Rich and Chris Robinson and the Black Crowe ensemble have come to Sydney and probably given us (those lucky enough to be in attendance) the best set-list during this trip to Australia. Bearded, booted and with Newcastle Brown Ales gracing the amps, the band looked relaxed. Kicking off with Movin’ On Down The Line from their latest Warpaint, up front we were shaking and dancing as you should at a Crowes offering.
The sound was spot-on from the start and you could tell that the last couple of months of playing is shaping this incarnation of The Crowes to (arguably) be the best one. I am just a little biased because I believe Luther Dickinson is looking to become a guitarist we will be hearing for some time to come. Stamping his distinctive North Mississippi sound on the opening number, his leads, combined with Rich’s, made for a powerful and gorgeous duet. Two very different ‘voices’ blending to create the Black Crowes sound.
With Hard To Handle hitting us as the third song of this set, it was obvious the boys had come to stomp and shake and show some soul. The selection of tracks was a good mix of tunes from Amorica, Southern Harmony, Shake Your Moneymaker and Warpaint. It was very convincing to hear the new tracks live and how well the band delivered them. Walk Believe Walk was a driving, pounding song that Luther took some great slide breaks on, but the interplay between the two guitars was what made it. Oh Josephine is a great love song, and Chris introduced it as such, through his classic sleepy-lidded eyes. His vocals were so clear and he looked to be enjoying the crowd and the band tonight. I just wish at times his brother and he would crack a smile at each other. Or maybe even say something to the crowd, but words were few, and not needed.
Chris, Rich and Luther were joined by Steve on drums and Sven on bass/vocals and the new keyboard fella, Adam Macdougall. Adam definitely added his licks and slipped into the line-up as well as Luther. As Chris and Rich said in a rent interview, it all came together very easily. “Luther couldn’t have complimented the material or what the band does any better,” says Chris. “And what Adam has brought to the band is equally a gift to our music.”
Rich continues, “Luther fit in before he even plugged in to play. He comes from where we come from, he loves the music we love, and he brought so much new to our songs. Same thing goes for Adam. Bringing them in – their energy, playing and approach – just made it so seamless and great. The first week we were in the studio we recorded the majority of the album. We just knocked it out.”
And for a band like The Black Crowes, the album is just the blueprint for what they do live. Getting on stage and jamming is what makes these songs really come to life and stretching them out for as long as they can make it work. Chris is the definitive rock and roll lead singer in presentation and delivery. As always, it’s like having Rod and Mick wrapped into one. It’s been said before, I know, but it is so true.
The triptych of Goodbye Daughters Of The Revolution, Jealous Again and Remedy sent the throng into the appropriate frenzy and in our little pocket of dancers it was what you wanted. The encore included the masterpiece She Talks To Angels and the final song of the night was a cover of an old Band song. Don’t Do It, originally sung by Levon Helm.
But you know that The Black Crowes have a sense of rock history and their place in it. They also know what a rock and roll gig is all about and left us wanting more. They gathered onstage for a wee bit, Luther and Sven finishing off the smoke they had shared through the set, and waved goodbye for this visit. They then strolled off with their long locks and beards and their rock and roll swagger to the next stop on this road show. But they’ll travel just a short way for their show in Wollongong on 1 April. Don’t miss them, it’s later then you think. Get out and smell the incense one more time.
