Show Date: November 20th, 2009
Been a little over a year since The Black Crowes rolled on through. Always good to have this show to look forward to. On the agenda, so to speak. A little intimidating writing this shit up. Talked to someone on the floor who has been to over 50 Crowes shows. And I bet he isn’t alone in this crowd. Respect.
Seems like The Black Crowes crowd usually has a couple main camps. The folks who have never been and are coming to hear tons of cuts off of Shake Your Money Maker + “Remedy”. And the hard cores who know the deal.
The fun part of seeing the Crowes live is, of course, the random dice roll that is the setlist. I always research what songs are in the heavier than normal rotation. Especially in the last week. And then hope they play that one, but hopefully not that one. And then pick one I really, really, really want to hear. I know. This is horribly dorky. And not as much fun as a bunch of profanity and vague references to what my vices potentially comprise. But this is the real deal, party people. This is how I geek myself up for a TBC show.
Well that, and, you know, alcohol. And second hand pot smoke.
Rolling with the usual Black Crowes sickos. Yeah, you know who you are. Epic night, boys. Gimme toro.
Pre-func completed. Rolling thru security. Sobriety level=almost perfect. We’ll let the opening act take that rough edge off.
In the mezz. Getting beer. Lights drop.
Line creeps up. Wow, this band really wants to be like The Back Crowes. Damn, this is…..
Ah shit, that’s Chris Robinson.
Good thing we got there “early”. Yours truly messed that one up.
Mezz is reserved. We are front row dead center. Perfect. Seriously. Sit your ass there if you aren’t rocking the floor. By the time we are situated, “My Morning Song” is playing. Fire. Pure fire. Look people, I am not going to break down every single detail. But this setlist to me was just plain fucking insane.
Good Morning Captain
My Morning Song
Girl From A Pawnshop
Make Glad
Roll Old Jeremiah
Good Friday
Another Roadside Tragedy
A Train Still Makes A Lonely Sound
Greenhorn
She Gave Good Sunflower
Sting Me
Soul Singing
Been A Long Time (Waiting On Love)
Wounded Bird
——-
Oh Josephine
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
I can see the entire stage without really moving my head side to side. Damn near don’t have to move my eyeballs. Soak this shit in. Legs up on the concrete lip in front of us (it was lower than sight line so I wasn’t being an asshole). Ripped up. Beer in hand. Just letting it all wash over me.
“My Morning Song”.
Song owns.
They played it at Edgefield last year with a “Cafish Blues” breakout that made me re-examine “My Morning Song”. Re-examine? Well play the ever living shit of it. And is why I always try and hit The Black Crowes when they come to town. Those little reminders. Certain songs have gotten lost on your playlist? Chris and company will always dig a jewel or two up for you.
Hit it. “Another Roadside Tragedy” was so good the YOTS contingent was in awe. “She Gave Good Sunflower”. As the crew noted….”bass owned that song”. Right now all I am owning is ozone. But just had to get all evangelical during “Soul Singing”. Inside joke. We never seem to miss it. Before the show I asked the crew which song they would want played at their funeral “Soul Singing” or “That Old X Cross” (I don’t know what X is…Iron? Rugged? Neon? Whatever). Consensus was “Soul Singing”. Get crazy.
Traded my black feathers for a crown. Cruise out on an uneven (to me) version of “Oh Josephine!” and a Neil Young cover. Fun. Totally a night that will shave a couple tenths off the IQ. But not enough that you forget the details. Rich Robinson’s steady and calm bandleading, Chris raising the mic off the ground to work “Sting Me”, and that little disappointment I feel when I don’t hear “Hotel Illness” or “No Speak, No Slave” or …. always good to have that itch. Keeps me coming back. Keeps me living for it.
No Money Maker songs. No “Remedy”. And I could give a fuck less. Hope everyone else there felt the same. Show was amazing.
Downtown Portland. Friday fucking night. Gotta be somewhere to go to sober up. Wonder if that type of place exists in Portland? Rolling. This one’s down. Give me some more.
