THE BLACK CROWESAT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ON NEW YEARS EVE

DATE: OCTOBER 17, 2005
FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/TODD BRODGINSKI/LATHUM NELSON
 

2005 marked the year in which THE BLACK CROWES reunited and re-connected with their loyal fans, performing the best shows of their career. The band–who’ve been alternately described as “The Most Rock ‘N Roll Rock ‘N Roll Band In The World” and “a thoroughbred American rock ‘n’ freakin’ roll band”–will culminate this hugely successful year on December 31, 2005 with their first-ever New Year’s Eve show at Madison Square Garden in the city where it all began back in March with seven sold-out nights at Hammerstein Ballroom.

For their first-ever headlining show at Madison Square Garden, THE BLACK CROWES–Chris Robinson (vocals), Rich Robinson (guitars), Marc Ford (guitars), Eddie Hawrysch (keyboards), Sven Pipien (bass) and Steve Gorman (drums)–have assembled a celebration of free-spirited rock ‘n roll, with My Morning Jacket and North Mississippi Allstars confirmed to support.

Tickets will go on sale on Saturday, October 22 at 9 AM Eastern Time.

According to Pete Angelus, the band’s longtime manager, "The Black Crowes look forward to ending this year by celebrating on New Year’s Eve with their fans at their first-ever Madison Square Garden headlining show.  At this point in time, we have not discussed any future domestic touring plans.  It has always been our intention to gauge the future of the band, not by the memories and successes of the past, but rather by the group’s collective feelings of the present."

 

THE BLACK CROWES’ return in 2005 has been highlighted so far by not only the seven night sold-out Hammerstein Ballroom engagement, but with a massive American summer shed tour with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, five sold-out nights at San Francisco’s historic Fillmore (filmed for an upcoming DVD), a charity concert for the Hurricane Katrina victims in Memphis and performances at three of the most prestigious festivals in America (New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Bonnaroo, and Austin City Limits Festival, which they headlined).

Currently, THE BLACK CROWES are on their final leg of headlining dates, which features a string of shows at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles (October 18, 19, 21, 22, 23) and concludes with multiple nights in Chicago ending on Halloween.  For tour updates, head to www.blackcrowes.com.

 

 

Here’s what the critics have to say about THE BLACK CROWES in 2005:

“…this band is at the top of its game…worked the crowd into a state of rock-and-roll delirium."

"…back with a vengeance…"

 "…the Black Crowes worked their soul-gospel crescendos, then eased back for a scrupulously faithful rendition of the Grateful Dead's ‘Brokedown Palace.’”

"…first-rate show…Still overwhelming when they want to be, the long-absent Black Crowes cranked it up at a sold-out Orpheum Theatre last night, then shifted into an even higher gear as this welcome-back show moved merrily onward. The Crowes have returned after a nearly four-year hiatus — and they played with a refreshed edge that had fans dancing in the aisles and greeting them like long-lost family.  Early concert highlights included a savage ‘Sting Me’ (with dervish-like hand twirling from a reanimated Chris) and a swampy ‘Black Moon Creeping,’ with Rich adding old-school, wah-wah-pedal licks. It was climaxed by a call-and-response coda between Chris and two soulful backup singers that left no doubt that the Crowes were again on their game."

“’Greasy Grass River’ and ‘Sting Me,’ the first two songs of the night, were flawless in their execution. With Chris Robinson's high-pitched howls, guitarists Rich Robinson and Marc Ford took over the stage, feeding each other steaming riffs as if they were trying to outdo each other throughout a series of improvisational jams. The improvisation was stunning and even Chris Robinson seemed to be impressed, clapping, smiling, dancing and singing his way through songs like ‘Soul Singing,’ ‘Wiser Time,’ ‘Thorn In My Pride,’ ‘Space Captain’ and ‘Jealous Again.’ By the time, the Crowes reached their final song, ‘Hard to Handle,’ the sold-out crowd was on its feet, begging for more of their organic sound to wash over them.”

"Chris Robinson's voice is magic, just this pure smooth, bluesy wave of conviction and pain and love and yearning…the way the Black Crowes jam is more akin to the ways gospel songs in my Baptist church in Baltimore went joyously on and on, taking off from the chorus but never divorcing from the theme."

“The band's leaders – brothers Chris Robinson on vocals and Rich Robinson on lead guitar – ignited the Riverbend crowd especially with ‘My Morning Song,’ ‘Thick 'N Thin’ and ‘Jealous Again.’…the Black Crowes seem content for now to thrive on their strengths – a gritty stage show featuring the Robinsons. The Crowes'… performance of thunder rock and Southern blues Tuesday offered a real workout for the audience as they tried to keep pace with Chris Robinson's incessant hopping and hand clapping. Most Black Crowes fans naturally crave a new album, but the band gave no hint of it. For now, however, the Black Crowes remain a stellar rock and blues band that has not lost its fire.”

 

"…grabbed the crowd's attention and then never relinquished it, climaxing an hour-long set with the super-soulful ‘Thorn in My Pride’ and blistering rocker ‘Twice as Hard.’ For the finale, the Crowes provided ‘Remedy,’ loaded with infectious chord and tempo changes, and probably the best song I've heard any band play this year…The Black Crowes proved they still are flying high.

“With 57 originals and 27 well-plucked cover tunes performed over five nights, there were highlights galore…It would be one thing to competently reproduce other's past glories, but what really puts the Crowes in the same category as The Beatles and Rolling Stones is the quality of their own material…Their love affair with music is in full bloom, and that, more than any specific moment, may be the best memory to put away from these shows…This is a thoroughbred American rock 'n' freakin' roll band.”

"Since the beginning of their career, the band has drawn comparisons to many classic artists. However, the Crowes have gone on to carve out their own legend."