Guest Post from Becki!

Dear Readers,

Now that the band is off tour and on hiatus (and, consequently, me too!), I promise to start regaling you with stories from the road, show reviews, song discussions, lots of ♥, and maybe even a few more guest posts. But, first, to kick things off, here's a guest post from my BFF Becki, who went to three shows with me this year, including the first two Fillmore shows.

I had originally asked Eva if I could write a guest blog about all of The Black Crowes shows I saw with her this year and what was my favorite songs or moments. No matter where I started with this entry it always ends up being more about Matt’s goofy laugh, or Eva learning The Office jokes or Scott being the father figure to Matt. I’ll get to all that, but I do need to talk about the shows too, right?

I’ve known Eva for a little over 2 years, and even after a brief friendship hiatus everything fell back into place in LA. On her first trip to visit me in Pennsylvania we saw The Black Crowes in Jim Thorpe (yes the epic fight took place here) and ever since then I was hooked. We saw them together in Reno, and woke up the next morning to book ridiculous flights to San Diego and bought insanely expensive tickets and saw another amazing show. My friendship with Eva has been nothing but exciting, fun and thrilling. I met Matt through Facebook a year ago and we eventually went to see The Black Crowes together in Scranton of this year and immediately we joked as if we had known each other for years. Scott met Eva at shows in San Francisco last year I believe and again, we all became fast friends…. dare I even say kindreds?

In the end my blog entry is about friends. It’s about Dave looking over at me after an epic Rich Robinson jam and saying “that was magical.” It’s about holding hands with Eva and Matt during my first live version of ‘Oh Josephine’. It’s about being with Pat for his first show. It’s about Scott being able to identify a song within the first 5 chords. It’s about Matt leaving to get a beer or for a bathroom break every time the band plays ‘She Talks To Angels’. It’s about dancing with Brandon to ‘I Wanna Be Your Man’ sung unforgettably by Steve Gorman. While I love The Black Crowes, all of these shows mean so much more to me than just the music or it being their last shows or the release of a new album. I know that Chris Robinson has said that the break is temporary, and for this I’m super thankful, because my favorite people and I have tons more memories to make.

Becki's photo from LA 12/11/10

Thank you Becki! I could not agree more -- one of my favorite things about this band is all the wonderful and amazing people I've met!

More soon!

Chicago 8/21/10

The show on August 21, 2010 at the Chicago Theater was my first two-setter of the year and my first show of the Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys tour. And what a way to start! The band was definitely in a good mood and Chris was joking with Steve, as always, kicking his maracas right before they started:

Acoustic Set:
Soul Singing
Hotel Illness
Good Friday
What Is Home
Downtown Money Waster
Do Right Woman
Jealous Again
My Heart's Killing Me
Thorn In My Pride
She Talks To Angels

Highlights in the acoustic set, for me, were Hotel Illness (amazing on Croweology!), Do Right Woman and My Heart's Killing Me. I took a video of Jealous Again, the acoustic version of which I especially like live since the Croweology version doesn't have Rich on vocals.



I have to tell you that the show really took off, however, with the electric set. I LOVED the Morning Song - Stare It Cold - Morning Song opener -- and took a video of the refrain:

Electric Set:
My Morning Song ->
Stare It Cold ->
My Morning Song
Isn't It About Time
Dirty Hair Halo
Make Glad
Descending
Girl From The North Country
Ballad In Urgency ->
Wiser Time
- encore -
Remedy
Thick N Thin
Don't Do It

It is always great to hear Descending but really I could not believe I got to hear Dirty Hair Halo! That was a first for me and it was really, really good. The band is just starting to get into the tour groove and I can't wait for more shows. Thanks Chicago, however, for being such a great crowd that the band extended their encore by two songs, ending with my favorite cover Don't Do It.


this is just the beginning . . . sixteen shows to go

High Sierra 07/03/10

So, last weekend we went to see TBC at the High Sierra Music Festival in Quincy, California and I've got to tell you -- it was amazing. Looking at the set-list on paper, it probably seems pretty straight forward and like any other long festival set but the vibe was incredible....definitely the BEST vibe I've ever felt at a TBC show times one million. Everyone was into it-- Chris was incredibly happy and the band just seemed at peace. I loved every second of it.

SOUL SINGING
(ONLY) HALFWAY TO EVERYWHERE
SEEING THINGS
WISER TIME
POOR ELIJAH - TRIBUTE TO JOHNSON (MEDLEY)
DOWNTOWN MONEY WASTER -> JAM ->
THORN IN MY PRIDE
OH JOSEPHINE
HARD TO HANDLE -> JAM
BEEN A LONG TIME (WAITING ON LOVE)
REMEDY
- encore -
DON'T DO IT

Seeing Things was incredible . . . just watch:



There were a lot of jams but not too much -- it's hard to describe but it was the perfect balance. The Thorn In My Pride was the best I've ever seen -- started with Take Off From the Future jam and then there was a jam in the middle and after . . . but it was seamless and every single person in the crowd felt the energy of the band. I loved the encored-- I can't seem to get enough of Don't Do It but honestly the whole set was perfect.



Not sure if it was the atmosphere (gorgeous, tall pines) or what . . . but High Sierra was definitely the best show I saw all summer. Plus, I met a new TBC friend! I cannot wait for the tour to start! Chicago is next!!

I leave you with an extended Chris dance -- my favorite!

from my tumblr

what to do when your favourite band is breaking up

If you’re just tuning in, let me be the first to tell you that I LOVE The Black Crowes. No, really … if I could marry a band, they would be it. In my mind, the music Chris & Rich Robinson create together is all I need to get by. So you can imagine the sinking feeling I’ve had this past week, ever since the boys announced an ‘indefinite hiatus’ after this year’s tour. I feel like I’m losing my best friend and one of the reasons I live. And I know that sounds overdramatic and silly and maybe even affected, but I feel that deep within me. Last year, I saw the band seven times, during which I met the boy I like and made some amazing, amazing friends, including T&S. This year feels so different, knowing the band could be apart five … or ten … or more years. I really want to be in the moment. To enjoy every second I get to see them. To have a year of experiences and memories connected to this band that really did change my life. And so, I’m going to see them twenty-two times. I wish it could be more but you guys know I’m a lawyer and work does call. Before this hiatus was announced, I had already mapped out two shows in May in Southern California as well as an epic four show roadtrip in July through Northern California, Southern Oregon and back home to Northern Nevada for their show on Independence Day! That’s six. To that, I’m adding:

* Chicago in August
* Denver in August
* New Mexico in September
* Nashville in September
* Austin in September (for my birthday!)
* Halloween in New York City
* Portland, OR, Seattle and Reno in early December
* Vegas in December
* and their six final shows in San Francisco the week before Christmas

Noticeably absent is November, when they’ll be back East and in the South. Trust me, I started researching how one even gets to Fayetteville, Arkansas before deciding that I had to draw a line somewhere. And yet, I feel like this is not enough? But this is it. And I’m already counting the minutes until my first TBC show of 2010. I love life.

For now, a video from a few weekends ago, with the promise of more to come!

Tied Up And Swallowed

Tied Up And Swallowed has been played 90 times live and was released on Tall. Tied Up And Swallowed is not necessarily one of those songs I probably loved the first time I heard it . . . but like many TBC songs, it grows on you. Actually, I have Steve Gorman to thank for wanting to write about Tied Up And Swallowed today because SG played it on the intro to his sports podcast on Friday, reminding me how much I love this song!

Crowesbase details that:

This song evolved from the live-only original song You're Such A Pity. At some point between the end of the 1990-91 tour and the second leg of The High As The Moon Tour, the song was rearranged with all new lyrics except for the "everybody says you're such a pity" line.

It was one of the first songs recorded for Tall, and then rerecorded numerous times with alternate outros and backing vocals. It ended up as the bonus track on the German version of Amorica and was released on Tall from The Lost Crowes.

Tied Up And Swallowed is just one great sounding song with some of the most sexual lyrics Chris has ever written. In fact, this song is definitely sounds to me like it could be off Lions. I guess in that way it just reminds me of Lickin', a song I will definitely be talking more about soon! Definitely a "harder" TBC song and yet, so so good!

I forgot I found you tied up and swallowed
A mess with the magic and the knot
You touch my teeth and say you like the way I bite ya
Sin, skin, sounds wrong but it's not

Chorus:
Everybody says that you're such a pity
Well baby, they, they ought to know
Everybody says you're such a pity
Tell ya baby, they, they ought to know

Touched from up above and touched between your legs
But which one, baby, burns
So you've been touched so many times so many ways
Come on baby, who gets hurt

Chorus

Chorus

Miracle To Me

Miracle To Me is off Lions and I can't believe it but I've been listening to Lions a lot lately! A friend just sent me a bunch of rarities and unreleased TBC and for some reason, there were some really great Lions gems so here I am! One note of housekeeping before I talk about Miracle To Me though -- I am still working on my reviews of Vegas and my two GLORIOUS nights at the Fillmore so I promise you will have them soon! But, back to Miracle To Me: it's been played 61 times live, mostly on the Lions tour.

I'm actually surprised that I never got into Miracle To Me before-- it really is right up my alley. That is, Miracle To Me is another one of those honest, heart-breaking, soul-searching, pretty ballads that I typically love from TBC. In fact, this line is maybe one of my favourites, ever: Tell me why have you been crying / Why won't you look me in the eye. There is just something in Chris's voice when he sings those lines . . . it almost makes me tear up. But, really, all of the lyrics are gorgeous . . . and I'm beginning to "get" Lions? Stranger things have happened!

Also check out the original video below . . . ummmmmmmmmm so glad Chris got over that phase!

Come on off of your rooftop
Come on down to the street
Well I've got something to tell you
Your secrets I will keep
Tell me why have you been crying
Why won't you look me in the eye
I'm just trying to help you
And I just need to know why
Please won't you let me try

Be my secret, be my joy
Be a miracle to me
Be my lover, baby be my friend
Be a miracle to me

Want to sleep in your moonglow
In my mind your smile I keep
Head over heels I go
Like a dream from a peaceful sleep
This time I know I'm in deep

Be my secret, be my joy
Be a miracle to me
Be my lover, baby be my friend
Be a miracle to me

Cold Boy Smile

Cold Boy Smile has never been released by TBC but has been played 23 times live. It's also on the Brothers of a Feather album and DVD that Chris and Rich released together from a live, acoustic performance at the Roxy. Oh, and Cold Boy Smile is an amazing song! I don't know how I went so long without absolutely loving this song but once again, here I am . . . in love with yet another TBC song.

I can't imagine why Cold Boy Smile has never been released on a studio album and I'm not quite sure when it was written -- but it made its live debut on April 13, 2006 and was largely played in 2006 so I assume maybe 2005? Regardless, Cold Boy Smile is just gorgeous -- especially these lyrics "Some say that love is the poem of life / Some say that love is the pain of being alive," however I also love love love the chorus. Chris and Rich at their best!

I'll fetch you water from the well
If you sweep all the ashes out into the wind
As we sit by the candlelight again
Two moths that hover close to the light of morning

And how you made this cold boy smile
From the storm you took me weathered, weary and tired
And you showed me the lessons of simple things
How love made this cold boy sing

Some say that love is the poem of life
Some say that love is the pain of being alive
Some say there's nothing on the other side
Some have traded their souls for just a good time

And how you made this cold boy smile
From the storm you took me weathered, weary and tired
How you showed me the lessons of simple things
How love made this cold boy sing

When we are in harmony
When we are in harmony

And how you made this cold boy smile
From the storm you took me weathered, weary and tired
How you showed me the lessons of simple things
How love made this cold
How love made this cold
How love made this cold boy sing