Armed
with songs from his newly released and highly praised debut album PAPER,
RICH ROBINSON has announced dates for his first solo tour. The
guitarist, vocalist and songwriter--who earned great acclaim and sold over 15
million albums during his years with The Black Crowes--will begin a trek
September 16 with his band that will include stops in Detroit, Cincinnati,
Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis. The tour will also touch down in New York
City and Philadelphia, two of the three cities where ROBINSON previewed
PAPER on a three-city residency earlier this summer.
In
addition to singing all the lead and background vocals for the first time in his
career, ROBINSON plays guitar and bass throughout PAPER (now out on Key
Hole Records), while also contributing percussion and keyboard parts. The
musician also wrote all the music and lyrics for the album’s diverse 14
tracks. For the upcoming tour
dates, ROBINSON will be backed by Gordie
Johnson (from Big Sugar) on bass and Joe Travers on drums.
Here’s
some early critical feedback for PAPER:
“...a
fine debut album...some exquisite electro-acoustic arrangements...Standout tunes
include the slide-guitar-spiced ‘Know Me,’ the gritty, Crowes-like
‘Enemy,’ and two social commentaries, ‘Forgiven Song’ (which asks for
patience with the world's problems) and ‘Answers,’ with the verse, ‘What
can we do to make things right?’”
Steve
Morse, BOSTON GLOBE, June 25, 2004
“On
his solo debut, ex-Black Crowes guitarist Rich Robinson balances discordant
notes with exquisitely textured electro-acoustic sound-scapes. Some of his
songs, like the gritty, paranoid ‘Enemy’ and the southern gothic
‘Remain,’ recall the sprawling epics of his old band. But Robinson abandons
the Crowes’ dark romanticism and drug-fueled inspiration in favor of strategic
atonality (‘Leave It Alone’) that reflects the tension of life in a
post-9/11 world, and psychedelic slash and burn (‘Places’) on which his
iconic guitar playing recalls Physical Graffiti-era Jimmy Page.”
Jaan
Uhelszki, GUITAR WORLD, October 2004
"...Paper
is an eclectic blend of rock, soul and blues. Robinson should no longer be in
the shadow of the Crowes…Paper proves he deserves to be a solo artist
now."
Derrik
Lang, ASSOCIATED PRESS, August 24, 2004
“…the
new tunes find Robinson untethered in the realm of epic rock, with some of the
Crowesy Seventies-inspired riffing, flourishes of country, a bit of honkin’ on
the blues and anything else the guitarist sees fit. With several songs clocking in at over five minutes,
Robinson shows no desire to hurry into the verses, letting songs like
‘Answers’ unfold instrumentally with a guitar pattern and cascading strings,
before getting to the first verse.”
Andrew
Dansby, ROLLING STONE.COM, April 9, 2004
“…pure,
honest and introspective…deeply textured and genuinely inspiring, with
psychedelic and signature overtones that ring throughout. At times it is
sonically charged, other times it is quietly engaging.”
Michelle
Claire Denholtz, AQUARIAN WEEKLY (NJ), July 14, 2004
“…sharp
blues-rock licks built around his mix of plectrum and finger picking, hints of
country in new tunes like ‘Forgiven Song,’ and dollops of slide for
color.”
Ted
Drozdowski, BOSTON PHOENIX (live review), July 16, 2004
Here
are RICH ROBINSON’s tour dates. For more information, visit www.richrobinson.net.
DATE
CITY
VENUE
Thu
9/16
Poughkeepsie, NY
The Chance
Fri
9/17
Providence, RI
The Call
Sat
9/18
Portland, ME
The Big Easy
Sun
9/19
Hartford, CT
Webster Theater
Tue
9/21
Asbury Park, NJ
The Stone Pony
Wed
9/22
New York, NY
Hiro Ballroom
Fri
9/24
Philadelphia, PA
NXNW
Sat
9/25
Vienna, VA
Jammin Java
Sun
9/26
Baltimore, MD
The Funk Box
Tue
9/28
Detroit, MI
The Magic Bag
Wed
9/29
Cincinnati, OH
20th Century Theatre
Thu
9/30
Bloomington, IN
Uncle Fester’s
Sat
10/2
Rockford, IL
Kryptonite
Sun
10/3
Chicago, IL
The Double Door
Mon
10/4
Milwaukee, WI
Shank Hall
Tue
10/5
Minneapolis, MN
Ascot Room @ The Quest
Fri
10/8
Urbana, IL
Canopy Theatre
Wed
10/13
Cleveland, OH
Agora
Fri
10/15
Buffalo, NY
Nietzche's
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