The Black Crowes (Almost) Last Show
Originally written for UNRATED Magazine. Published 08/21/2013
Blues, Beer, and Boats out at the lake in the Windy City. The Tedeschi Trucks Band opens for a night with The Black Crowes. As the cool weather of an unusual August settles in at Firstmerit Bank Pavilion this Thursday evening the people arrive in high spirits ready to rock.
With little fanfare, and a brief hello to the city, The Tedeschi Trucks Band kick off the night.
What a voice in Susan Tedeschi; her small frame belies the power in her singing, her vocal range is impressive and the sandpapery finish on the words call back to an older age of classic soulful music. The band is a put together, well practiced family of musicians completely comfortable taking their time to deliver some great songs.
The ballads rise into total sonic crescendos entrancing the crowd here tonight. It is always a rare treat to hear blues rock played well. So many bands rush the act and shortcut the style, but not tonight, and not with the Tedeschi Trucks Band. They have set the tone for the night.
For a band that has been playing since the late 80s and two major musical breaks The Black Crowes have sustained a devoted fan base of followers and a laundry list of crowd pleasing tunes.
But on this cold night in Chicago they sound tired. Tours are long trials for a band to deliver consistency and excitement show after show after show, it's hard work that demands respect, but the energy isn't with them this evening.
However, if you look at the crowd and their enthusiasm it doesn't really matter that the band isn't running at 100%. Tonight is more about the fun and relaxation of watching a favored group of musicians that even in a flat night still know how to treat their disciples.
People are dancing and singing along to their favorite songs and the cheers of the amphitheater fill out the space letting you forget how empty the seats really are.
The band is having fun and the audience is in to it. What more is necessary for a good show? Nothing really, and by that metric it's a successful night.
Chicago skyline as a backdrop it's as if the entire city listens when you play out here. Fireworks from Navy Pier at an unrelated event provide a pleasant extra spice to the light show dominated by cheap 60s lava swirl facsimiles washing the stage in slow moving multicolored spirals.
