Kerrang article Dec. 1996
Kerrang review for Astoria November 1996
Printed 12/7/96
by Morat

 [Submitted by Steve Witty]


HAZY! Black Acid Devilry Hits London


  Black Crowes vocalist Chris Robinson,the archetypal hippy,wanders
around the carpeted stage at the Astoria with his fingers in his
ears."Don't make bad sounds happen to me,"he implores with a smile.The
band have been soundchecking for over an hour now,and this is the
first time there's been even the vaguest  hint of a 'bad sound',the
merest whiff of feedback caused by a dodgy guitar jack.To say that the
Crowes are perfectionists would be like saying that Everest is a big
hill,and to say that they enjoy their work is like saying the Atlantic
is a bit wet.Probably the only reason the soundcheck isn't still going
on when the doors open is that they have to take a break for more of
those funny cigarettes.

   For now,though,despite the fact it's so cold in here that you can
see your breath,they're having a grand old time,even bashing out a
cover of Elvis Presley's 'Jailhouse Rock'.During a break between
tunes,Chris ambles over to sit on guitarist Rich Robinson's
stool."Man,i wish i was guitarist in The Black Crowes,"he drawls with
a nod to his brother,"then i could sit down for the whole set."

   Backstage is as it should be.There's the sweet,sweet aroma of
weed,a selection of bizarre country tunes drifting from a sorted sound
system,and Chris Robinson harping on about the Grateful Dead and
getting increasingly excited about playing tonight."The only thing
better than a Grateful Dead show,"he gleefully informs anyone to
listen,"is getting to play with The Black Crowes.When we supported
them i was,like,'Wow,i get to do all my favourite things in one day'."

   Tonight there is no support,so The Black Crowes can go on early and
play longer.Self-indulgent?Not really.Would you rather suffer some
ropey opening band (wasn't it the verve last time?)?The self-indulgent
label has often been pinned on The Black Crowes,but that can hardly be
fair when the majority of the audience is in raptures about the
set.True,for fans of the their more rocking material the chances of
not being bored shitless seem to be rapidly decreasing with time,and
tonight is no exception;but most folks seem to be well into the long
musical workouts that pass for songs these days.All except the one who
lobs a beer can a Chris Robinson five (four actually) in,causing the
band to stop playing while the singer quite rightly has a good rant.

   So we get another mellow widdly set this evening.It's the kind of
thing that worked at Glastonbury because the festival had the right
vibes (man),but could be perceived as tedious if you have to listen to
two-and-a-half-hours of it.Kerrang! reader Rebecca Harvey
disagrees:"It's brilliant value for money,"she enthuses,"and they
played something from every album".She's right on both counts.Opening
with 'Nebakanezer',perhaps the best track from the 'Three Snakes And
One Charm' LP,they touch all bases of their career,right back to
'Shake Your Money Maker'.'Black Moon Creeping','Wiser Time' and
'Jealous Again' get the crowd moving.'Thorn In My Pride' and 'She
Talks To Angels' bring then down again.Simon Laughton seems more keen
on the undoubtedly brilliant musicianship."They've got this knack of
jamming together and making it look like all the songs were written
like that."True again.Tonight,despite the reservations of some
people,is a success.The long encore goes down well,and the majority of
the audience would have taken even more.After the show,it's clear that
The Crowes enjoyed every minute of it.Well,apart from the beer
chucking incident.

   "A lot of people here have seen us many times,"says Chris"and they
know,don't throw shit at us and don't get on our stage.We're not that
kind of band and never have been.That's fine for other bands,but for
us it's,like,why did you come man?What would you possibly get from
something like that?"

   Then the bearded Robinson is back to being the
animated,unrepentant,happy hippy.Ask him about the set and he just
shrugs and smiles."It is what it is,man,and we're all together with
that."Fair enough.Skin up,then....