If my memory serves this was
the eighth time I have seen The Black Crowes since the heady days of
1992 and Bradford, St Georges Hall, where I can still remember all the
stage energy of a band on their way up. There’s been a lot of water
under the bridge since then but I’ve stuck with them through Thick ‘N
Thin (deliberate pun intended!), even though a long and rather dreary
third night set at Shepherd’s Bush Empire two years ago almost made me
call time on the band, at least in the live environment. However that is all in the past
and, like many people in the Brixton Academy audience, I was excited to
hear them play some new material from latest release “Warpaint” as well
a few of the past classics and, to be honest, there was quite a buzz of
anticipation in the audience as everyone patiently waited.
Brixton Academy is a new venue
for me and I was actually rather surprised to find out how big it was.
It was only later that I found out it has virtually the same capacity as
Hammersmith Apollo at close on 5,000 and, being the bands only UK date,
it was no real surprise that the show was sold out. Listening to the
accents in the queue and in the auditorium I realised that people
had travelled a long way to see this gig. There were French,
German, Spanish, Indian, American, Russian speakers all around and it
felt like a mini United Nations in the front few rows but all happily
mixed together with a common appreciation of the Crowes blend of
southern rock n’ blues.
The band hit the stage just
after 8:15pm and for the next 150 minutes went about their business in
their own unique way, giving little in the way of chat between the songs
but always being well appreciated by the audience. There was no safe
opener either as they launched into “Wounded Bird” from the new album
before getting the crowd really bouncing about to “Sting Me”, one of six
songs they played off “The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion”
album. It was a good enough start musically but I have to admit that the
vocals were rather “muddy” early on but did improve as the set
progressed, either that or I just got used to it.
The introduction of Luther
Dickinson from The Mississippi Allstars has certainly given Rich
Robinson an excellent partner to trade guitar licks with but it would be
good to see them do so alongside each other at the front of the stage
once in a while. You almost felt like each band member was rather scared
to go beyond the boundaries of their own Persian rug. All that said
there was some immaculate playing tonight from both guitarists and new
keyboard player, Adam MacDougall, showed he was really up to the task
with some wonderful organ lines on the slow, soulful “Seeing Things”,
one of the evenings highlights with its’ spine tingling gospel chorus
provided by the backing singers.
Another highlight was “My
Morning Song” which surprisingly started with Chris Robinson on acoustic
and built up nicely as the full band joined in honky-tonk style. The
main jam songs of the evening were “Wiser Time” and “Thorn In My Pride”
which, to be honest, simply went on a little too long. Returning
to things more positive the songs played from “Warpaint” fitted into
the set well and “Walk Believer Walk” was perhaps the best of the new
material, all squealing guitar from Rich and pained vocal from Chris.
“Goodbye Daughters Of The Revolution” came a very close second though
and, played immediately before “Jealous Again” and “Remedy”,
brought the main set to an upbeat and energetic conclusion, followed by
much shouting/stamping from the audience for more.
Back came the band and the
encore opened with the final offering from the new album, “God’s Got
It”, which finally saw the band lighten up a bit, with Steve Gorman
bounding about the stage carrying a big bass drum. The curtain came
down with a monster version of “Sometime Salvation” and everyone seemed
to head off happily into the night. Personally, I’m glad I kept the
faith and went back to see The Black Crowes once again, even if I have
yet to see Rich Robinson smile!
Dave McKenzie
