Monday, October 18, 2010

House of Blues - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - 9.14.10

The Black Crowes
House of Blues
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
September 14, 2010

Move It On Down The Line
Sting Me
Jealous Again
Another Roadside Tragedy
Wiser Time
Let It Be Gone
Sister Luck       
My Morning Song ->
Stare It Cold ->
My Morning Song
Shine Along
Soul Singing
She Talks To Angels
Remedy
-encore-
Feathers
I Ain't Hiding

The second South Carolina show of the week brought the band to North Myrtle Beach and the second House of Blues show of the tour.  This was a one set burner that had people singing at the top of their lungs off and on all night as the feeling of "Enjoy 'em while you still have the chance" continues to permeate the air at the band's every stop. 

The last Black Crowes show at the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach was on October 4, 2009...only two songs were repeated tonight that were in last year's setlist (Soul Singing and Jealous Again).  In two shows, that totals thirty-one songs with only two repeats.  Statistics suggest that that's a pretty good return for everyone who attended both shows.  While the '09 show was heavy on Before the Frost/After the Freeze material, this one covered more ground. 

After a quiet entrance, Adam began his intro to Move It On Down The Line and it was time to get it on.  Something about hearing the opening of this song...it represents a turning point in the band's career and a signature call to arms for the current lineup.  Move It On Down The Line has opened more shows than any other song with this lineup and it stands out as one of the new era leaders among the latter day catalog.  In fact, considering the circumstances of the tour, it might even be the most forgivable song to "overplay" given its lyrical sentiment and reassurance.  Don't forget though, we still have three months of shows left, so let's not get all teary-eyed just yet...

Shocking as it may be, Sting Me was played in the #2 slot tonight.  Oh sure, we know what you're thinking - "How odd."  Just don't overlook the fact that it smoked.  After another early set appearance for Jealous Again, we moved on to Another Roadside Tragedy and the first jam of the night.  Rich and Steve drove the bus on this trip with Sven carrying the groceries and Adam greasing the wheels...and while old school Roadside Tragedies went mellow and dreamy in the middle section, new school Tragedies rock more and last longer.  During this one, Rich was playing some mean, nasty licks and runs and Steve was playing around with build-ups and crescendos that had a tiny little taste of Thorn's Progress in their spirit.  The maraca-driven outro was drawn out more too, and this is a good thing.  At times, the strength of this band is often found in the subtle moments of songs.  This Tragedy was a long one, clocking in well past the ten-minute mark.  

No breaks for mercy were given as a long stand-alone Wiser Time followed and then it was on to the fourth appearance this tour of The Grease Band's Let It Be Gone.  And speaking of The Grease Band, we recommend that you watch this video...


Seriously, how good is that - broken strings and all? 

Back to the show...

With Chris currently singing his ass off night in and night out - and don't take that for granted - songs like Sister Luck have been getting a little extra treatment and feeling lately.  If you've been to a show or two already you know this already, but if your first of the tour is yet to come, rest assured that the man is not singing like some beat up dog walking down on Broadway.  He's feeling it.  The whole band is.  Sometimes you have to wonder how his voice can keep it up 4-5 nights a week...week after week after week.  Green tea?  Lemon juice?  Who knows.  The good vibes of this tour are certainly accommodating everyone on stage.

What came next was My Morning Song dropping into Stare It Cold and then back around for the Croweology Morning Song breakdown.  This has been one of the new sights and sounds of the tour and even if some folks voice their opinions in wishing for no mid-Morning Song interruptions, we remind them that over the years it's gone off in many different directions and gone to many freaky places before coming back from outer space and landing safely on terra firma before ascending yet again on its way home.  Dropping straight into Stare It Cold is but one of many different detours the song has taken over the years.  Personally, we long for a return to the days of Australia '92 when On That Hallow Day dropped in, complete with lyrics.  That was Nasty with a capital N.

Shine Along was next, and even though the camera/cell phone ban has been in full effect for a couple of weeks now, as you can see here, people are still sneaking video at the shows.  Soul Singing, She Talks To Angels and Remedy wound the show down with the latter two serving as loud sing-alongs for all the happy people in the house.  Moving on to one of the strangest encore pairings in Black Crowes history, tonight saw the first and likely last 1-2 combo of Feathers and I Ain't Hiding.  Not in a million years would anyone have ever predicted that encore.  Somebody described it as taking a lude and chasing it with a rail.  In any case, it happened.  Here's an old Feathers from Gainesville, Florida on April 8, 1995 for you while we're on the subject...a night in which a filthy Black Moon Jam followed.  That show falls under the category of "Tapes Worth Owning."

And here's an interview with Steve promoting the Myrtle Beach show if you'd like to read it, followed by a quick take below from somebody who enjoyed themselves...

It was a kick ass electric rock show last night. ART was jammed out for what seemed 15min. and it was just sick. The one song I was just hoping would pop up last night.  The band had the crowd eating out of the palm of their hands all night and deservedly so. These guys are so tight right now it's ridonkulous. 

There you go.  That's that, mattress man.  On to Knoxville...

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