The Black Crowes hit The Fillmore this week for a run of four shows that close out their current 90-city tour. The band is on the road in support of their recent release Warpaint – their first album in seven years and their best since 1994′s Amorica. Brothers Chris (lead vocals) and Rich Robinson (guitar) have a notoriously rocky personal relationship, but they were in perfect sync from the opening tune on Monday night. This iteration of the group features Luther Dickinson (late of the North Mississippi All-Stars, and son of legend James Luther Dickinson) on co-lead and slide guitar, and it’s a band that’s obviously been sharpened by the rigors of a long tour.
I’ve been going to The Fillmore since shortly after it re-opened (after seismic retrofitting) in 1994, and every so often it’s possible to catch a glimpse of what the scene must have been like back in the day. Monday was one of those nights. If The Crowes’ pre-show burning of sage wasn’t enough, their boogie stomp rock – reminiscent of vintage Stones and Faces – did the trick and turned The Fillmore into the world’s loudest time machine. “Everyone with long hair gets to go on the spaceship first,” said Chris Robinson by way of introducing a tune midway through the evening, and with his Jesus beard and mane, there’s little doubt that Robinson himself stands near the front of that particular line.
The band played a set list short on well-known material, but they kept up a consistent groove that moved the crowd for two full hours. Highlights included a sweltering, swaggering version of Taj Mahal’s ‘Chevrolet’ and a pair of songs – ‘Goodbye Daughters Of The Revolution’ and ‘Locust Street’ – from Warpaint. They encored with ‘She Talks To Angels’ and a raucous version of The Band’s ‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’. The latter was personally redemptive for me, as I had been permanently scarred in 1995 by watching the Jerry Garcia Band perform a ragged, never-ending version of the song that drove me to the brink of madness.
Cleveland can have its Hall of Fame – the real rock cathedral is at the corner of Fillmore and Geary streets in San Francisco. With its velvet curtains, crystal chandeliers suspended above a parquet ballroom floor, and upstairs bars stuffed with posters from past rock glories, The Fillmore is a remarkable building to visit anytime. Having The Black Crowes in the house just made the whole experience that much sweeter…
Tags: Black Crowes, San Francisco CA, The Fillmore
18 December 2008 at 9:46 am |
I would absolutely add Moving On Down the Line and Wounded Bird to the highlights.
What a great, and rocking show.
On another note: Happy 65th birthday to Mr. Keith Richards
18 December 2008 at 11:35 am |
I’d add Black Moon Creeping and Paint An 8! The latter was a treat from Lost Crowes. Great to be back at the Fillmore.
18 December 2008 at 8:19 pm |
To be clear, Luther Dickinson is still with the North Mississippi Allstars in addition to the Black Crowes. The Allstars, with Luther on guitar and vocals, have a 30+ date tour beginning after the holidays and continuing into Jan. and Feb. 2009 along with a 2 CD + 1 DVD release on January 20, 2009.
18 December 2008 at 9:38 pm |
Is that Joan Van Ark?
18 December 2008 at 9:38 pm |
I loved Knots Landing
18 December 2008 at 10:31 pm |
Right you are vanark – thanks for the clarification.
Thanks for the info Furr – I’ve always thought of you as more of an Eight Is Enough kind of guy…
19 December 2008 at 8:09 am |
I went on Tuesday and am going tonight. They played a mess of Warpaint, which I love, thorn in my pride was a blast, they took over the place. Who’s going tonight? Friday night at the Fillmore… look out!! my spot at the Fillmore is by the bar in the back right of the sound board. say hello.