The Black Crowes Appreciation Thread

[Shug]

I would love to see another Brothers of a Feather tour. I saw the NYC shows and loved them. Maybe next year after CRB finishes touring. 

Me, too, dude.  I'm not holding my breath, though.  As much as I love the Crowes and as highly as I think of Chris and his encyclopedic knowledge and appreciation of great music, I'm just not that enamoured with his recent love affair with the Grateful Dead and the lazy, meandering jamming that CRB is doing (and I really love the Dead, too).  Most of my Crowes-loving friends love CRB, so I'm mostly alone on that one.  I think CR, at this point in his musical career, is way better when Rich is involved.  Brothers Of A Feather shows were also really really good.

[ffghtrs]

never been a huge Crowes fan but i have mad respect for quite a bit of their music and i really enjoy Chris Robinson's Brotherhood Phosphorescent Harvest new release.

[logan5ive]

Can anyone tell me which of the many, many BC Roadshow recordings available on Nugs.net present LIVEDOWNLOADS are the best. There are so many to choose from. A little guidance would be greatly appreciated.

http://www.livedownloads.com/searchRes.aspx?searchStr=black+crowes&x=22&y=3

You really can't go wrong with any of the shows from the 96/97 tour, but I really think the 2005 tour (Sept-Dec) was their best. Check out the setlist from 12/30/05- top notch!

[Shug]

Can anyone tell me which of the many, many BC Roadshow recordings available on Nugs.net present LIVEDOWNLOADS are the best. There are so many to choose from. A little guidance would be greatly appreciated.

http://www.livedownloads.com/searchRes.aspx?searchStr=black+crowes&x=22&y=3

check the first post in this thread I started.  I heartily agree with logan, Fall 2005 kicked ass and 12-30-05 was a monster.  Another monstrously fanfuckingtastic show was 5-14-05.  you can download or you can still buy the physical discs.  HIGHLY recommended! http://instantlive.shop.musictoday.com/Product.aspx?cp=858_4575_8569&pc=IVCD208

[Shug]

So 5-14-05 is my top recommendation, but its not at liveblackcrowes.com just at the link I posted above to buy the physical discs, but its truly a must-have, IMO.

12-30-05 Providence, as Logan mentioned is excellent, too.

Other great shows from the 2005-2006 with Marc Ford and Eddie Harsch that are at liveblackcrowes.com are:

8-10-05 Fillmore, SF
3-19-06 London
3-20-06 London
8-1-06 Columbus, OH (blazing Ford solos on Got To Get Better and Steady Rollin' Man!!!)

I'm not as much a fan of '96 and '97 but many fans think those years are the peak.  Anything from Europe in '97 is probably a pretty safe bet.

Let us know what you pick up and what you think!

[Shug]

Also, thanks for the link to "instantlive". The CD has been paid for and should be here in 7 to 10 days!

 

Its a very good sounding recording.  I can turn down the lights, burn one, crank it up full blast and feel like I'm there.  I recommend listening as loud as your situation will allow and giving it your full attention, its worth it!

[Shug]

Right on, Mr. White.  Ain't that jam before Black Moon Creeping some of the sickest Zeppelin-like stuff you've ever heard a 90s band do?  They are so deep into that dirty nasty groove,  I love that show!  Marc Ford was such a badass back then.  Wish he and Eddie were still in the Crowes and rocking hard.  It was sweet while it lasted.

[Shug]

http://youtu.be/jW92NnggATg

Feelin' Alright 1994

[LBSUNFLWR]

as much as I was always impressed by Marc Ford, and also very impressed with Luther, I loved seeing them with Jackie last year:

The Black Crowes - Wiser Time (CAUTION - This is a JAM!!!!); Chicago, IL 4/17/13

Not to mention the real star of this band RICH!!!
Just never ever a shortage of over the top incredible guitar playing in this band, no matter who was joining Rich.

[Shug]

Not to mention the real star of this band RICH!!!
Just never ever a shortage of over the top incredible guitar playing in this band, no matter who was joining Rich.

I'm glad when others acknowledge Rich.  Without him there would have been no riffs.  Almost all of the Crowes music was written by Rich, especially in the early years.  Rich rules!

[LBSUNFLWR]

  I love Rich!
He plays so effortlessly too. I have always loved watching him.

[geekfreak]

one of the coolest freakin` `n` rock `n` roll bands, I`ve been lucky and seen them loads of times with some great sets too...

[Shug]

Hallelujah!  I had a feeling this was coming!  The Crowes are getting back together (because this is The Black Crowes without the brother who turned into a douchebag, IMO, regardless of what they choose to call it) with their best guitar player and their best keyboard player.  Steve Gorman will be joining eventually, I predict!  I am beyond freaking stoked to think of seeing Rich, Marc Ford, Eddie Harsch and Sven laying it down on some Crowes classics, covers, and solo original stuff, all together.  Who needs CR, he's the drama queen negativity creator fake hippie poseur, good riddance.  Let the positive ones get on the with great music.  Sorry if my opinion offends, but its what I really think is the truth.


Rich Robinson—singer-songwriter-guitarist and co-founding member of The Black Crowes—has announced the formation of THE MAGPIE SALUTE. It's an exciting new band that brings together four key members of The Black Crowes—Rich, guitarist/vocalist, guitarist Marc Ford, keyboardist Eddie Harsch, and bassist Sven Pipien—with members of Rich's own band: drummer Joe Magistro, keyboardist Matt Slocum, and backing vocalists Adrien Reju and Katrine Ottosen, along with some other friends.

THE MAGPIE SALUTE will be unveiled January 19 when they headline the Gramercy Theatre in New York, performing songs from The Black Crowes catalog, solo material from Rich and Marc plus "whatever else may materialize," says Rich. Pre-sale tickets will be available October 19, followed by the general on-sale October 21: See link below and watch the video trailer here.

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/00005150D3CD36D9

"The name The Magpie Salute comes from a superstition based in the UK," explains Rich about the band's moniker. "There are many variations, but the version I'm drawn to is the belief that if you see a Magpie, you would do well to salute it "to ward off negativity, or to have a good day." The way you salute the Magpie, based on some traditions is to say 'Good Mornin' Captain.' The reason we salute is to show we're unarmed, or what I like to say is 'we come in peace.' The Magpie falls within the Crowe umbrella of species, figuratively and literally. Magpies can be black and white which represents the light and the dark. I figured all of these things touch on many aspects of my life and this experience."

Asked about THE MAGPIE SALUTE's multiple players and singers, Rich says, "I wanted to try something different. I wanted to hear this music with two drummers, two keyboard players, and multiple singers. I, and everyone involved, love playing music. Not only on our own, in The Crowes and in my band, but playing music in general. We want to make music again together with a fresh perspective. To present this music I wrote in a different light with these amazing players is going to be really special to me."

Will the Gramercy Theatre show have the songs and improvisational flights that The Black Crowes were famous for? "Absolutely, that's what we do when we get together," says Marc. "Now the vocal position will obviously be different... it opens other places to go with different singers. The bottom line for me is that we love playing together; we have a respect for what we've done together and for all of the people that want to hear it."

THE MAGPIE SALUTE marks the reunion of the Robinson and Ford guitar team. (Ford left The Black Crowes after their fourth album and 1997 Further Festival tour.) "The Crowes have had their share of guitar players," says Rich. "Each one has been really cool to play with and each one has brought their own unique playing to the band. That being said, I personally feel that Marc and I have a very deep musical connection. The way he and I played together on those records really showcases that musical bond. As I get older I realize what a gift it is to play with people with whom you share that language of music." Reflecting about their deep musical connection, Marc says: "It's one of those things that was there before we met. Musically we were already family."

The seeds were planted for THE MAGPIE SALUTE in August 2016 when Rich performed in Woodstock (New York) at Applehead Studio where he's recorded his last three albums. "Sven Pipien has been playing with me on my current tour. So for fun I decided to invite Marc and Eddie from the original Crowes lineup to join us. It turned out to be such a cool, cathartic, and inspirational experience for us all. We all have such a strong musical connection from that band. Most importantly we all have a life's worth of family experience together. We've travelled the world together, seen a lot of far out experiences, playing with our heroes, emotional ups and downs, all wrapped within a very unique life experience, which is the thread that has always kept the connection together." Marc says about the show at Applehead Studios: "The playing was an amazing second to seeing their faces."

THE MAGPIE SALUTE chose NYC for their first show because, says Rich, "New York has always been really supportive of me and the Crowes. I thought it would be a great place to unveil this."

[LBSUNFLWR]

Such great news! Can't wait to see them all again...just hope a tour will follow bc there's no way I'm making it to NYC for this.

[wheelhousetunes]

Such great news! Can't wait to see them all again...just hope a tour will follow bc there's no way I'm making it to NYC for this.

My feelings exactly. And yes Shug, Chris has lost his mind and I've pretty much given up on CRB.

[Shug]

Such great news! Can't wait to see them all again...just hope a tour will follow bc there's no way I'm making it to NYC for this.

My feelings exactly. And yes Shug, Chris has lost his mind and I've pretty much given up on CRB.

Glad I'm not the only one!  I'm positive this is not just a one-off show, there are lot of hints in the press release and they would not go to all this trouble to name a new band and all that if they weren't going to make it a tour at least. 

I'd love to see this first show, like those who got to see the initial 2005 reunion shows at the Hammerstein in NYC, but I have to wait for the tour, too.  It gives Steve a chance to decide to join (just like it took him a few weeks of them playing without him in 2005 to decide to join).

I love the idea of Rich and Marc sharing lead vocals with the soulful backup singers to sweeten the whole sound just like with Jerry Garcia Band or Dylan's bands in the 80s.  There is something satisfying about the contrast and blend of raspy lead vocals and sweet backup vocals that I love.

But for me having Eddie Harsch back on keys is a huge huge deal.  I can't decide who I missed more, Marc Ford or Eddie, when they left the band in 2006.

Bring it on!

[wheelhousetunes]

I think Steve still has his sports radio thing going, doesn't he?

It may be a longshot for him to join.

[LBSUNFLWR]

I was very lucky to have been at that 2005 first night reunion show at Hammerstein, and also a few nights later for the Good Friday show of that run. :) You can't imagine the anticipation leading up to it and the excitement when they walked on to that stage!

[LBSUNFLWR]

p.s. now it's 3 nights and all 3 are SOLD OUT!!
that should be an indication to them that there is a need for more shows!!!

[wheelhousetunes]

They just added a 4th.