Coming Back Around
above: The Black Crowes at Fillmore San Francisco 3.19.08
The Black Crowes swooped down into The Wiltern on Thursday, pecked our bones clean, and ascended back to the skies where they soar so majestically. Which is to say the “One Night Only” tour closer was a truly great concert; the best I’ve seen from them since Marc Ford resigned in September 2006. I arrived early enough to secure a pit wristband but opted for the first tier above to get a better sight line and improved sound, a move that paid off wisely as the pit became more and more crowded. Last night’s first set was an end-to-end performance of their newest album, Warpaint, and the receptive audience ate it up. The newest member to The Black Crowes is guitarist Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars and his versatile style meshed well with the other members all night, often elevating the band’s collective output to uncharted levels as on “Oh Josephine.” In my estimation, the “Movin’ On Down the Line” / “Wounded Bird” combination is the best tandem on their record and to hear these live was a supreme pleasure, as was the sight of drummer Steve Gorman at the front of the stage in full marching band regalia for “God’s Got It.” After Warpaint, the band indulged in a few choice covers and originals including my all-time favorite Crowes song since I was 14 years old, “Bad Luck Blue Eyes Goodbye,” and a supreme rendition at that. As an encore, the Rolling Stones cover “Torn and Frayed” seemed to speak directly of how this group can build themselves back up after so many tumultuous personnel changes, yet still return to peak form. Following today’s appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, which I will be in attendance for, they’re off to Australia, New Zealand, and Europe, but you catch them back in the states this summer with Dave Matthews Band as well as numerous headlining and festival gigs. Once again, The Black Crowes are back; let’s hope they never fly away again.
It’s been far too long since my last visit to Amoeba Music on Sunset, so if the timing works out I’ll drop by either before or after the taping in Burbank. Going out for the afternoon should fulfill my desire to socialize, so tonight looks to be a low-key Friday spent watching sports at home. The Lakers have played admirably considering they’re without Pau Gasol for the time being and assumed control in Utah from the get-go, jumping out to a 20-point lead in the first quarter on the way to a 106-95 win. Purple and Gold shoot for three straight with tonight’s home game against Seattle’s Supersonics, the second-worst team in the league at 16-52. On second thought after looking at the match-up, I may want to find something else to do if the contest turns into a blowout. If you have any Friday suggestions or recommendations, post them below, we’d love to know what everyone else has planned.
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