Rock’n Me 4: Talking About Western Music - The Black Crowes

Hello. I’m Joshua and I love to talk about Western music.
In this fourth part, I’m going to talk about The Black Crowes, a rock band from Georgia, USA. To briefly describe them: "The always-fighting vocal brother and guitar-playing brother, putting on a different concert every time."

The Black Crowes were formed around brothers Chris Robinson (vocals) and Rich Robinson (guitar), debuting in 1990 with Shake Your Money Maker. Chris's vocals were soulful and bluesy, reminiscent of Steve Marriott from Humble Pie. Rich, on the other hand, was strongly influenced by The Rolling Stones, and in songs like “Twice As Hard” and “Jealous Again,” he played a Telecaster tuned to open G, just like Keith Richards (of course, with only five strings, not six). The album title itself was borrowed from Elmore James' blues number. Since that song was before the Robinson brothers were born, you can already sense their sense of time from that choice. At their concerts, they would change the setlist every time, extending song lengths endlessly, adding cover songs, and creating a truly “live” experience that became the talk of the town.

■ Twice as Hard

The first track of their debut album. Rich's open-G guitar strumming resonates, and after the band kicks in, the two guitarists engage in a slide battle. Chris's voice enters, leading to a catchy chorus.

When their second album, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion (1992), was released, keyboardist Eddie Hersch joined the band, and lead guitarist Mark Ford replaced the previous one, making the band even more powerful. While the sound quality of the debut album was polished and refined, the second album had a raw sound, almost entirely recorded in one take. For someone like me, who was used to the glittering sounds of the 1980s, it was incredibly shocking. Iconic tracks like "Sting Me" and "Remedy" became staples in their concerts going forward.

■ Sting Me

The opening track of their second album. Rich's rhythm guitar in open-G tuning, Mark's rough guitar solo, and Eddie's funky Wurlitzer piano all set the stage as Chris sings freely and passionately.

Both the first and second albums became million-sellers, but with the third album, Amorica (1994), the band took a different direction, spending more time on the arrangements and creating a unique world. Personally, this is my favorite album, but when I first heard it, it didn’t immediately click. It took quite a bit of listening before I fully understood it. By the time of their fourth album, Three Snakes and One Charm (1996), sales had started to decline, and both Mark and Johnny Colt (bass) left the band. Replacing them were Audrey Fried (guitar) and Sven Pipien (bass), and in line with their record label's advice to go in a more pop direction, they released By Your Side (1999). To promote this album, they held a secret live show in Shibuya in January and performed at the Fuji Rock Festival in July of the same year.

On January 27, 1999, they performed at On Air East in Shibuya. Below is the actual setlist from that performance.

That same year, a major offer came from Jimmy Page, former guitarist of Led Zeppelin. He requested that the band back him up for his solo tour. After this experience, the band's performance level greatly improved, and on their live album Live at the Greek, you can hear the Crowes perform Zeppelin songs. However, their challenges were far from over. Due to drug issues, Sven left the band, and in 2002, Steve Gorman (drums), a longtime member from their debut album, announced the band’s hiatus. In 2005, they resumed activity without Steve, but he later returned, and they continued to release albums. However, with Mark's constant comings and goings, and Chris and Rich publicly criticizing each other in the media, the drama surrounding the band overshadowed the music. In 2015, they officially disbanded. In 2016, Rich, Mark, and Sven formed the band Magpie Salute, but Eddie, who was supposed to join, passed away. Magpie Salute released two albums, but in 2019, Chris and Rich suddenly announced their reunion and declared a Shake Your Money Maker 30th Anniversary tour, absolutely shocking fans. The tour, which was originally scheduled for 2020, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the tour resumed in 2021. However, except for Sven, all members were replaced, leading some to question if they could still be called "The Black Crowes."

In the end, it seems that Chris and Rich may have needed each other to bring out the best in each other. In fact, their solo projects never quite took off. Perhaps it was the energy from their sibling rivalry that was channeled into their music, which made The Black Crowes shine. Ironically, in 2001, they were on tour with Oasis for The Tour of Brotherly Love. The Gallagher brothers' ongoing feud continued, so it’s unlikely that the Robinson brothers’ newfound harmony will last forever.

The Black Crowes hold a special place in my heart, and I've had the opportunity to see them perform in various locations in both Japan and the U.S. In 1999, I was able to see them three times: on January 27 at Shibuya On Air East, on April 27 in Phoenix, Arizona (Desert Sky Pavilion, opening for Lenny Kravitz), and on July 30 at the Fuji Rock Festival. Since then, I've seen them again in 2001 in Tokyo (Shibuya Public Hall), in 2005 in New York City (Hammerstein Ballroom in March), in Wantagh, New York (Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theater on June 21), in Holmdel, New Jersey (PNC Bank Arts Center, opening for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers on June 22), and in Washington, D.C. (9:30 Club on October 4).

Their live shows are known to have some big variations in quality. As they are often categorized as "jam rock," their performances tend to extend a long time, and with that comes a larger improvisational element. However, despite each member being highly skilled, the lack of a strong lead soloist means that sometimes their jams can drag on, and the performance may lose its intensity. I saw two shows that were truly incredible—the one in Shibuya, where I was right at the front and felt how locked in the performance was, and the Fuji Rock show, which even included some Zeppelin covers. On the other hand, I've also witnessed some performances that were so sluggish that I almost wanted to leave midway through.

When I write about The Black Crowes, I end up venting my frustrations because I love them so much. It's almost like I'm reenacting the brotherly conflict between Chris and Rich—they’re so lovable yet infuriating at times. Their lineup changed every time I saw them, but I hope they can keep the sibling rivalry to a minimum and continue to perform together for many years to come.

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