I couldn’t resist the chance to see The Black Crowes in Wolverhampton, at the new refurbished Halls tonight. After bumping into an old friend and getting my pass sorted, it was up to the circle for a front row view. Must say the venue is looking good, with an added balcony to increase the capacity and some plush upgrades. After getting a drink and finding my seat, it was only a short wait before the support band came on stage.
JIM JONES ALL STARS – I remember ‘Thee Hypnotics’ from years ago, that was where I must have initially seen Jim Jones perform. They also supported The Black Crowes back in the day, so the relationship is renewed this evening. Jim has evolved since his garage rock days, the ‘All Stars’ are eight highly charged players of Rhythm and Blues, with lashings of Soul and Funk, all delivered with an exceedingly crazed fusion. Jim addresses us with ‘Hello You Sexy Bastards’ and they pour (pun intended) into ‘Cement Mixer’, the first of many from his previous troup ‘The Jim Jones Revue’. Just like that piece of builders equipment, the rolling and rumbling is ever present, must have been the inspiration behind the song, which is genius level. There are a handful of covers on the setlist and ‘When You See Me Hurt’ by ‘Carl Lester and The Showstoppers’ is the first. The song was originally released in 1961, but it’s stood the test of time and this version is really up there, these guys put everything into their performance. ‘Burning Your House Down’ is another from the ‘Revue’ days, off the 2010 album of the same name. Rocking up the 12 bars, it’s a seducing piece, full of grit spitting vocals and those dual Saxophone players are mesmerising. Time for another cover with ‘Bukka White’s’ ‘Parchman Farm Blues’. ‘Bukka’ was the master of slide guitar from the American Delta and again the ‘All Stars’ put their mark on this with heightened dexterity.
Jim Jones All Stars
‘I want You ( Anyway I Can )’ has a 60’s beat with rampant drumming and the guitar sound is so cool. The audience are enjoying this blend of ‘off the wall’ and unconventional sounds and Jim is a master at holding our attention, jumping to the barrier to get his message across. You may have never of heard of the ‘Jimmy Castor Bunch’ but you may have listened to countless artists using their music as samples in film and ‘Hip Hop’, even ‘Ice-T’ has used them. So to hear the spoken lyrics of ’Troglodyte ( Cave Man ) is a surprise. ‘What we’re gonna do right here is go back, way back, back into time’ and ‘Gotta find a woman, gotta find a woman’ These are used regularly with industrial ‘Hip Hop’ groups. Jim Jones, what an incredible musical creature you are ! What a divine choice and what a fantastic way to play it, American Funk with charm and innovation from the ‘All Stars’. ‘Lovers Prayer’ follows straight after and they close with ‘512’ when all hell breaks loose. They hold their instruments aloft while the lights dim, a salute to Wolverhampton and the audience, who reacted with rapturous applause.
Jim Jones and his band are phenomenal, intriguing and subtle humour, unique mixing of genre’s and top class musicians. Taking inspiration from the Blues and Soul of the 60’s and 70’s, they achieve something that’s not only refreshing to hear, they blow your mind visually, with so much going on stage wise, just fabulous.
The debut album ‘Ain’t No Peril’ is available now , check out the website for details.
Jim Jones All Stars
Two crew members hoover the carpets on stage, before the headliners appear. It’s things like this that I love seeing ! By now the ‘Civic’ as I still call it, is packed and those standing look squeezed, it’s hot in here and a few tempers are raised between the punters down on the floor. Water is handed out from staff on the barriers, to help a few who are struggling. The AC/DC classic ‘It’s A Long Way To The Top ( If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll ) flows out of the main speakers, heralding the approach of the Robinson Brothers and their band.
THE BLACK CROWES – Amazing when you’re informed ‘Happiness Bastards’ is the first music from ‘The Black Crowes’ for fifteen years. But as they step on stage and fire up ‘Bedside Manners’ you could be fooled otherwise. From the onset, they are firmly in their Atlanta groove and as ‘Rats And Clowns’ is played, the place is already wallowing in their brand of ‘Southern Rock’. Guitars are exchanged with techs after every song and Chris Robinson says ‘Wolverhampton it’s been a long time, when did we last play here ?’ Several hands are raised even by those who don’t know, much to the singers amusement. I think we eventually agree on 2002.
‘Horsehead’ from 1998, is sandwiched between the more well known ‘Twice As Hard’ and ‘Stare It Cold’ both off the infamous ’Shake Your Money Maker’ an album that left us wanting back in 1990. I remember watching them at ‘JB’s Junction 10, Walsall’ on that tour, an unbelievable gig. The new and deeply rutted ‘Cross Your Fingers’ and the delicate but emotional ‘Wilted Rose’ are evidence that ‘The Black Crowes’ are still writing extraordinary and powerful music forty years on from when they first formed in 1984. These recent compositions are lying in tune with the older material tonight, the set meandering and storming, with equal positivity. I like the cover of ‘Bo Diddley’s’ ‘Road Runner’ a bit of classic rock and roll is always welcome. There’s another flare-up down the front and Chris is quick to step up and tell the over-exuberant folk to F**kin calm down !
The Black Crowes
‘A Song We’ve Been Playing For A Long Time’ says the vocalist as the intro for ‘Thorn In My Pride’ is strummed. The first off ‘The Southern Harmony & Musical Companion’ is well received and Chris shows he can still sing, not wavering for a second. He looks cool in his silver glitter boots and black nails, as he takes this song to the limits, time for the band members to show us their skills. Alongside Six string maestro Rich Robinson, also on guitar is Nico Bereciartua, who handles his solos with remarkable precision and long time ‘Crowes’ bassist Sven Pipien’ is part of the family these days. Plenty of backing vocals from the band and there are two female singers, Lesley Grant and MacKenzie Adams, adding even more harmonies. Chris picks up a harmonica for ‘Wanting And Waiting’ a lively number with chords and vocals that remind me of their older music, it even has a slight gospel feel, the frontman throwing his instrument into the crowd afterwards.
Perhaps their most recognisable song is ‘Hard To Handle’, the cover of the ‘Otis Redding’ hit. As Chris’s Southern drawl introduces the song, someone slings a ‘Happiness Bastards’ album sleeve at Rich, ‘You buy my album then throw it at me, you Dick’ is the guitarists response. What was that ‘Dick’ thinking ? Did he assume they would pause to autograph it ? Yep, there were some idiots watching the bands tonight. Nonetheless, it doesn’t distract the ‘Crowes’ for more than a moment and they carry on as nothing has happened, I’m sure they’ve had worse interruptions ! ‘She Talks To Angels’ is another that holds our hearts and it’s brilliantly done, this is going down as one of those gigs you’ll never forget. ‘Bleed It Dry’ is a rocked up bluesy track off the new album and it just saunters along with finesse. Above the stack of false amps and large mirror, that makes up the original and fitting stage set, sits drummer ‘Cully Symington and keyboard player Erik Deutsch, hard to see them at times up there, but I like the way the stage has been decorated, even the cardboard cutout of ‘Chuck Berry’ seems to be at home.
The Black Crowes
‘No Speak No Slave’ is next and the vocals are perfect and full of more captivating guitar from Nico. We are reaching the end of the show but there’s still time for ‘Jealous Again’ and the dynamic ‘Remedy’ which the band sing along to and we get that gospel vibe, which it is loved for. They leave the stage briefly before returning for one more, a cover of ‘Reverend Charlie Jackson’s’ ‘God’s Got It’.
Phew, that was pretty spectacular, I feel numb from all the resonance and quality ‘The Black Crowes’ delivered tonight. They remain one of the most awesome bands for me, so glad they have made up and returned.
Visit the website for more details and merchandise
‘Phew, that was pretty spectacular, I feel numb from all the resonance and quality ‘The Black Crowes’ delivered tonight.’
FULL PHOTO GALLERY BY DAL HATTON – HERE
