something like Motley Crue is a guilty pleasure.
I’ve been into the Crowes for 19 years, seen them over 300 time. They are an amazing band.
Nothing guilty about being into them!!
Regarding:
Yes, except that the shows sold out before they were even announced.
Tix to Cabin Fever sold out over a period of days after the shows were announced. Another show was then added.
Congars on seeing them 300 times … I’m working on matching you! Rock on. CC
This might be a bit off-topic but I believe there are a lot of smokers here?
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[...] (8 percent) from last year (10 percent). Whether such slowdowns are simply the result of year Are The Black Crowes Really a Guilty Pleasure? – bbrandonbarker.com 01/08/2009 black crowes I don’t know: Any band that comes out of the gate [...]
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