The Black Crowes

Live At The Greek

Live at the Mott

Review Score:

(10/10)
Rock 'n' Roll is all about fantasy, mostly about sexual fantasy (e.g. AC/DC's "Whole Lotta Rosie"), but sometimes it is just about Rock 'n' Roll fantasy. Such as, what if Jimmy Page found himself at a lose end and wanted to go out on tour? So who could he pick as a backing band? Perhaps his long time admirers and possibly America's tightest jamming band The Black Crowes? And what could they pick as a set list? A selection of Led Zeppelin's finest and just for good measure some of the finest standards laid down? Well, for once it was not fantasy, but reality. Rehearsals took place and dates were set and this amazing combination hit the road, playing to packed arena's the length and breadth of America, with astounding results. Fortunately plans were made to record the event for all time and here are the results. At first only released on the Internet, but sense was seen and the whole Shishkerbang was let loose on the eagerly awaiting Rock Public.

For those amongst you who may feel that it is sacrilegious for anyone else to perform these songs, especially for old Robert (Percy) Plant not to be singing, hollering, and cajoling every nuance out of these classic's. Fear not. Chris Robinson, the Crowes' vocalist, does not even attempt to imitate the great man, singing everything in his own style giving each song a new slant. The rest of the Crowes play with such abandon, I have never heard them play with such verve and panache, and this is somebody who has been a huge fan of the band for over ten years. The rhythm section of Pipien and Gorman keep a lock sold groove going whilst losing nothing of the looseness that keeps the music spontaneous and alive. Probably the biggest sound difference on the Zeppelin classics is that although John Paul Jones used to double up on bass and keyboards (an exemplary job he did, too) in that band his use of piano was very sparing, whereas Ed Harsch is not frightened to push the piano right to the front of the sounds cape, soloing when any opportunity arises. But it is the three pronged guitar attack that floors you. Combining together to give the raunchiest guitar sound that has ever been heard on this little planet. (Lynard Skynard are stunning, make no mistake, this is just one step beyond) Obviously it's Jimmy Page that steals the show. I doubt he has ever played better. However, the playing of Chris's brother Rich Robinson, and new at the time Crowes guitarist, is of outstanding class, pushing their guest player to the outer limits of his ability.

The Song selection is spot on. The guitar duel in "You Shook Me" is nothing short of jaw dropping, specially as it follows a version of that old Elmore James classic "Shake Your Money Maker", which rattles the roof tops and would bring a smile to even the most stern of anorak Rock 'n' Roll connoisseurs. Chris Robinson turns in a truly saucy version of "The Lemon Song". The choice of Jimmy Page's contemporary guitarist/songwriter Peter Green's finest song written whilst in Fleetwood Mac, "Oh Well" is a pure delight. There has never been a better version of "Heartbreaker" with Jimmy Page really stepping out on this one. So topped and tailed with "Celebration day" and "Whole Lotta Love" across two hours of music spread over two CD's. You get Six cover versions and fourteen classic Zeppelin tracks (all with credit due to Willie Dixon and C. Burnett), played by a bunch of guys, who are having the time of their lives. This is certainly one of the top three Rock 'n' Roll Live albums of all time.

As an extra - if you have a computer you can watch theb performing snippets of the songs live from your disc drive plus some very good stills taken from the Greek, where it becomes even more apparent how well they all gelled as a unit and what a good time they were having.

After this tour the Black Crowes went back into the studios to record their next album, the very heavily Zeppelin influenced "Lions", since when, it's been rumored, they have disbanded, probably feeling it would be hard to top the Jimmy Page tour. One is also left to reflect what a shame it was that "Led Zeppelin" never recorded a decent live album. "The Song Remains The Same" is not a bad album, but hardly a killer. "Live at the Greek" leaves it for dead.

Mott The Dog

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