The Black Crowes

Ah, another profile of one of my favorite bands.  The Black Crowes, from Atlanta, Georgia.  These guys are now on a hiatus of sorts after a 20+ year career.  But what they managed to accomplish in that two decades is astonishing.  Brothers Chris and Rich Robinson head the band (Chris on vocals, harmonica and occasional guitar) and Rich on guitar and occasional vocals.  Their debut record in 1990 ("Shake Your Moneymaker"), was relatively successful.  The title was taken from a song of the same name by Chicago blues legend and slide guitarist, Elmore James. 

The band blends blues and soul with a healthy dose of influence from British groups like the Rolling Stones and The Faces.  Rich Robinson picked up quickly on a guitar style resembling that of Keith Richards and put his own spin on it.  But, the band also easily falls into the jam band realm because of their improvisation skills, right up there with their fellow Georgia blues rock pioneers, the Allman Brothers Band.  Live, the band can really stretch out and does fall into that "jam band" niche.  Although the term "jam band" is kind of a curse or a dirty description in the music biz.  Why?  I do not know.  Anyhow, the Crowes can jam with the best.  Robinson has anchored the guitar duties while drummer Steve Gorman has also been in the band for the long run.

Bassist Sven Pipien has been a part of the band through most of their formative years (as they started with another bassist, Johnny Colt).  They have had three main guitarists alongside Rich Robinson.  Jeff Cease, Marc Ford, and their latest axe slinger (concurrently a member of his own band, The North Mississippi Allstars), Luther Dickinson.  The Robinson/Dickinson tandem has probably been the most formidable.  Marc Ford also was a strong player during his tenure with the Crowes and interim guitarist Audley Freed (who came between Ford and Dickinson), also did well.

Dickinson's late father Jim was a keyboardist and well known southern roots musician and producer.  Dickinson produced the track "Wild Horses" for The Rolling Stones and played piano on it.  Luther's brother Cody Dickinson plays drums in the North Mississippi Allstars as well.  The Robinson's have also been involved in music for a long time.  Their early albums were very raucous, uptempo and yet bluesy affairs while some of their later work ("Warpaint" in 2008 and "Before The Frost"/"Until The Freeze") in 2009, took more song oriented turns.  "Warpaint" though is very energetic, especially in the guitar interplay between Robinson and Dickinson.

It should be noted that three keyboard players have also been a part of the band.  Early on, Chuck Leavell (legendary organ and piano player who has worked with the Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, and, The Rolling Stones), anchored the keyboards before their longest serving keyboardist Ed Harsch joined the band in 1992.  In 2006, Harsch and Marc Ford were let go from the band for some reason.  But, new keyboardist Adam MacDougall (who joined in 2008 for "Warpaint" at the same time as Luther Dickinson), revitalized the band.

Their live shows were pretty incredible.  I have seen them in person twice and was impressed both times.  They are a true blues/rock band playing a lot of their own songs and covers that aren't too obvious, that they put their own stamp on.  They are now on hiatus and it remains to be seen when they'll get back together.  But, check out their material.  You won't be disappointed with what you hear.  Particularly recommended:

"Shake Your Moneymaker" (1990)
"The Southern Harmony & Musical Companion" (1992)
"Amorica" (1994)
"Greatest Hits: A Tribute to a Work In Progress (1990-1999) (2000)
"Warpaint" (2008)
"Before The Frost & Until The Freeze" (2009)
"Croweology" (2010) (a 2 disc record of reworked acoustic and semi electric performances of some of their best known and loved songs).

The Black Crowes will hopefully be a part of the lexicon of rock and roll as a great band, should their career continue after this undisclosed hiatus they are currently on.  Fans can only hope that things do continue for the band.  They are survivors and their music is testimony to that.