Black Crowes to tour this summer

[storrsroars]

Americans have tended to create solo artists. Think of any list of greatest American performers- Elvis, MJ, Dylan, Aretha, Madonna, James Brown, etc, and you go through a bunch of solo acts (or acts with back up band names (Hendrix Experience, Bruce and E Street) before you get to a band whose brand was as big as the solo artists.

Brits have had more bands as brands- Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin, The Who, Pink Floyd, etc before you get to name brands. Bowie is probably the only solo artist who had as much name recognition as those bands.

While I get what you're trying to say, using Bowie as the only solo "brand" is a bit of an overstatement. Every Brit knew of Lonnie Donnegan in the 50s, Cliff Richard and Donovan in the 60s and Elton John and Kate Bush in the 70s, among others. Not to mention Tom Jones and Englebert, who were both major pop stars as legitimate as late period Elvis. And to a lesser extent Van Morrison, Jeff Beck, Rory Gallagher, Rod Stewart, Elvis Costello and many others, even Clapton, were considered brands both within and outside their respective bands.

 

[Husky25]

Americans have tended to create solo artists. Think of any list of greatest American performers- Elvis, MJ, Dylan, Aretha, Madonna, James Brown, etc, and you go through a bunch of solo acts (or acts with back up band names (Hendrix Experience, Bruce and E Street) before you get to a band whose brand was as big as the solo artists.

Brits have had more bands as brands- Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin, The Who, Pink Floyd, etc before you get to name brands. Bowie is probably the only solo artist who had as much name recognition as those bands.

Broad generalization, IMO. Without really trying to pick a fight, I can come up with a few examples that say the opposite.

Ozzy, to me, is a bigger brand than Black Sabbath. The Beatles are a tough example. They were pioneers. Their music was ground breaking, but in the end, they broke up and all four members were well known and quite successful in their own right. Eric Clapton was a bigger name than any band he was ever a part of. Sting as well.

Closer to home, Aerosmith is so much larger than the sum of Tyler, Perry, Hamilton, Whitford, and Kramer. Ditto any version of Van Halen. I'd also say the same about the Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Doors, Metallica, and Pearl Jam.

 

[Ewekon]

Saw the Crowes' accoustic tour at the Capitol in '13. Had seen them before but the acoustic was a jammy pleasant surprise. Of course, great venue.

 

[storrsroars]

And to throw back to thread topic. Chris Robinson way more mod rod influenced than anything on planet

I've heard Rich cites Faces as a major influence, didn't know about Chris.

 

[Chin Diesel]

While I get what you're trying to say, using Bowie as the only solo "brand" is a bit of an overstatement. Every Brit knew of Lonnie Donnegan in the 50s, Cliff Richard and Donovan in the 60s and Elton John and Kate Bush in the 70s, among others. Not to mention Tom Jones and Englebert, who were both major pop stars as legitimate as late period Elvis. And to a lesser extent Van Morrison, Jeff Beck, Rory Gallagher, Rod Stewart, Elvis Costello and many others, even Clapton, were considered brands both within and outside their respective bands.

Broad generalization, IMO. Without really trying to pick a fight, I can come up with a few examples that say the opposite.

Ozzy, to me, is a bigger brand than Black Sabbath. The Beatles are a tough example. They were pioneers. Their music was ground breaking, but in the end, they broke up and all four members were well known and quite successful in their own right. Eric Clapton was a bigger name than any band he was ever a part of. Sting as well.

Closer to home, Aerosmith is so much larger than the sum of Tyler, Perry, Hamilton, Whitford, and Kramer. Ditto any version of Van Halen. I'd also say the same about the Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Doors, Metallica, and Pearl Jam.

I hear what both of you are saying. To clarify my point.

In the US very few people would put Van Halen or Aerosmith anywhere near the top solo artists in American Rock/Pop history. Ask most people for a top 10 list and maybe the Ealges or Doors sneak in towards the 8-10 spot. I understand the point that several American bands brands are bigger than any individual within the group. That wasn't my point. My point was the top bands/groups aren't at the top of American music history.

As for the Brits, I was just using Bowie as an example in terms of fame and influence. I would put Clapton and Elton in to that top tier as well but would put all of them below Zeppelin, Stones, Beatles, The Who, Pink Floyd, Queen and a few others. Most people's list of Top Brit artists would have groups/bands making up the majority of the top 10 with maybe 2-3 solo artists closer to 10 than 1.

At least IMO.

 

[Pudge]

Springsteen is still making fresh music. Exciting new album music. Who else has that longevity over decades.
I’d say VanMorrison.

What is special ... they are premier songwriters. If you can't keep writing & regenerating a new vibrant theme over time, you won't last. So ... maybe touring grates them & makes them evil as partners owning shares in the band; but, if you have no one to push the music to remain on top, you become a character act replaying your hits.

I also love the Capitol in Port Chester NY

 

[boog204]

slightly hot take... Aerosmith is insanely overrated and I will never understand how anyone can put them in the same breath as some of the bands previously mentioned. Discuss.

 

[Waquoit]

Springsteen is still making fresh music. Exciting new album music. Who else has that longevity over decades.
I’d say VanMorrison.

I'd say Bob Dylan. He had those great albums around the turn of the century, decades after what most consider his prime.

 

[storrsroars]

Springsteen is still making fresh music. Exciting new album music. Who else has that longevity over decades.
I’d say VanMorrison.

I personally think there are a number of old guys doing great music, just not in the band format where they made their fame, and mostly not "radio-friendly" stuff. Gilmour, Knopfler and Frampton come immediately to mind. They're doing stuff they want to do, not necessarily to stay on top. More quiet, more instrumental, but IMO, much of it is excellent. Talent is talent.

I haven't listened to any of Robertson's side projects to have an opinion, although I've read New Earth Mud received good reviews.

 

[August_West]

Gilmour, Knopfler and Frampton

Those are 3 great examples.


Crosby been on a tear last 5 years too. No one is listening but it’s great stuff

 

[Huskybass]

slightly hot take... Aerosmith is insanely overrated and I will never understand how anyone can put them in the same breath as some of the bands previously mentioned. Discuss.

I agree completely. With the exception of a few early songs, they are entirely mediocre. IMO.

Then again I can't stand the Black Crowes either. I find their music to be very annoying, yet lots of my jam band friends seem to love them. Same thing with Widespread Panic. That raspy voice just doesn't appeal to me.

Wilco:. One song hits me, Impossible Germany. Despite my efforts to like their other stuff, it just doesn't click.

 

[AreBee1969]

7/24 at XFinity. Tickets on sale now.

Already looking forward to this one. Saw them at the Bushnell in 1993. Maybe the best show I've ever seen.

I was at that show too. Absolutely phenomenal. I also saw them open for Tom Petty in 2005 and they were absolutely horrible. I will be there next summer hoping for a reprise of the 1993 show.

 

[boog204]

I agree completely. With the exception of a few early songs, they are entirely mediocre. IMO.

Then again I can't stand the Black Crowes either. I find their music to be very annoying, yet lots of my jam band friends seem to love them. Same thing with Widespread Panic. That raspy voice just doesn't appeal to me.

Wilco:. One song hits me, Impossible Germany. Despite my efforts to like their other stuff, it just doesn't click.

I do like the Crowes, but I just can't listen to too much in one sitting. It gets very repetitive to me. I do like Panic, though, and am firmly in the jam band circle.

With Wilco, you've got to really dig deeper. They write some fantastic music but it is all over the place. The first few albums are good Americana rock vibes, then there are countri-fied outputs, and then noise, and then... They're one of the best things going in my opinion.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Sirius XM is running some specials with Chris and Rich giving interviews and sharing stories of years gone by.

Chris was talking of being at some bar where he was with Liam Gallagher. He said the night was ending, Liam was leaving and walking up some steps and a fan came up to Liam and asked if he could shake Liam's hand. Liam obliged and the fan replied that he always wanted to shake the hand of the biggest balloon knot in rock. Chris said Liam, without hesitation, tightened his grip, pulled the guy forwarded and gave the fan a headbutt. Then he dropped the handshake and walked off.

 

[Waquoit]

With Wilco, you've got to really dig deeper. They write some fantastic music but it is all over the place. The first few albums are good Americana rock vibes, then there are countri-fied outputs, and then noise, and then... They're one of the best things going in my opinion.

What did it for me was a show at College Street a few winters ago. My buddy was the big Wilco fan, I was just going to see music. Day of the show I was sick and not that in to it, until they started. I thought they were great. I was especially surprised how much I enjoyed their all-acoustic encore. Didn't kill the momentum at all, it was a cool way to end the show.

 

[Deadrody]

OK Boomer

FINALLY a worthy use of this idiotic meme

 

[QDOG5]

Ok, I'll hijack the thread. Out of many that I really like my favorite Wilco song is Impossible Germany.

 

[Waquoit]

Tickets cut 50%!

 

[HuskyBaggins]

Oh that's funny

 

[Husky25]

All things considered, I'm half surprised they didn't double the price and offer a payment plan.

Clicked on the link and the photo is of the Robinson brothers. My recollection is that The Black Crowes are a five piece band.

 

[HuskyBaggins]

All things considered, I'm half surprised they didn't double the price and offer a payment plan.

Clicked on the link and the photo is of the Robinson brothers. My recollection is that The Black Crowes are a five piece band.

They still are, just not the original members. The only holdovers are the Robinson boys.

 

[Husky25]

They still are, just not the original members. The only holdovers are the Robinson boys.

That's not exactly true. The Steve Gorman (percussion) was a 1/3 partner. He's version of the story is Chris Robinson forced him out and took a fair amount of control from Rich. The band broke up in 2015.

 

[HuskyBaggins]

That's not exactly true. The Steve Gorman (percussion) was a 1/3 partner. He's version of the story is Chris Robinson forced him out and took a fair amount of control from Rich. The band broke up in 2015.

I just mean the current tour, compare to the original. Only the Robinson boys remain

 

[Husky25]

I just mean the current tour, compare to the original. Only the Robinson boys remain

Exactly.

There does not appear to be any new material by this lineup and only the Robinsons are featured in promotions. 60% of the band (including a part owner) has turned over in the last 4 1/2 years, let alone from their classic era, and the current incarnation is basically a cover band of their former selves, IMO.

I might see myself paying $20 to get in the pavilion. Then again, I might also spend that on a cheap bottle as if I were a college senior, turn off the lights, and find an old lighter and my copy of Southern Harmony... by the pool.

 

[Waquoit]

Steve Gorman was at Infinity Norfolk last Thursday and they were giving away tickets. And it was at Infinity I got my Chris Robinson fix not so long ago. I'm good.

In the never say never department: The four of us have been going to Saratoga every summer for years, always coming in on a Friday as the other couple can never get the time from work, yada, yada... We locked in a weekend a few months ago on spec knowing we'd all have our shots. So we were talking yesterday and I mentioned in passing that the Black Crows were at SPAC that Thursday. "We're in!" instantly bellowed the brother in law. So I guess I wasn't good. Maybe it's the COVID talking but I'm really looking forward to it myself.

 

[Waquoit]

And here's a new thing (to me). They are now charging an extra $20. for the first two seats on the aisle. i.e: Seats 1,2 $119. Seats 3,4 $99.