It’s hard for me to believe that 2010 marks 20 years since The Black Crowes released Shake Your Money Maker, an album that landed The Crowes a spot as one of the preeminent jam bands on the scene. Just a few months ago, the group released Before the Frost…Until the Freeze and to support their effort the band is currently on the “Stuck Inside Utopia” Tour, which by my calculations is their 17th tour since 1990.

On November 7th, 2009 The Riverside Theatre in Milwaukee hosted The Black Crowes for a two-hour 16-song show. Truth and Salvage Co. opened the concert with their eclectic sound that blends roots, country, blues and good old fashioned Americana rock ‘n’ roll music. Saturday night in Milwaukee is reason enough to have a few beers and hang out with your friends, but when you add The Black Crowes and $3.00 PBR Tall Boys to the equation, the party starts quickly in Brewtown.

I’ll be honest, I saw many folks at the show making the most, and then some, of those $3.00 Tall Boys early and often. I saw a few people carrying three Tall Boys at a time. The crowd was feeling quite a buzz by the time The Crowes took the stage around a quarter after 9pm. As expected, the band was warmly greeted by the midwest crowd, who understand all about frost and freeze, living in Wisconsin.

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Make Glad, a quick but efficient new song, set the pace for the evening. I can’t praise the new material from the Crowes enough, and I can’t help but think that the manner in which the songs were recorded, live in a barn in front of fans, makes them translate so perfectly in concert. It’s a “what you see is what you get” approach that brings musicianship and musical honesty to the forefront of the process.

Quickly shifting gears from new material to a deep cut from their catalogue with Sting Me, The Crowes tapped familiar ground, which gave those who were not already on their feet a reason to get up and shake their bones. The two Crowes back up singers bring to each chorus a very full and lush vocal effort to the live mix, which I found very rewarding.

Being front row right in the middle of the Robinson brothers for two songs was simply a pleasure to experience because of the chemistry they share. Rich is a focused musician onstage, and his restrained demeanor translates to quality musicianship in the larger picture. Chris never stops moving, for the most part, and his energy helps drive both the band and the audience.

I’m always impressed with the enthusiasm with which The Crowes perform, and Saturday night was no exception. Tall Boys were raised high in cheer by the thirsty and appreciative crowd, many of whom lined up early to get in and grab some of the prime real estate up front in the standing room area in front of the stage. When the Crowes got around to their new song, And The Band Played On, they seemed to tap into a hidden energy of the song’s lyrics. To me, the lyrics appear at face value to be so steeped in the legend and lore past, present & future of the band, it could very easily be their new mantra.

Whatever happened a few years back to temporarily derail the Crowes would appear to be just a speed bump in history and just doesn’t matter any longer. Before the Frost…Until the Freeze is quickly becoming my favorite Crowes release since The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion. For me, there is an obvious revival going on here for The Crowes, and it’s as vital and authentic as it gets.

The show was, overall, a great mix of restraint and indulgence, and the bands mastery of knowing when to slow things down for a song or two and when to kick it into high gear are a large part of their appeal. While I expected a large dose of new material at the show, I was a little surprised the setlist was actualy material that spanned the entire Crowes history, featuring only six new songs.

I don’t think it would shock anyone to know that, from where I was sitting in the makeshift taper’s section, Twice As Hard, played near the end of the show, probably drew the biggest cheers from the audience. Of course the band did not disappoint on this rocker of a tune, and the sure win sing-along chorus brought many smiles all around. The set was closed out with Been A Long Time (Waiting On Love) which blends a heavy guitar riffed intro and chorus with a melodic southern tinged verse which eventually erupts into a full on rocking in a time-honored Crowes style. It’s a great tune to finish up a set on a high note. And just like that we were at the encore which included the classic Thick n’ Thin and the Little Feat cover Willin’.

While I had some personal favorites old and new that weren’t part of the setlist, I honestly just don’t have much of anything negative to say about my experience on Saturday night. If I reach deep and have anything to complain about, I had expected perhaps a few more new songs in the setlist. The Crowes can’t come back to Milwaukee soon enough so I can hear them play a few stand out favorites from Before the Frost…Until the Freeze such as Good Morning Captain, Appaloosa and A Train Still Makes a Lonely Sound.

The Black Crowes
November 7, 2009
The Riverside Theatre
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Set: Make Glad, Sting Me, Only A Fool, Darling of the Underground Press, Garden Gate, Whoa Mule, And The Band Played On>Jam, My Morning Song, How Much For Your Wings, Shady Grove, Downtown Money Waster>Jam, Lady Of Avenue A, Twice As Hard, Been A Long Time (Waiting On Love)
Encore : Thick N’ Thin, Willin’