The Black Crowes, Manchester Apollo. 24th September 2022

It’s hot in The Apollo tonight for Southern Blues Rockers The Black Crowes. They’re here to play Shake Your Money Maker in full. I’m getting a bit skeptical about these kind of let’s celebrate a specific album gigs, but this is easily my favourite Crowes album, so it’s worth a punt. It’s clearly also a favourite with bald older gentlemen. The place is packed with them, I think I’m the youngest in here! Things kick off with a jukebox lit up on stage playing Elmore James’ Shake Your Money Maker. It’s kinda nice but a bit on the nose. The weird thing about these gigs is following the album running order means that massive songs like ‘Twice As Hard’ kick things off instead of something more subtle. It’s a wallop to the senses and it’s brilliant. Robinson sounds like he’s trying to catch his breath a little, but he still sounds great and he’s bang on as they slide into ‘Jealous Again’. I’ll be honest I’ve not listened to this album or them for years, I’d forgotten how good these songs are. It’s a big sound and fills The Apollo easily. It would be awesome to see them in a smaller venue. Aside Chris strutting around there’s not much going on. It’s stripped back and straight up. A few lighting cues and a nice backdrop. In a small club though, it’d make perfect sense. For all the rock and or roll, it’s perhaps songs like ‘Seeing Things’ where they really come alive. The guitars are smooth and wistful, Chris’ vocal sound stunning and when the backing singers join him for the chorus it sounds biblical. Fitting then as the church organ eases us through the bridge. It’s the centre piece to the album and probably a high point of the night. Until ‘Hard to Handle’ tears through the place. Rarely do covers work this well. That guitar riff, the drum kick. Fuck me Otis did it well, but tonight it belongs to The Crowes. The entire room sings, the lighting guy finds some new switches, it’s phenomenal. It could be a struggle from here, but ‘Thick n’ Thin’ keeps up the swagger, before the beautiful ‘She Talks to Angels’ brings the singalong back, albeit with more reflection. The acoustic guitar and organ bathing the place in warm haze. I’ll admit although the rest of the album does sound good, we’ve had my favourites and as ‘Stare It Cold’ closes out part one of the set, my mind is wandering as to what we’ll get in part two. I’m a bit fearful when they go into ‘My Morning Song’. It sounds good, but vast swaths of the audience are lost and that matters for gigs like this. It’s a long song though and y’know what, I really get into it. Fair play, it’s the sign of a great band that can win me round when I’m being a bit fussy. ‘Stop Kicking My Heart Around’ follows and we’re off road with my Crowes knowledge. ‘Wiser Time’ brings me back. I loved Amorica and would’ve been happy to hear that in full tonight too. They do seem to be going for the more roadhouse jam vibe in part two and I’m here for it. Long solos, harmonicas, all the good ol’ boy southern stuff, I pop to the toilet, but I’m sure I pick up a bit of ‘Thorn in My Pride’, don’t hold me to that though, but there’s no mistaking ‘Remedy’. What a fucking monstrous riff, what a great song. Fitting to end any set and a lot of people are fooled as it finishes, streaming out the back. I can only assume they don’t go to many gigs. I’m not a fan of the encore concept, it’s dying, but these are Americans and hold on to this antiquated stuff. So they come back, talk about loving Manchester bands like Joy Division and The Stone Roses. Not obvious touch points for this band it has to be said, but fair enough, I appreciate the acknowledgment. They finish with cover of Traffic’s ‘Feelin’ Alright’ though which feels a bit flat, but hey it’s still a great gig and it’s nice to feel young again. Seriously so may bald heads!!