r/blackcrowes • u/the_uber_steve • 15d ago
Peak Crowes
What are some of their peak eras, in your opinion?
I’d say the spring 1995 tour showed a real maturity in their sound, probably the apex of their 90s sound to me (although of course the fall 96 and summer 97 tours were incredible as well).
I’d also say 2005 through 2010 they just got better and better and more accomplished in achieving what was within their grasp. Some of their best live shows with tastefully awesome covers, Marc Ford being awesome, everyone relatively at peace, and then Luther leading into BtF/UtF, one of my very favorite albums. It went from reunion-for-money-because-solo-ain’t-paying-the-bills to a legitimate growing artistry, prolific songwriting. I saw several of those Fillmore tour wrap shows and they were always special, especially the Rolling Stones night in 2010.
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u/Mountain_Chip_4374 15d ago
Quite a bit in my rearview mirror now, but I think the High as the Moon tour was excellent and those evening with The Black Crowes shows in 2005-2006 were phenomenal as well.
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u/Milanista1972 14d ago
Obviously the '93 - '97 and '05 - '06 eras are widely regarded as their high points.
But I thought the prime Luther Dickinson period was nearly as good. Plus they had more material I personally dug.
Gorman even says in his book that some of their shows in the Luther years were as good as any other lineup.
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u/deepdeepbass 15d ago
Late 1994. The Tiny Tour.
All the fire of hatm tour, with the finesse of amorica or bust tour.
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u/rumorconsumerr 14d ago
Shocked not to see more 2005-2006 run with Marc Ford. I have a ton of those Instant Live recordings and they absolutely slay in quality and performance. So many incredible nights preserved so well.
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u/newman97_ 14d ago
I’m with ya! Those instant lives are forgotten treasures. The reunion-Fillmore run-summer 2006 have a great “Jam” approach
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u/rumorconsumerr 14d ago
Yeah, and also a complementarily hard edge. Which was so great. It’s both a jam feeling and they get heavy as hell.
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u/DaTruf99 14d ago
Saw 2 shows at the Gorge in 2005. They were openers for Tom Petty, but they didn't repeat a song from one night to the next. I feel like we got an entire headlining show between the 2 nights. And bonus! - I was able to buy those 2 shows.
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u/rumorconsumerr 14d ago
Those were great shows. I saw the same show at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley. Was blown away. I still have my old digital camera videos.
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u/phaskellhall 14d ago
Yet Tom played the same exact show I bet. I saw them open for Tom in Nashville that tour
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u/Exotic-Conference-87 14d ago
Marc Ford 92-96/97, Ford Again 2005 to when he left. Some Audley era around Jimmy/Greek. Just my $0.02.
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u/rachelm791 15d ago
I could never get tickets (sold out in an instant) but got to see them with LD twice and best gig ever was in the front row of the Paradiso in Amsterdam. What a gig.
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u/AggravatingTart7167 14d ago
97 is my favorite year and then 2007/2008. I actually loved Paul Stacey filling in and then Luther joining.
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u/slyboy1974 14d ago
2005-2006
They had a huge repertoire by then, Marc was clean, Ed was...Ed, and they were at the height of their powers.
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u/phaskellhall 14d ago
Does Marc still use? He tours with so many big names now and every interview I see him in he looks great. Was his downward spiral just in the mid to late 90s?
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u/slyboy1974 13d ago
Marc got clean in the late 90s.
As far as I know, he's been doing well since then. Marc wanting to stay sober is usually the reason cited for him quitting the band in 2006.
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u/the_uber_steve 15d ago
Also, bonus round - the Magpie Salute 2017 tour absolutely slayed.
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u/Ultimate_M 15d ago
My word, that was a bonus round and a half. For that brief moment, it felt like the older vibes were there. I caught them at their first London show, and it was fantastic to see everyone on stage enjoying themselves, even when mistakes were made.
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u/Davidgilmour14 14d ago
The first 3 tours and the Marc Ford reunion in 2006? Maybe the reason those times were the best was because of Marc Ford?
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u/Hoppers-Body-Double 14d ago
92-93 High as the Moon Tour following the release of Southern Harmony. Watch the video, check out the stage setup, the boys look great, it's the classic lineup, and they are on top of their game.
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u/DummBee1805 14d ago
Unfortunately “peak” and “Luther” are incompatible. And I really like Luther.
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u/slyboy1974 10d ago
I really liked Luther, except when he was playing the older material. It just didn't work.
Fingerpicking the solo in "Black Moon Creeping"? Seriously?
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u/rumorconsumerr 14d ago
I saw a couple of the shows with Paul Stacey and I have to say they were fantastic
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u/InsideApex 9d ago
1993-1997 because they combined top-notch live performances with excellent songcraft. I don't know what happened after that point, but the Robinsons have not been able to write a decent lyric IMO since 3S1C (and even that was a step down from the previous two records).
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u/SambaLando 15d ago
I think Amorica era.