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"I'm Still Tripping On Acid With You!"
Chris and Rich Robinson, of The Black Crowes, rolled into Austin to play four sold out acoustic shows - two on Monday at the Union Ballroom and two on Tuesday at the Cactus Café. We were lucky enough to get tickets for both performances at the Ballroom. The brothers have announced that there are no press passes to any of their shows on this mini-tour dubbed "Brothers of a Feather" and some reporters are getting their panties in a bunch over this. The shows consisted of songs from their past albums, rare unreleased numbers, songs from their solo careers and new material from the yet-to-be released new album. You can find the setlists here.
The stage set-up was two chairs, several guitars, small table for "refreshments" and a coat stand - we think they expected cool weather, silly rock stars. This intimate setting, maybe 300 hundred people in attendance, provided an easy connection between the audience and the players. The magic of a live performance can often get lost in the clutter that usually accompanies a loud electric rock band, this was not the case with their performance at the Union Ballroom. Their music flowed from dirty rock n' roll to old time country to piercing ballads with Chris playing the role of the happy host in between songs. At one point in the show Chris yells out, "Hey Scotty (their sound guy), yeah that's it, " and then proceeds to tell the audience that he is experiencing a Star Trek episode in his head and that everyone is without pants.
Their material speaks of living in this sometimes-depressing time but still manages to give some sign of hope in the end. Though the brothers are often labeled as a nostalgia act by the press, there is something very real, even heart breaking, when they spill their souls about heartache, drug addiction and happiness. There is a reason these guys are still around after sixteen years, but you will have to see a show to understand. Lucky for you the band is coming to Austin July 3rd.
"I'm still tripping on acid with you!" a drunken man shouted from the back of the Texas Union Ballroom. Chris nodded his head in the fellow's direction as they began the intro to new song called "Magic Rooster Blues." Yes, rockers from a lost age, we're all still tripping with you.
