I'll bypass the fact that it's been a long damn time since I put a blog up and just get to the point.
So, for the last month, I've pretty much been listening to one band and one band only. The Black Crowes. The Black Crowes are a phenomenal fucking band.
Despite my fascination with Pearl Jam, I have never hesitated whenever anyone asked me the greatest live show I have been to. I have literally been to hundreds of concerts and the best one of all was February 7, 1993 at the Austin City Coliseum, a 2,500 seat dump of an auditorium. The Black Crowes were touring behind The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, their second and best album. And they were simply phenomenal. I don't remember the exact setlist and damned if this isn't one of those shows (like my first Pearl Jam show on November 7, 1993) that NO ONE has a recording of, and believe me when I say that I have looked high and low to find even a shitty copy, but it's just not out there... But despite the fact that I've lost touch with their studio recordings, especially between 98 and 02 or so, the memories and the euphoria of that show have never left me. They made a lifelong fan of me that night, and so here I sit, writing.
Anyway, what I choose to celebrate is their purity of purpose and their belief in what they do. They don't try to do anything outside of their scope, yet they continue to simply write fantastic songs. There is no pretentiousness with this band. They are now, as they have always been, a band that stays true to its roots. And they know how to celebrate the past while continuing to push themselves forward.
Since the release of their first album, the excellent Shake Your Money Maker in 1990, they have never been in the most popular genre. Even then, MTV lumped them in with holdovers from the era of 80s hair rock. They have outlasted that movement, as well as Seattle grunge, nu metal, the resurgence of boy bands and pop princesses, 90s style British fuzz rock, the whole 'alternative' mainstream movement, power pop, etc etc etc etc etc. Guess what? The Black Crowes have survived and continued to be relevant by sticking to what they do best, which no one ever mistook for the most groundbreaking approach to music. But these boys are pure rock and roll, rooted in the blues, influenced by country, folk and gospel, among other things.
What I think is making me take this look back at them and rediscover their awesomeness (for lack of a better word) is their new record, Before The Frost... Until The Freeze. My woman and I had bought tickets to see the Crowes at the House of Blues here in Orlando and I did not even know they had released another record. I just knew we'd be in for a fantastic show.
Flipping channels one night, I came across them on Letterman, playing "Good Morning Captain", the 'single' from the new album. Yeah, um.... they sounded awesome. Dave holds up the record (record! not cd!) and I immediately hop onto iTunes, download the album and begin listening immediately (I also purchased the limited edition colored vinyl online). Classic Crowes, this record. Yes, they have a disco song, which is totally kick-ass by the way. And yes, the Until The Freeze part is heavy on country, but it's all just so delicious... Harmony vocals, some serious southern slide guitar, storyteller lyrics, groove fantastic courtesy of an airtight rhythm section, and a danceable feel to the whole disc... Oh yeah, and they recorded it LIVE in front of a select audience at Levon Helm's home studio. That's not easy, kids... There's a reason 99% of the releases out there are not recorded live, but damn if the Crowes didn't pull it off in style.
Yeah, so I tend to ramble, but my point is this. They're good. They're really really REALLY fucking good. They inspired me to write another blog, which may not seem like a big deal, but is to me. Doesn't matter what album of theirs you pick up, although some are better than others. The inspiration, the performance and the talent is omnipresent across their entire catalog. Maybe pull out that old copy of Shake Your Money Maker, or give Three Snakes And One Charm another chance. Maybe you didn't pick up Warpaint a couple years ago. That was a mistake. It's fantastic and represents their freshest-sounding record since Southern Harmony...
It doesn't matter what you buy/borrow/burn/listen to. You'll hear some pure rock n roll and as I often say to my family, friends and co-workers, pure rock n roll is good for the soul. Go get yourself a dose of The Black Crowes and let it get in you, because the Brothers Robinson and their cast of cohorts can turn it up to 11, strip it down to a whisper, jam it out, keep it tight, harmonize, scream and shake with the best of them.
Thoughts? What do you think of them? Love 'em? Hate 'em? Are you in any way inspired to go back and listen to them again? Comments, as always, are welcome...
As an added treat, and in celebration of that fateful night in Austin when I saw them, here's the show they put on the night BEFORE. Commonly referred to as the "High In Houston" show, it was recorded February 6, 1993 at the Sam Houston Coliseum and simulcast live on FM radio that night. (Download the file, unzip with winzip or winrar and enjoy)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=T1OVFULM
3 comments:
I saw the Crowes at Bohager's (when it was cool) in Baltimore in 1999. They hit the stage and started jamming before Chris Robinson took the stage. I knew he was a skinny dude but had no idea how skinny. When he made his entrance, I thought he had the build of a 4th grade school girl and I was thinking I should get him a hamburger so he could make it through the show. Unfortunately, the show didn't last as long as it would have taken for a meat patty to cook because about 35 minutes into their stellar performance, one of the pipes above the stage busted and started dripping on his head. This unfortunate occurrence, plus the fact that he had most likely drank his weight in whiskey caused him to storm off the stage agitated and the show was cut short. That was my first time seeing them and although it was short, their sound was so engulfing and the harmonies and guitar and keys swirling around together was so soulful and rich - I made sure I saw them everytime they came through B-More. They are an awesome live band. Some of my faves include "Could I Have Been So Blind," "Sister Luck," Wiser for the Time," "Nebedkanezzer," "Stop Kickin' My Heart Around," "Blackberry" and "Thorn in My Pride." I also remember watching the video for "Sting Me" a million times with you, Nick. You loved it!
I just saw them for the first time in Phoenix. Keep in mind that I haven't really been keeping up with them since Southern Harmony. All I can say is they were a solid band and that, given their attire and hairy appearance, I felt like I was watching an episode of the Midnight Special with Wolfman Jack
dcfaithful here from the PJ boards! Awesome blog my friend...sending some Black Crowes lovin' your way!!!
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