There have been some pretty memorable shows go down at the Ryman over the years for Black Crowes fans. In 2005, a two set beauty with Donnie Herron and Audley Freed sitting in gave everyone two great first time played country covers. Even though it wasn't a Ryman show, 2006 saw lots of covers and another Audley sit in. 2007 brought another country-tinged setlist and delivered the first and only offering of Waylon Jennings' Sweet Mental Revenge. In 2008, the band played a more rocking set with another appearance by Audley on an encore version of Dreams. And last year's show at the Ryman was all over the map with a heavy dose of new material, a few chestnuts and the first Thunderstorm 6:54pm in a year.
Naturally, with all that Nashville magic that has happened in the past, the band's 2010 Ryman appearance had been circled with a big red Sharpie on a lot of people's calendars when the tour dates were announced. Speculation ran amok on the messageboards as to who might show up to jam, what kind of covers would wind up in the set and how classic a night it would be given this tour's circumstances. The day of the show, the big buzz was that Robert Plant was in town and would be sitting in. What would they play? Zeppelin covers? Tasty country tunes? Maybe some blues? Unfortunately, the answer was none of the above. Uncle Bob never walked out on stage during the show, but the band still had work to do, so let's get to it...
After the now familiar opening of Soul Singing and Hotel Illness, it got a little country with the first Appaloosa of the tour so far. After that, the rest of the acoustic setlist was pretty comparable to what we've seen the past past few weeks. Other than My Heart's Killing Me, which was played for the second time this tour, the biggest surprise for some may have been seeing Chris in an Elvis t-shirt. The King recorded a lot of music at RCA Studios in Nashville during his career so to call it a surprise would be a stretch, but the good people of Memphis might like a little recognition of their own as the home of The King when the band rolls through town on September 30.
She Talks To Angels has started to own the last spot in the acoustic sets, although tonight it was added to the setlist, and How Much For Your Wings > Bring On Bring On made its fifth appearance of the tour as it begins to separate itself from the pack as a set centerpiece. Being perhaps the darkest offering in the band's repertoire these days, the spooky space ride that bridges these two songs is the part of the show most likely to serve as the entrance music for the Boogeyman.
She Talks To Angels has started to own the last spot in the acoustic sets, although tonight it was added to the setlist, and How Much For Your Wings > Bring On Bring On made its fifth appearance of the tour as it begins to separate itself from the pack as a set centerpiece. Being perhaps the darkest offering in the band's repertoire these days, the spooky space ride that bridges these two songs is the part of the show most likely to serve as the entrance music for the Boogeyman.
Now just because the first set didn't deliver any surprise guests or never-before-played whopper country covers, that's not to say that the familiar tunes didn't deliver the goods. We already know the power of the new Morning Song; Chris sings the hell out of it, but what about the acoustic Thorn In My Pride? It's easy to overlook it when glancing at any setlist, and sure you've all heard it before but you're either lying or half dead if you like this band and don't find yourself getting into watching Rich go off on an acoustic guitar during that breakdown. If you're truly a fan of Rich's playing and aren't just a setlist snob only interested in rare tunes and curveball covers, you are a fan of the acoustic Thorn no matter how many times you see it. Tonight it got so out of hand that Rich broke a string and ended it short of where it was headed.
The electric set opened in style with Feelin' Alright, which is perhaps the most popular tune the band can open any set with. It's been know to pop up on plenty of encores back in the day but as an opener, it is bulletproof. When the band walks out on stage and launches into Feelin' Alright they instantly have the crowd in the palm of their hand and this night was no different. The audience was jacked. Imagine going out on a first date with the girl of your dreams and when you get to her front door to pick her up she greets you with an unexpected steamy kiss on the lips to begin your evening. No, that does not make her a slut. It makes you a lucky man.
Being a Sunday, the service had officially commenced. With a crowd raring to go and ready to get down, Seeing Things may not have been everyone's #1 choice to follow Feelin' Alright but those in the know were not completely surprised to hear it. It went straight into Stare It Cold to keep the service going, which was then followed by an electric Ballad > Wiser and She Gave Good Sunflower, which is on pace to show up about once every two weeks. Oh Josephine, which is setting a once a week pace of its own, followed Sunflower and gave Luther yet another opportunity to do his thing. And speaking of doing his thing, we've grown fond of watching Luther on the Jealous Again outro. It's in his wheelhouse, he tries like hell to play it Brendan O'Brien style a la the Shake Your Moneymaker album version and he does it with all his might. Whether you're a fully committed Luther fan by this point or whether he's still growing on you, to see him fully invested and wanting so badly to play that outro so right does nothing but endear him to the cause in our eyes.
As Remedy wound down it went right into No Speak No Slave, a balls out set ender that blew people's hair back and had the Ryman crowd rocking. An encore of Clapton's I Don't Know Why and Otis Redding's Hard To Handle closed out the night. Let's see what the people had to say starting out with this lady's observations...
I gotta say that this was one of the most exhuberant audiences I have been a part of - over the past 20 years. That place was rumbling from start to finish. I'm sure the acoustics of the Ryman had something to do with the actual VOLUME in that place but there is no escaping the fact the energy was through the roof. I was really blown away by the support of the Nashville audience and really pleased to see and feel the love for this band.
She also spied Rolling Stone writer and Crowes fan David Fricke in the crowd...
I also saw Fricke at the show scribbling away on his notepad. He was ROCKING and it was obvious to me how much he enjoyed the show. I also happened to see him the night before at Mike Farris. That guy sure has got a rough life.
More thoughts on the show from another satisfied customer...
It was a great show. Of the 3 two-setters I've seen so far on this tour (the others being Chicago and Denver), it was definitely the best. The Ryman is a magical, magical place. We were in the front row and to feel all the clapping and foot-stomping behind us really felt like church --
And another who was floored by the atmosphere and crowd...
I kind of feel like a tidal wave just hit me and I am trying to get my bearings. I've only been to 15 shows, but this atmosphere/crowd was as passionate as I have ever witnessed. The building was shaking on numerous occasions
And another...
Wings into Bring on was very spacey. Thorn into Morning song. The ends of these two songs I thought they were gonna bring the house down. Everyone was shaking the pews and stomping the wood floors. That was just fucking amazing. After the show we caught all of them in the alley. Even Chris and his 400lb body guard. Rich was very nice. So was Steve and Luther. I got their Autographs. Very nice.
Here's a pic from a fella who came down from Indiana and ran into Chris and Luther before the show...
By the way, here's a reminder which band member carries the most weight in Nashville. Don't ever forget it.
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