After attending the final two monstrous Allman Brother shows at the Beacon, my body was looking for some sort of relief on the night of March 22nd. But after a week’s worth of “rehearsal” shows under their original name, “Mr. Crowes Garden,” the Brothers Robinson were just getting warmed up. They came out on all cylinders for their reunion run (with Goldie, Kurt and Kate on hand) by opening with “Gone,” the first song on Amorica, an album that is revered by Crowes fans as Exile On Main Street is by the Stones’ faithful. This version was the perfect warning shot. The Black Crowes were back.
With slide guitar virtuoso Marc Ford in the band for the first time since 1997, Rich Robinson stuck mostly to his dobro, as the two-guitar attack set the hall on fire during “Sting Me,” “Twice As Hard” and “Jealous Again.” While Chris Robinson reminded everyone that he still has the pipes with the ballad “Girl From A Pawnshop” and Bob Dylan’s “It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry.”
The run’s final night, March 30th, showed an even more cohesive, but possibly more fatigued, unit as the band began with another
Amorica nugget, “Cursed Diamond.” As they did the first night, the Crowes built a nice jam before “Black Moon Creeping,” with featured some stellar vocals by the band's backup singers, and Chris' best Mick Jagger impression on harmonica. “Nebakenezer” from
Three Snakes And One Charm was a setlist treat and a hot mid-tune jam during “My Morning Song” heralded the stretch run of the show. “Wiser Time” never disappoints, and this version was no exception.
The band brought out Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi All Stars, who opened the show, for a down home “Boomer’s Story.” Fittingly, since it’s impossible to hear this band without being reminded of the Mick Taylor-era Stones, the Crowes covered the blues standard “You Gotta Move,” most famously featured on
Sticky Fingers. While this might not have been the most rockin’ choice for a farwell tune, there’s no doubt that the Crowes will return to defend their title as “The most rock n’ roll band” in the land. Do not miss it.
Photo by Jake Krolick
