The Black Crowes @ Brixton Academy, London
Originally published on my old blog.
Blues rock jam night at Brixton
Southern drawl, rock and roll, and the sweet sweet smell of weed.
My enduring memory of seeing The Black Crowes at Brixton Academy in London was being surprised how stoned the audience got. I hadn't associated the band with that kind of crowd, if I recall correctly it was our first time seeing them, but the moment they came on stage, it felt like every second person in the whole wide room lit up.
It was a typical Wednesday night, the place was sold out, and they came on on the dot of nine. They jammed, they noodled, it was self indulgent at times but overall a great gig - the jammy blues rock set you'd expect, a long two and a half hours including the encore. I love their record Southern Harmony and Musical Companion and they played most of it really well, along with a few tracks from the newer albums.
Not everyone was so happy. When it became obvious the Crowes weren't interested in playing their old hits, a number of people seemed a bit disappointed, Jo included. No Hard to Handle, no Twice as Hard and no She Talks To Angels, and the only song they did from Shake Your Moneymaker was Jealous Again. The highlight of the night for me was either that or Remedy.
A good gig, but a lot of punters went home wishing they'd heard a song they knew. 3.5 out of 5, unless you are a Black Crowes fan, then maybe you'd go for a 4.
Photos from the gig
