Watching the newly reconvened Black Crowes on the Howard Stern show, and I have to say, they sound as as good as ever to my ears, and better than they have on occasion.
However, there's a big question on everyone's mind, and it's not something we'll know ever, or at least until Chris and Rich Robinson are back at each others throats. That question is this.
Is this reunion of the brothers Robinson an artistic desire or a crass cash grab?
When I listen to the band, I am sorely tempted to say this all about rock 'n' roll. To my ears, Isaiah Mitchell is as fine a guitarist as has ever rode shotgun with Rich Robinson's rhythmic right hand, a right hand that identifies and informs the sound of the Black Crowes as much as his brother's voice.
I've heard a lot of fans grousing about the absence of former fan fave guitarists Marc Ford and Audley Freed, but I can totally understand why the brothers staunchly refused to even consider any sidemen who had ever been in the band, and let's be honest here. Everyone who ever suited up in a Crowes uniform was sideman to the brothers, even longtime and notably excluded drummer, Steve Gorman, who has been very vocal about his exclusion and his statements concerning the dubious nature of this reuniting.
Gorman recently told Ultimate Classic Rock, "The truth is, when Chris blew the band up in 2014, the last thing I wanted was to be involved in a continuing string of emails from lawyers and accountants trying to get everybody to agree on something. It’s been much nicer to know that this is all in the rear view. And again, they wouldn’t ever think of approaching me, but it’s going to be a pretty tough thing to make sense of, six years after Chris said, 'I need all of the money or I’m never doing this again' and then suddenly saying, 'Okay, I’m ready to do it again.' I mean, it just speaks for what’s going on. They painted themselves into a corner and they need to go out as the Black Crowes, and I don’t think, frankly, they give two flying fucks who is in the band onstage with them.
"They’re going to go do what they have to do. And I don’t begrudge anybody who can make a living playing music in their 50s on principle. It’s like, Good for you. But the way this will be spun, and the way that everything has been spun for years, [it is] a pretty dubious suggestion that this is anything about a reunion or an anniversary."When I watched the brothers interacting on the Stern show, it seemed like they were trying hard, but I can't say that I was absolutely convinced that Steve Gorman's comments were off target.
I'm hoping that I'm just a cynical, skeptical, jaded old fuck, but I'm going to wait a while before I pass judgment in either direction.
At any rate, the band is sounding fantastic. I loved watching bassist Tim Lefebvre and Isaiah Mitchell exchanging smile, it's good to see two musicians from completely different coasts and scenes vibing off each other and obviously having a great time.
For those of you unfamiliar with Isaiah Mitchell, he's been leading his band Earthless, a band that smartly and aggressively argues that the difference between improvisational rock and being a jam band is substantial, and what they do is definitely intent driven improvisation. This is a significant distinction, one that basically lays out some of the distance and difference between the instrumental sides of jazz and the blues. Earthless has put out five full length CDs since 2005, and I strongly recommend that you check them out.
Lefebvre is, of course, the bassist of Bowie's Black Star, and he's just off the road with the Tedeschi Trucks band after recording the Signs album with the band earlier this year.
Rounding out the band is drummer Raj Ojha and keyboardist Joel Robinow from the bay area favorites, the Once & Future Band. Once & Future opened on several Chris Robinson Brotherhood tours, and both are super solid editions to the Crowes, especially Robinow's stellar Hammond B-3 work.
Yes, musically this version of the Crowes can roost in my field anytime, and I can wait to see the band when they hit the road in June.
There certainly can't be a verdict as to the motivations at play here, but either way, it'll be good to have the Black Crowes back in sheds and arenas this year. I enjoy both the CRB and Magpie Salute, but they're no Black Crowes.
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