Review: Black Crowes at Crossroads

Above: The Robinson brothers, Chris (left) and Rich lead the Black Crowes on Saturday down at the Crossroads KC. Photo by Bill Brownlee.

Recalling an era in which hair was long and guitar solos were even longer, the Black Crowes partied like it was 1969 at Crossroads KC on Saturday night.

Old-school rockers, the band looks and sounds as if the last few decades had never transpired, a stance that attracted a near-capacity audience of approximately 2,000, many of whom appeared hell-bent on achieving altered states of consciousness.

The incense sticks on the lip of the stage weren't the only things contributing to the
thick cloud of smoke wafting from the outdoor venue.

Fans managing to lock into the Crowes' mindset may have been treated to an intoxicating joyride.  For most of the audience, however, the concert seemed more tedious than trippy.

Their second song, "Soul Singing," dragged on for well over 10 minutes.  It was a real buzz killer that signaled that the band would concentrate on meandering jams for most of the nearly two-hour show.

Of the all the Allman Brothers-inspired material, only "Cypress Tree" gained any traction. The Crowes seemed too weary, bleary and lethargic to consistently generate any sparks, much less kindle any fires.

I would have gladly traded the five-minute drum solo for another song, like "Remedy" or "She Talks To Angels," two popular songs omitted from the set list. Of their hits, only a satisfyingly rootsy version of "Jealous Again" clicked. It channeled Little Richard by way of the Rolling Stones.

Many Black Crowes concerts are loaded with such moments. Their potency as a live force is celebrated. But they're in a creative and commercial lull, not having released a studio album since 2001.

Band founders and brothers Chris and Rich Robinson issued a live acoustic album in July. They didn't deliver that kind of sound either on Saturday -- another missed opportunity.

Even on an off night, the band is anchored by the tremendous voice of scarily skinny Chris Robinson.  His impassioned fervor and convincing blue-eyed soul suggest Joe Cocker with an extreme eating disorder. But because his band's relentless full-tilt boogie never let up Saturday, he was forced to belt out every note, preventing a display of his full dynamic range. Similarly, two back up singers were mostly lost in the mix.

After the Crowes closed with a loose version of the Band's interpretation of Marvin Gaye's "Baby Don't You Do It," many unsatisfied fans milled about, refusing to accept that the show was over.

"Thanks for coming to my mom and dad's backyard," Robinson joked during the show.  "But someone has to help clean up."

Just like his band's performance, that idea was an unexpected bummer.

| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star

Setlist (from Crowesbase.com): Wiser Time, Soul Singing, Jealous Again, Hotel Illness, Cypress Tree, Sister Luck, My Morning Song, Isn't It About Time, Welcome To The Good Times, Downtown Money Waster, Jam, Thorn In My Pride, Hard To Handle. Encore: Don't Do It

Comments

[Jerry Windsor]

Black Crowes bitched about lightingh & other things. Too whiny to be entertaining.

[james]

They sucked, plain and simple.

[whome]

Weary, bleary and lethargic would be an accurate description of the crowd at the crossroads, but not the crowes. While not their most awe inspiring performance, the band still dispalyed ample soul and jammed beautifully. No they are not the Ramones or the Stones, but they far from "sucked".

[RaiderHawk]

Hey, Mr. Robinson: Put out an album or write a new song; then whine about the venue. Or the lighting. Or your brother.Black Crowes are stale and old and tired. Your wife left you for a reason: You suck.

[Magna1100]

In addition to "Remedy" and "She Talks to Angels" -- No "Black Moon Creeping." No "Horsehead." No "No Speak No Slave." o "Twice As Hard."

Last September's show at Voodoo Lounge was way, way better. The even covered The Who's "The Seeker" then...

Still...you don't need to mention the martial stuff ...

[RaiderHawk]

... or the marital stuff.