Show Review + Setlist + Photos: The Black Crowes at the Pageant, Wednesday, November 11

By Shae Moseley Thu., Nov. 12 2009 at 12:49 PM

Photo: Todd Owyoung

Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes last night at the Pageant. See more photos from last night's show.

By the time Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson sauntered out onto the Pageant stage last night, most of the capacity crowd had worked itself into a slightly tipsy (but good-natured) frenzy. (Or maybe that was just a contact high.) Robinson, who was sporting a long beard and brightly shining "poncho of many colors," was the perfect ringleader for this circus -- and he was all smiles as he, his five band mates and two back-up singers launched into "Good Morning Captain," the first track from the band's latest album, Before the Frost...Until the Freeze. The head-bobbing groove and slithering, slide-guitar work was a warm-spirited way to start the night and set the mood for a show full of soulful anthems and gospel-revival spirit.

Click here for a slideshow of photos from last night

The band was very loud from the get-go, proving that it still possesses plenty of its original hard-rock ethos, even though it's evolved over the years into a more eclectic and jam-centric band. Accordingly, the audience seemed to contain a balanced mix of die-hard fans and nostalgic revelers; for the latter group, the setlist might have been a bit of a let-down, as the band spent little time on its early material. However, "Stare It Cold," from its 1990 debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, brought lofty cheers from the packed house, and the tight grooves and soulful exuberance of new songs "Make Glad" and "Appaloosa" went over nearly as well as older hits.

Photo: Todd Owyoung

The Black Crowes last night at the Pageant. See more photos from last night's show.

The Robinson brothers and co. have become known for unpredictable setlists, and never play the same show twice. That was clear last night: Besides the new songs, the band performed three cuts from 1994's Amorica and one from 2001's Lions, and largely avoided its radio hits. The energy produced by this fresh approach to each night on the road is evident, and the Crowes showed that they definitely have the chops and instincts to pull off this type of slightly improvisational rock show.

However, the show's downfall was just its sheer volume and abundance of meandering jams, which inevitably became a little fatiguing about three-quarters of the way through the nearly two-hour set. This isn't to say that there weren't inspired moments during the rounds of solos, but much of the warmth and sound quality (as well as most of Robinson's lyrics), were often sacrificed in the wash out. The exception, though, was "Wiser Time," which burned with intensity as Rich Robinson and Luther Dickinson traded solos. The thick riffage and woozy slide guitar-work gradually built steam until the chorus refrain brought the song home. It's unfortunate that more of the extended jam endings weren't this deliberate.

Photo: Todd Owyoung

The Black Crowes last night at the Pageant. See more photos from last night's show.

Another highlight, "Wounded Bird," was a beautifully uplifting way to close out the main set. Its spirited refrain of "Set your mind to fly" had the entire swaying crowd head-bobbing in unison. Besides summing up what was at times a very spiritually moving show, it showcased perfectly the band's ability to morph dynamically between slow-grooving verses and its signature, anthemic choruses.

Setlist:
Good Morning Captain
Stare It Cold
Space Captain
Make Glad
Appaloosa
Little Lizzie Mae
Ozone Mama
I Ain't Hiding
Ballad in Urgency
Wiser Time
And The Band Played On
She Gave Good Sunflower
Been a Long Time (Waiting on Love)
Wounded Bird

Encore:
Remedy

Tags:

2009, november 11, photos, review, setlist, st. louis, the black crowes, the pageant

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Matt S

Sampson, you're a glorified moron.

What, they play maybe one cover song a night, at the end of their sets, because it's been a longrunning schtick. The Crowes are the best going these days. Something tells me they're just getting started.

Wayne

Sure sampson, thanks for your pap. Now go back to your Lady Gaga MP3s...

sampson

This band is still playing? Wow. Rock and roll has progressed, music has evolved, and the black crowes have always been a glorified cover band. Face it, time to hang it up guys.

David

I thought the show was great. I'm a bigger fan of the post Shake Your Money Maker era. When I saw them at the pageant two years ago they played alot of the old favorites, "Sting Me" was one I love. Check out their other stuff. "Amorica" is great. "Lions" is a jewel. I definitely recommend "Lions"!

Carl

I thought the show was Amazing...last two comments sum up type of show, it was Fantastic and Original !!!! Sometimes I was lost in the music ( wasn't high..LOL )its been a long time since a show moved me like this one. Last time was when Page and Plant came through years ago. I was wondering about the Crowes, havent been in the main spotlight, but I was reminded once again what a great band they are !!!!!

Eric

Hey Matt,

KSHE or any other radio station, meaning radio friendly songs that only the average listener knowns. I do like when a group does a full record on tour like Aerosmith playing all of toys in the attic or Motley Crue playing Dr.Feelgood track by track and the crowes could do that easily for several of their albums. I too am a "records" person who enjoys playing an album and taking the time to know the tracks, hits or not, if it's a great song it's a great song. I loved hearing "Remedy" last night because it is just a fantastic song, perfect energy for a live setting and you can tell the group still enjoys to play it live. I think when groups end up doing a "best of" setlist year after year, record a new record and are not brave enough to play anything live, than it shows in their performance that the passions just isn't there. The reason the crowes are still as strong in concert is becasue of their ability to still write such credible music and be able to play live with the spirit of the old days, jamming and at times writing music music on stage for later use. That's what keeps the group around and having such a loyal fanbase.

Matt

Eric,

I'll agree with you. I'm just suggesting that with everybody and their brother doing the full album schtick, I wouldn't mind seeing the Crowes do it with those two particular albums.

Regarding the KSHE crack - for what it's worth - I work in radio (part-time) but can't stomach to turn on any commercial radio station for personal listening. I'm all Ipod/CDs, all of the time, for nearly 4 years now with only college radio providing the occasional show worth listening to to hear something truly groundbreaking.

Back to the Crowes discussion:

I've bought every album that they've put out - and with the release of Lions and Warpaint, I thought they'd finally lost me - didn't dig either of those records.

The new record is stunning - a good example of reasons why you should stick with a band album by album, in spite of the occasional one that you perceive to be a dud.

I've seen my share of Crowes shows - I've got quite a few boots of "choice shows," but I'm at the point with them where they are no longer on my "must see" list. That doesn't mean that they aren't out there killing on a nightly basis - it just means that I'm kind of over what they're doing at this point. I'd rather spend my concert dollars on something else.

Eric

Personally I enjoy seeing a show for the "fans" and not just the KSHE 95 "hits" crowd. A band shouldn't have to go through the motions of doing 4-5 minute mundane uninspired rock hits when they can play songs from their entire career, have the ability to expand on them for several minutes, and make each show unique. That is what rock and roll should be about, not pleasing the average everyday joe who is mainly at the show to drink and socialize, there are enough groups like that; One reason being they couldn't play their lesser known songs becasue nobody would actually want to hear them, they don't have the diehard fans who own every record and actually listen to the entier album, and lack the ability and or drive to want to play music for the sake of playing by trading off solos and jamming. That is a concert.

If you want to hear the "hits" go play your CD and stay home, let the ticket sales go to the people who want the experience and appreciate something unique.

Matt

To add to the previous, if the Crowes ever did a tour of "the hits," promoted as such - I'd go see it. They've come so far as a live band since I saw them for the first time opening for ZZ Top, circa Shake Your Money Maker. At that point, they were awful live, but playing the songs that I'd actually want to hear now. They are too obscure these days for my taste.

With that in mind, if they were to join the trend of bands playing full albums, Money Maker and Southern Harmony would be cool to see....and I'd road trip to see a weekend of those shows back to back somewhere.

Matt

Your missing track is "Little Lizzie Mae" - an outtake from the latest album that will show up in official release via the band's upcoming Cabin Fever DVD release.