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Black Crowes
Just ten days after Black Tuesday, The Black Crowes came roaring into New York City, uncertain of what to expect from a crowd that was much the worse for wear, trying to shake the feeling that they are a living in a city under siege. While the mayor urged New Yorkers to get on with their lives – “Go see a show,” he said - the Black Crowes did their part to distract us from our plight, kicking out a generous two-hour performance that, for a while, made it feel like 1975. At least, that’s how it felt for me. Back then, I saw Lynyrd Skynyrd perform in this same theater, and while watching the Black Crowes, I couldn’t help but be reminded of that day from over twenty-five years ago. We might have entered a new century, but nobody bothered to tell the Black Crowes about it. In their own way, singer Chris Robinson and his bandmates are doing their best to make everything old new again, and they are very successful at it. With the scent of marijuana smoke wafting through the theater, and half of the mixed crowd sporting bell bottoms and peasant dresses, the nostalgic atmosphere suggested some of the anarchy of a classic ‘70s rock and roll road show.
The Black Crowes played early classics and material from their most recent album as if were their patriotic duty, while hundreds of enthusiastic fans waved American flags throughout the show. Doing their level best to put a ‘90s spin (natch) on the music of the ‘70s, the band only missed its mark by refusing to stray too far from their set arrangements. It would have been nice to see the band loosen up and jam more freely than they had, but the rest of the crowd didn’t seem to mind at all, since the Black Crowes kept everyone on their feet for the entire show. Chris Robinson swirled around the stage like a fey marionette, while his brother Rich kept the rhythm section from veering off course. It was a controlled brand of passion that the Black Crowes delivered Friday night, and considering their penchant for classic rock, they might not have much growth potential, but who cares, especially when modernized nostalgia can be this fun?
-- Thomas Ryan
 
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