Review by Ike Riddick
Being an avid Black Crowes and Chris Robinson fan, conceptualizing CRB
(Chris Robinson Brotherhood) jamming in the intimacy of the Lincoln
Theater equated to perhaps one of the most anticipated shows I have
awaited in quite some time. Shortly after firing up a bouquet of
incense emerging from atop an owl’s head figurine, the band took their
rightful places on stage and a magical musical journey commenced.
CRB opened with a cover of jump bluesman Frank Motley’s
“Try Rock and Roll”, setting in motion a psychedelically charged night
of “souled out” blues with a cosmic rock and roll vibe. “Star or Stone”
from their first release Big Moon Ritual, highlighted the
powerful vocals of Robinson and the cohesiveness of a band who seemed to
feed off one another with very little discord. Following suite from his
days of fronting the Black Crowes, Robinson incorporated several covers
into the first set which included Bob Dylan’s "Crash On The Levee",
Aretha Franklin’s "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man", as well as a couple
from the Crowes – "Tornado" and "Roll Old Jeremiah". The set concluded
with an extended jam session on "Tulsa Yesterday" from BMR.
Loose and laid back adequately described the atmosphere inside the
Lincoln as the diverse crowd primed themselves for more “earthy” blues
driven rock and roll. Adam MacDougall’s kaleidoscopic keyboard intro on
“Tomorrow Blues” initiated a head swaying and hip shaking epidemic which
quickly spread throughout the theater. "Someday Past The Sunset", one
of my favorite songs from their new release The Magic Door,
elevated the show to a completely different level as everyone joined in
and sang in harmony. “100 Days Of Rain”, “Sunday Sound”, and a jam based
cover of Jerry Garcia’s “They Love Each Other” kept the momentum going.
Following another new song from TMD, “Vibration & Light Suite”, the second set concluded with my favorite CRB
offering "Rosalee". This song has it all - country twang, folksy
blues, psychedelic grooves, breaks, fades, and a cosmic rock and roll
vibe that penetrates the soul bringing everlasting salvation.
At the relentless request of the mesmerized if not hypnotized CRB-heads,
the band emerged from the darkness and once again took their designated
spots on stage. After a soulful cover of “Peggy O” and Slim Harpo’s
classic blues number “Got Love If You Want It”, CRB ended the
show with Hoyt Axton’s “Never Been To Spain”. If you were to take two
of my favorite jam bands - The Band and The Grateful Dead - toss them in
a blender, more than likely the end concoction would be Chris Robinson and his Brotherhood. What an incredible show at the Lincoln Theater!
- Set One -
TRY ROCK N ROLL
JUMP THE TURNSTILE
STAR OR STONE
TORNADO
CRASH ON THE LEVEE
ROLL OLD JEREMIAH
DO RIGHT WOMEN
TULSA YESTERDAY
- Set Two -
SATURDAY NIGHT IN RALEIGH, NC
TOMORROW BLUES
SOMEDAY PAST THE SUNSET
100 DAYS OF RAIN
SUNDAY SOUND
THEY LOVE EACH OTHER
VIBRATION & LIGHT SUITE
ROSALEE
- encore -
NEVER BEEN TO SPAIN
GOT LOVE
way2krowed
1 comment:
Good review of an awesome show!
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