Posted by Storm (75.167.209.114) on August 16, 2013 at 14:06:42:
In Reply to: Damn, skin...(mi) posted by Bitter, Bitter Me on August 14, 2013 at 16:43:02:
I was there. The Crowes were fine but not great. The show as a whole *was* great. I enjoyed the London Souls (and it was kind of cool to see CR enjoying them). TTB is just outstanding. Chris jumped in on a couple of Sly and the Family Stone songs to close their set. Jackie is no superstar but vastly improved, IMO, since the Vic show...
I'm glad I went.
But these venues...I haven't been to a shed-style place in a while (though Northerly Island is a small one). Walk through the gate and every 2 feet there's somebody trying to lease me a Lexus or sell me some kind of communication device or something. I must have looked like some kind of confused and disoriented old guy in the face of this onslaught. In the bad old days, people's spiel would be "speed, 'ludes, lids..." or whatever. Happy to have left that shit behind, but I can't say the new boss is much better...
lost in headlights,
Storm
: Now you've got me thinking I should have gone to the Chicago show tonight. I'm down on this iteration after seeing them earlier this year at the Vic. Glad you had a good time.
: : And couldn't have had a more different experience. I've been seeing this band live for 21 years and I thought they put on a hell of a show last week. They played with an energy and enthusiasm I hadn't seen since, well, when I saw them in NYC in April ;-)
: : I would have liked some more jamming in the set but overall it worked. I love Jackie in this band even if he's not the best lead guitarist they've ever had. He does a really good job and at this point I think chemistry is more important in this band than shredding. Dude can play and he's only gotten better since March.
: : I have to admit that I dig Adam. He is ooouuuttt there and really funky and I like what he's brought to the band. Wiser is a different song now than it was years ago and good for them that they've changed it up. It got a little too out there for me in 09-10 and even though it's still a jazzier take on the tune it's more focused now, I think. I love it when Adam brings the weirdness. He is one helluva player.
: : The crowd was fantasitc on Friday too. We were giving and so was the band. The inside of the shed was almost full and the lawn had a good amount of people too. The crowd was UP the entire show and the band fed off of that. I've seen a ton of shows and there have been some lame crowds (even at incredible shows) but everyone was digging it in Jersey. Fan and band energy was undeniable.
: : 99 lbs was cool. 21 years and still get a new tune. I loved Wiser. No matter what they do with the middle jam that song is just pure Crowes and it showcases everyone. Chris sounded great on Virtue and Vice. I can't believe how great he sounds given what his voice was like from 2005-10. Sunflower had everyone bouncing! Love Jackie on this one. Thorn brought the house down. I've heard it countless times and it's still great; that's how good of a song it is. If I was in a band and got the reaction from a song that TBC get from rocking this one I'd play it every night too. Holy shit the crowd was nuts. And then H2H and Hush were more of the same. I can't believe how crazy the crowd went when they started with the na na na na na's. They ended and the place was begging for more. Encores were fun. Lovelight gets me going every time!
: : I'm taking the wife to Burlington on Saturday and going to visit my old college stomping grounds of Plattsburgh, NY on the way (where we had a weird but cool show in 1996). Also going to hit Cooperstown in Sept. I've logged a lot of Black Crowe miles over the years and there's more to come.
: : As I get older I think I appreciate the songs more and exactly how much this band has accomplished. Lineup changes, management drama, setlists, etc. aside, these guys have been making and playing great music for well over 20 years and still touring with enthusiasm. The majority of bands out there will never write a song as good or as popular as She Talks to Angels or many other TBC songs. That's fuckin' impressive. I'm glad they're still touring and I can't wait for the next show.