From the Archives: Show Review: New Year's Eve at MSG 12/31/05
http://www.crowesbase.com/tapelisting.cfm?TapeID=1785
Top shelf, incredible show from start to finish...
The MSG show was lost for many fans in the shuffle. It followed arguably the best show of 2005 at Lupos (12/30/05) and had, in comparison, a pedestrian setlist. Those who were there might not remember, but the performances of every song at this show were some of the best the band did from 2005-2006, and its worth noting that every song played at both Lupos and MSG featured significant;y better performances at MSG. A tight show and on my short list for shows that I would hope get released at some point. A great rock show from start to finish.
No Speak No Slave - This has always been one of my favorite Crowes tunes. NSNS is always a great way tro get any show started. The band takes well over a minute to get into this song - it sort of comes out of a swampy slop and eventually clicks together into the classic that it is. Marc's solos/fills throughout are borderline genius/sloppy. It really sounds like he's playing on the edge of cliff, and its never really all that obvious if he hasn't just fallen over. Killer version.
Sting Me - Number Two Slot! Those who complain about a song being played at a certain point of the show simply don't get it. Sting Me on this night is bliss. Every note is perfect. Every solo is outstanding. Every jam is righteous. Oh, and Chris' vocals are phenomenal. A true rock and roll evening at its best... at MSG... on New Year's Eve... what could be better?
Lickin' - Played a few nights before at the first MSG warmup show, this one boggled the minds of every fan... why bring back Lickin'? I can't answer that. This version is probably the best it was ever played (What that means exactly I'm not sure). As someone recently remarked, its not a bad song at all except for the repetitive and awful chorus. The bridge sections are actually pretty cool and I've always somewhat liked the verses... but the chorus is well, more than a bit of a mule. I'll say this, it does rock during the verses and the fact that they played this of all songs on this night certainly ought to convince even the most jaded fan that the Crowes do enjoy playing their own songs... all of them. The song has a somewhat extended outro - similar to, but shorted than, Providence 2001. People want rarities, here's one for you.
Thick N' Thin - When played occassionally, this is one of the most fun songs to hear live. Great on this night. Lots of great keys pepper throughout. Reminds me of a song on Exile... That's a good thing.
Jealous Again - A perfect performance. I'm a fan of this band - its whole catalogue for better or for ill - and I'll tell you, there are shows where the band just gets better and better each song and it doesn't matter if they are playing hits or playing obscure tunes. This was one of those nights. The fills from Rich and Marc are just magical on this tune. Chris's vocals are outstanding throguhout the show and its this song where it really begins to dawn on you that this band is on fire right here, right now. For the record, I really, really love the outro of this song. Beautiful guitars, keys, drums, and of course Chris peppering his shouts and grunts. Not liking this song is as perverse as not liking the sunshine.
Bad Luck Blue Eyes Goodbye - Sometimes its hard to explain how a great song can be a perfect performance that defies all expectations. This is one of my top 5 Crowes songs. Its like Feathers' older brother whose on steroids. Having listened to nearly every show from the era, this is probably the single best version of BLBEG from 2005-2006. Its hard to find an on-night where this isn't a highlight, but this is ridiculous. Exceptional dueling guitar fills over excpetional vocals and keys. Happy ears, happy ears I have.
Soul Singing - The most recent "hit", and I might add, a darn good tune. The question is always: "is there a jam?". Versions without the jam are almost a different song - like Thorn without the jam. Great, but different. Therefore, that's the wrong question. The correct question is: "Is the jam great or not?" Some wander around and get lost, others are solid. This jam is awesome. I think that sometimes the spacey shows produce spacey jams and they can be great, but often they are just spacey. The jams at the rock shows are more structured and sometimes go to incredible heights - these are those "I think they just wrote a new song moments." It begins like its going to be spaced out... Then it hits like thunder. I think the best way I can describe this jam is that it feels like your in a thunderstorm, the guitars begin to sound like rain at some point and then they transition into what just feels like stormy weather. About a 5 minute jam. Rich's tone at the end of the jam is the exact same from Never Forget This Song. Great version of a solid tune.
Space Captain - This is a great version of this 2005-2006 staple - its shortened though since 12:00 was approaching. Ed and the rest of the band really rumble the big stage at MSG. I'm really ahppy the played this as often as they did in 2005-2006. I really enjoyed every version I saw and I always enjoy it when its on a show I'm listening to. The shortened version is a treat here.
"Me thinks somethings about to happen...." The new year is rung in with the entire venue doing a countdown and lots of laughing and wasting of time, then a deliciously jammed out version of Auld Lang Syne played by the band. As a timepiece its great, but its a serious "You had to be there" moment.
Will The Circle Be Unbroken - A whole slew of people (openers, etc) had joined the band to ring in New Years and this is the result of a very messy colaboration. Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Chris Chew and Trey Anastasio all played on Will The Circle Be Unbroken. Good for them. For my tastes, this is one of those moments where I think: "This is why I hate the jam band scene". Such slop. But hey, it was New Year's Eve, it probably seemed ideal at the time.
Thorn In My Pride - For my money, ther'e no Thorn like a 13 minute Thorn. Not too long, not too short. After a break in the action, we are back to a Black Crowes show. What's most impressive is how fast the band reverts to rock-soild playing after the New Year's "jam" out. Scortching and tight version of this staple.
Break in the show.... I find it interesting that the break in the show was here... but I guess it makes sense. Where do you break up a New Year's Eve show? In any event, the first set was fantastic. The proof is in the pudding. Not "classic" setlist in the sense that Lupos was extremely chock full of rarities, but the songs are flawless versions and the enrgy and musicianship on display is fantastic.
Wiser Time - The second set (a glorious affair) opens with Wiser Time. Rich's backing vocals stand out quite nicely on this version. He's in perfect harmony and his voice is the exact same volume as Chris' - very cool! Oh, and the jam in disgustingly good - really delicous keys by Ed, Marc goes "deep", and Rich slides it on home.
My Morning Song - Its fairly unusual to get both Wiser, MMS, and Thorn all in one show, especially in a row. The jam is very intense and rocked out, a great version of the tune, as they almost always are.
Ten Years Gone - Wow. No Jiimy Page? No problem. Unlike the Crowes Zep tour of 2000, this one is all Crowes and its for the better in my view. I love LZ, but I don't need to see JimmY Page show off with the Crowes. Marc and Rich really nail this one flawlessly. If they ever did a best of for 2005 covers, this probably closes the album out. Fantastic.
Wanton Song - Again, another great Zep tune. Actually this tune rips the roof off! Was Jimmy supposed to show, but didn't? Why did they play two Zep tunes back to back? Those questions remain unanswered and we are left with the music. The Crowes could rotate both of these (and a few of the other Zep tunes) into their catelgue from time to time and I would be happy. Yowza!
Seeing Things - The "Left Coast Horns" joined the Crowes on this and the next tune. Very cool! I really, really dig the occassional horn addition. The Filmore DVD features a great couple of horn additions, as did the Boulder BOAF show. Always a plus because its such a nice treat. For this song it really works well. Great singing! Great horns. Great keys. The horns really turn this intoa a great Soul tune. Love it.
Hard To Handle - Some guy from Phish played on this incredibly long version of this tune. (And don't forget the horns are still playing.) Trey's addition is - to me - like the miriad guest additions to this, SYMM, or Dreams. Its a fine line between a great spontaneous performance a sloppy mess of excessive noodling. Both have happened a lot but it does add a degree of specialness no matter what. That's cool. What matters most is how the song actually comes off. The version of this song from this show SMOKES! The horns are awesome! Awesome!! The solos are really great (horn solos too!), but the horn throughout the song! Great horns! Great way to end a great show... One of the most memorable and best Hard To Handle's.
Twice As Hard & Remedy - Oh, its not over yet. Just the band. These two songs , for me, are both great at the end of the night. Only the "I'm going to cross my arms, stand still, and judge the band all night" crowd doesn't get into this number. Have fun. Enjoy some of the greatest Crowes tunes - which everyone loves - and rock out at the end of the night! Stellar versions - but you already know it before they play it, its one of those nights.
Street Fighting Man (encore) - Significantly improved over the night before. This really was outstanding just to hear the night before, but in terms of performance it was a bit sloppy. Totaslly cleaned up for MSG and really one of the best songs of the night. They brought it all night and brought it home with skill, finesse and raw power. Great show. Great encore. As a Stones fan, it is so fitting to close a show at MSG with SFM. Thanks so much!!
I think its hard to pick a highlight from the second set. Bad Luck Blue Eyes is the obvious standout from the first set, but both Zep songs, the songs with the Left Coast Horns and Street Fighting Man were all outstanding.
Top shelf, incredible show from start to finish...
The MSG show was lost for many fans in the shuffle. It followed arguably the best show of 2005 at Lupos (12/30/05) and had, in comparison, a pedestrian setlist. Those who were there might not remember, but the performances of every song at this show were some of the best the band did from 2005-2006, and its worth noting that every song played at both Lupos and MSG featured significant;y better performances at MSG. A tight show and on my short list for shows that I would hope get released at some point. A great rock show from start to finish.
No Speak No Slave - This has always been one of my favorite Crowes tunes. NSNS is always a great way tro get any show started. The band takes well over a minute to get into this song - it sort of comes out of a swampy slop and eventually clicks together into the classic that it is. Marc's solos/fills throughout are borderline genius/sloppy. It really sounds like he's playing on the edge of cliff, and its never really all that obvious if he hasn't just fallen over. Killer version.
Sting Me - Number Two Slot! Those who complain about a song being played at a certain point of the show simply don't get it. Sting Me on this night is bliss. Every note is perfect. Every solo is outstanding. Every jam is righteous. Oh, and Chris' vocals are phenomenal. A true rock and roll evening at its best... at MSG... on New Year's Eve... what could be better?
Lickin' - Played a few nights before at the first MSG warmup show, this one boggled the minds of every fan... why bring back Lickin'? I can't answer that. This version is probably the best it was ever played (What that means exactly I'm not sure). As someone recently remarked, its not a bad song at all except for the repetitive and awful chorus. The bridge sections are actually pretty cool and I've always somewhat liked the verses... but the chorus is well, more than a bit of a mule. I'll say this, it does rock during the verses and the fact that they played this of all songs on this night certainly ought to convince even the most jaded fan that the Crowes do enjoy playing their own songs... all of them. The song has a somewhat extended outro - similar to, but shorted than, Providence 2001. People want rarities, here's one for you.Thick N' Thin - When played occassionally, this is one of the most fun songs to hear live. Great on this night. Lots of great keys pepper throughout. Reminds me of a song on Exile... That's a good thing.
Jealous Again - A perfect performance. I'm a fan of this band - its whole catalogue for better or for ill - and I'll tell you, there are shows where the band just gets better and better each song and it doesn't matter if they are playing hits or playing obscure tunes. This was one of those nights. The fills from Rich and Marc are just magical on this tune. Chris's vocals are outstanding throguhout the show and its this song where it really begins to dawn on you that this band is on fire right here, right now. For the record, I really, really love the outro of this song. Beautiful guitars, keys, drums, and of course Chris peppering his shouts and grunts. Not liking this song is as perverse as not liking the sunshine.
Bad Luck Blue Eyes Goodbye - Sometimes its hard to explain how a great song can be a perfect performance that defies all expectations. This is one of my top 5 Crowes songs. Its like Feathers' older brother whose on steroids. Having listened to nearly every show from the era, this is probably the single best version of BLBEG from 2005-2006. Its hard to find an on-night where this isn't a highlight, but this is ridiculous. Exceptional dueling guitar fills over excpetional vocals and keys. Happy ears, happy ears I have.
Soul Singing - The most recent "hit", and I might add, a darn good tune. The question is always: "is there a jam?". Versions without the jam are almost a different song - like Thorn without the jam. Great, but different. Therefore, that's the wrong question. The correct question is: "Is the jam great or not?" Some wander around and get lost, others are solid. This jam is awesome. I think that sometimes the spacey shows produce spacey jams and they can be great, but often they are just spacey. The jams at the rock shows are more structured and sometimes go to incredible heights - these are those "I think they just wrote a new song moments." It begins like its going to be spaced out... Then it hits like thunder. I think the best way I can describe this jam is that it feels like your in a thunderstorm, the guitars begin to sound like rain at some point and then they transition into what just feels like stormy weather. About a 5 minute jam. Rich's tone at the end of the jam is the exact same from Never Forget This Song. Great version of a solid tune.
Space Captain - This is a great version of this 2005-2006 staple - its shortened though since 12:00 was approaching. Ed and the rest of the band really rumble the big stage at MSG. I'm really ahppy the played this as often as they did in 2005-2006. I really enjoyed every version I saw and I always enjoy it when its on a show I'm listening to. The shortened version is a treat here.
"Me thinks somethings about to happen...." The new year is rung in with the entire venue doing a countdown and lots of laughing and wasting of time, then a deliciously jammed out version of Auld Lang Syne played by the band. As a timepiece its great, but its a serious "You had to be there" moment.
Will The Circle Be Unbroken - A whole slew of people (openers, etc) had joined the band to ring in New Years and this is the result of a very messy colaboration. Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Chris Chew and Trey Anastasio all played on Will The Circle Be Unbroken. Good for them. For my tastes, this is one of those moments where I think: "This is why I hate the jam band scene". Such slop. But hey, it was New Year's Eve, it probably seemed ideal at the time.Thorn In My Pride - For my money, ther'e no Thorn like a 13 minute Thorn. Not too long, not too short. After a break in the action, we are back to a Black Crowes show. What's most impressive is how fast the band reverts to rock-soild playing after the New Year's "jam" out. Scortching and tight version of this staple.
Break in the show.... I find it interesting that the break in the show was here... but I guess it makes sense. Where do you break up a New Year's Eve show? In any event, the first set was fantastic. The proof is in the pudding. Not "classic" setlist in the sense that Lupos was extremely chock full of rarities, but the songs are flawless versions and the enrgy and musicianship on display is fantastic.
Wiser Time - The second set (a glorious affair) opens with Wiser Time. Rich's backing vocals stand out quite nicely on this version. He's in perfect harmony and his voice is the exact same volume as Chris' - very cool! Oh, and the jam in disgustingly good - really delicous keys by Ed, Marc goes "deep", and Rich slides it on home.
My Morning Song - Its fairly unusual to get both Wiser, MMS, and Thorn all in one show, especially in a row. The jam is very intense and rocked out, a great version of the tune, as they almost always are.
Ten Years Gone - Wow. No Jiimy Page? No problem. Unlike the Crowes Zep tour of 2000, this one is all Crowes and its for the better in my view. I love LZ, but I don't need to see JimmY Page show off with the Crowes. Marc and Rich really nail this one flawlessly. If they ever did a best of for 2005 covers, this probably closes the album out. Fantastic.
Wanton Song - Again, another great Zep tune. Actually this tune rips the roof off! Was Jimmy supposed to show, but didn't? Why did they play two Zep tunes back to back? Those questions remain unanswered and we are left with the music. The Crowes could rotate both of these (and a few of the other Zep tunes) into their catelgue from time to time and I would be happy. Yowza!
Seeing Things - The "Left Coast Horns" joined the Crowes on this and the next tune. Very cool! I really, really dig the occassional horn addition. The Filmore DVD features a great couple of horn additions, as did the Boulder BOAF show. Always a plus because its such a nice treat. For this song it really works well. Great singing! Great horns. Great keys. The horns really turn this intoa a great Soul tune. Love it.
Hard To Handle - Some guy from Phish played on this incredibly long version of this tune. (And don't forget the horns are still playing.) Trey's addition is - to me - like the miriad guest additions to this, SYMM, or Dreams. Its a fine line between a great spontaneous performance a sloppy mess of excessive noodling. Both have happened a lot but it does add a degree of specialness no matter what. That's cool. What matters most is how the song actually comes off. The version of this song from this show SMOKES! The horns are awesome! Awesome!! The solos are really great (horn solos too!), but the horn throughout the song! Great horns! Great way to end a great show... One of the most memorable and best Hard To Handle's.Twice As Hard & Remedy - Oh, its not over yet. Just the band. These two songs , for me, are both great at the end of the night. Only the "I'm going to cross my arms, stand still, and judge the band all night" crowd doesn't get into this number. Have fun. Enjoy some of the greatest Crowes tunes - which everyone loves - and rock out at the end of the night! Stellar versions - but you already know it before they play it, its one of those nights.
Street Fighting Man (encore) - Significantly improved over the night before. This really was outstanding just to hear the night before, but in terms of performance it was a bit sloppy. Totaslly cleaned up for MSG and really one of the best songs of the night. They brought it all night and brought it home with skill, finesse and raw power. Great show. Great encore. As a Stones fan, it is so fitting to close a show at MSG with SFM. Thanks so much!!
I think its hard to pick a highlight from the second set. Bad Luck Blue Eyes is the obvious standout from the first set, but both Zep songs, the songs with the Left Coast Horns and Street Fighting Man were all outstanding.
4 comments:
The Black Crowes aren't "Southern Rock" per se, but the term "Southern Rock" carries a stigma, and it's definitely possible that someone might have dismissed The Black Crowes based on that tag alone. That person wouldn't be able to experience "Amorica" simply based on a bad notion. Which isn't to say that things aren't what they seem all the time, but just more often than not - much like what was pointed out about Televison in the Marquee Moon piece. Television, much like Phish, was a victim of their surroundings. For my own personal tastes, I live and die by mid-to-late 70's New York punk rock. But, without question, thanks to Blondie, the general (naive) public labeled everything that came out of CBGB's "punk rock."
For what it was worth, the first wave of what I call "improvisational rock" (different than a jam band) included, but was not limited to, Phish, The Black Crowes, The Spin Doctors, Blues Traveler, the Dave Matthews Band etc. All of these bands toured and played together to a certain capacity. But to call these bands "jam bands" wouldn't just be inaccurate, it would be a disservice. Granted, Anastasio has seen hard times as of late, and his playing has definitely deteriorated over the years. But, in my opinion, the same thing has happened to The Black Crowes. It's not a cruel thing to say. It's just natural. There's only a handful of acts that can maintain true grit; Neil Young is an example. But as far as NYE @ MSG is concerned, to have Anastasio, The Black Crowes, and the NMAS on the same stage was a truly historic moment in time. The talent and influence present that night spans over three decades of rock and roll, and really was a hand off from the old guards.
I personally think the new improvisational rock bands are too blues based, which is why most of the new records I buy now are from the contemporary alternative groups out now like Kings of Leon, Ryan Adams, My Morning Jacket, The Mars Volta, or Devendra Banhart. These bands just have more edge and "oomph" than every band in the improvisational market right now. What's left after that is what truly is the "jam-band" scene: a handful of very shitty bands that all sound the same, with fans that are half the age of the average Phish/Crowes fan in their prime, who vomit all over the venue before laying down to swap STD's with someone who can't remember their own name. Still, there was a time when the music was quite pure, and quite powerful. We still have that today, but it comes from different places, now.
i will have to strongly disagree with your following statement
"For what it was worth, the first wave of what I call "improvisational rock" (different than a jam band) included, but was not limited to, Phish, The Black Crowes, The Spin Doctors, Blues Traveler, the Dave Matthews Band etc." ?
is humble pie not improv rock based on your description, because i wouldn't label them a jam band? how about the faces? i would even throw in foghat who laid out some great smokin' sets. and let me take it back even more, i will say jerry lee lewis was an improv artist(just pick up live at the star club in germany to hear my point) all of these bands came and went way before the spin doctors, crowes, phish....
It's funny but I never think of The Black Crowes as a Jam Band perse, or in anyway connected to the Jam Band scene outside of the fact they've shared billing with several so called Jam acts ... for me the Crowes operate in their own unique space - somewhere where rock and roll and all it's many faceted influences are played out unashamedly with a degre of passion and precision that has'nt been heard in a rock band since the late 60's early 70's ... okay, they 'improvise' during shows but almost always as a emotional addendum to the song and never as something to do in and of itself. Hence the beauty of Thorn's Progress - BECAUSE it melts so wonderfully into the opening notes of Thorn In My Pride - or they beautiful 96 Jams before Bring On that were the perfect prelude to the song itself, a perfect exercise in taut but off the cuff build up into a musico-emotional peak. In this regard the Crowes are a one off and it's a part of the reason they've remained in my affections ...
easily the worst non-1998 Crowes show I've been to. good crowd, bad set and performance. horrible song selection. disappointing, all around. to each, his.
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